Florida stallions help create record trends at OBS

By now most in the thoroughbred business are aware that the folks at the Ocala Breeders’ Sales Company are off to a darn good year in 2013 with their 2-year-old in training sales.

After experiencing double digit increases and smashing records during their March sale of Selected 2-Year-Olds, the Ocala-based sales company continued that trend during their April sale of juveniles in training as they saw their average go from $43,458 in 2012 to $60,535 this year, an increase of 39.3%. They also set a new standard for the median price at the four-day auction as that measure went from $27,000 last year to $35,000 at this year’s April sale, an increase of 29.6%.

What many may not know however, is how much Florida stallions and breeders contributed to the success experienced so far this year at OBS – especially during the April sale.

Leading the pack in April was Two Step Salsa, a first crop stallion that stands at Manuel Andrade’s Get Away Farm located in Reddick, Fla.

During the April sale, 12 two-year-olds by Two Step Salsa sold for an average of $74,542 and median price of $55,000—well above the averages for the sale. His top seller was Hip Number 483, a dark bay or brown colt out of the stakes-placed Pioneering mare Homesteader who brought a final bid of $420,000 from Conquest Stables LLC. Consigned by Dr. Barry Eisaman’s Eisaman Equine of Williston, Fla., the dark bay or brown colt was one of two juveniles by Two Step Salsa to bring six figures during the sale. The other colt was Hip Number 376, another Florida-bred that dropped the gavel at $120,000.

Also having a banner sale among Florida sires was Wildcat Heir, who stands at Journeyman Stud in Ocala. Twelve juveniles by Wildcat Heir went through the ring during the April sale, bringing $797,000 while averaging $66,417 with a median price of $63,500—both figures also a good bit above the general averages for the auction.

Three 2-year-olds by Wildcat Heir brought six figures including Hip Number 4, who helped kick-off the sale by going for $180,000 from the consignment of de Meric Sales, Agent. A Florida-bred colt out of the stakes winning mare Additional Prayer, by Songandaprayer, the bay colt was purchased by New Farm.

Last year Put it Back just edged Wildcat Heir as the leading Florida sire and the two kept the rivalry going during the April Sale. Standing at Bridlewood Farm in Ocala, Put it Back saw four of his get bring $206,000 during the April sale for an average of $51,500 and a median of $44,500. His top seller was Hip Number 519, a Florida-bred colt out of the winning mare I See Gold, by Sejm that brought $80,000 on a final bid by Mersad Metanovic Bloodstock. He was consigned by Blue River Bloodstock, Agent.

Another first crop sire from Florida turned heads as In Summation, who stands at Ocala Stud, had 16 offspring bring $1,022,500 for an average of $63,906 and a median of $42,500. His top seller was Hip Number 613, a Florida-bred colt that went for $250,000 to Steven W. Young, Agent. Out of the winning Dove Hunt mare Load Up, the dark bay or brown colt is a half-brother to stakes-placed St. Joe and was consigned by Azpurua Stables, Agent.

Ocala Stud also had success at the April sale with their popular stallion High Cotton, who sold 16 2-year-olds for $966,500 for an average of $60,406 and a median of $20,000. His top seller was the second highest-priced juvenile of the entire sale, Hip Number 548 that went for $600,000 to St. Elias and West Point Thoroughbreds, Inc. Consigned by Ocala Stud, this Florida-bred colt is out of the Aloha Prospector mare Keikik, making him a half-brother to stakes winner St. Louis City.

Other Florida stallions of note during the sale where Graeme Hall, who stands at Winding Oaks Farm in Ocala and had ten 2-year-olds go for $590,000 for an average of $59,000; Journeyman Stud stallion Circular Quay, who had ten get bring $526,000 for an average of $52,600; Journeyman Stud stallion Hear No Evil, who had but two offspring in the sale but one brought $370,000; and Cowtown Cat, another Journeyman Stud stallion, whose nine get had an average of $52,000 and a median selling price of $41,500.

So as the breeding season winds down, and if by chance your mare is still not in foal, Florida stallions once again give you a few thousand more reasons for you to breed your future thoroughbred star in the Sunshine State.

Testimonials

When Florida Thoroughbred Breeders’ and Owners’ Association president Dr. Phil Matthews welcomed the guests to the FTBOA Awards Dinner and Gala at the Circle Square Cultural Center in Ocala on Monday night, March 11, it was no surprise that he began by telling the 350 estimated attendees of the record-setting year Florida-breds and their breeders had experienced in 2012.

“Tweleve Florida-breds won a record 15 Grade 1 races throughout North America last year,” Matthews said. “And among the ten leading states and provinces in North America, only Florida stallions produced more foals in 2012 than in the previous year.” As one who heads an association whose mission is promote the Florida thoroughbred industry, one would expect him to give those comments or other words of similar enthusiasm.

But what one may not expect is for three of the leading trainers in the game to do the same later that same night. But that is exactly what happened when Eclipse Award-winning trainers Bob Baffert and Dale Romans, and prominent Florida conditioner Bill Kaplan did when they addressed the audience in separate speeches.

Baffert was the first to applaud the Florida breeders when he accepted the Florida-bred award as the trainer of Florida-bred Champion Male Sprinter Coil and later Florida-bred Champion Three-Year-OId Filly Eden’s Moon.

“I just want to say how much Florida-breds have meant to me,” Baffert, a trainer of three Kentucky Derby winners (Silver Charm in 1997, Real Quiet in 1998 and War Emblem in 2002), said. “They have helped make my career from horses like Silver Charm right up to Coil and Eden’s Moon last year. I don’t know what you [Florida breeders] are doing down here, but keep it up.”

A few awards presentations later, it came time to present several awards to the connections of Little Mike as the Florida-bred Champion Turf Horse, Florida-bred Champion Older Horse and Florida-bred Horse of the Year.

After Nick Vaccarezza, the son of breeder Carlo Vaccarezza and owner Priscilla Vaccareeza gave a heart-felt speech about the Breeders’ Cup Turf (G1) winner named for his brother Mike, Romans made it a point to grab the microphone before stepping off the stage.

“I just want to echo what Bob Baffert mentioned,” Romans said. “As most of you know, I’m a Kentucky boy through and through but I want to take this opportunity to thank all of you for what you have meant to me and my career. It was actually you who helped me off to a fast start. When I first got my license as a 28-year-old kid, it was Michael O’Farrell and Marion Lewis who walked around the Calder sale all those years ago and helped me pick out a bunch of Florida-breds – and most of them turned out to be winners. Now I’ve had the chance to train some great Florida-bred stakes winners like Joint Effort and now Little Mike and I have to say, the Eclipse Awards got it wrong and you got it right!”

Just a month earlier, Little Mike missed being named the North American Champion Turf Horse after winning the Woodford Reserve Turf Classic at Churchill Downs, the Arlington Million at Arlington Park and the Breeders’ Cup Turf and Santa Anita, all Grade 1 races and all further than the three Grade 1 turf races won by eventual champion Wise Dan.

Not to be outdone in his appreciation for Florida-breds of course, was Bill Kaplan. Accepting the award for the second consecutive year as the trainer of 2012 of Champion Older Female and Female Sprinter Musical Romance, herself an Eclipse Award winner and Florida-bred Horse of the Year in 2011, Kaplan went right to the point with his comments.

“Musical Romance has meant a great deal to me but so have a lot of other Florida-breds. I’ve trained mainly Florida-breds because – quite simply – I buy only Florida-breds.”

Kaplan’s testimonial may have been the shortest of the three decorated conditioners, but his long history of backing his words by signing auction tickets on horses from the Sunshine State have just an impact if not more.

So the next time you find yourself in the market for a thoroughbred whether at an auction, private sale or through the claiming box, consider the words of three of the most successful trainers in the game and the final comments by Dr. Matthews.

“When it comes to Florida-breds – you can race ‘em or chase ‘em.”

A Quick Start to another HOY Campaign

Veterinary science definitively tells us that horses are unable to read, despite what many think how Mr. Ed, the talking horse on the 1950s television program by the same name, was able to stay on script. Even if they could read, it is doubtful Florida-bred star Ron the Greek knew he was not being considered as a candidate for Horse of the Year in 2012, or even that he is capable of comprehending the concept of an award.

But on Jan. 19, in the $400,000 Sunshine Millions Classic at Gulfstream Park, he ran like he knew his connections had not been invited as finalists to the awards gala, also held at the Hallandale Beach track just hours after race. In other words, Ron the Greek seemed to be running with a vengeance. And if such a thing existed, it may not have been a vengeance against the Eclipse Award voters who snubbed the Santa Anita Handicap (G1) and Stephen Foster Handicap (G1) winner and Oaklawn Handicap (G2) and Whitney Handicap (G1) runner-up by not even giving him a second or third-place vote.

It may have been a reprisal against fellow Sunshine Millions Classic defending champion Mucho Macho Man, who had defeated runner-up Ron the Greek by a length and-a-half last year in this race.

Whatever the catalyst for the performance, Ron the Greek put in quite an effort to start his 2013 campaign and another possible run at Horse of the Year.

To those who saw the race in person, on television or on the internet, it was quite the spectacle.

Hall of Fame trainer Bill Mott knew early in the race something was different with Ron the Greek, a son of the Hartley/DeRenzo stallion Full Mandate and the Fortunate Prospect mare Flambe’. At the half-mile pole of Ron the Greek’s three previous races, he was 12, 11 and nine and one-half lengths off of the early pace. But in the Sunshine Millions, he was much closer.

“We had asked [jockey] Jose [Lezcano] if he could, to stay a little closer. But I didn’t expect him to be that close,” Mott said of pace scenario that had longshot I’m Steppin’ It Up and wagering third-choice Fort Loudon running in a relatively quick :23.19 for the first quarter-mile and :46.59 for the first four furlongs while Ron the Greek was just four and-a-half lengths behind. “I thought… …the closest he’d be was 12 lengths.” But any concern Mott may have had, ended with three-eighths of a mile to go when Lezcano gave Ron the Greek the go-ahead to make his move.

By the time Ron the Greek hit the top of the stretch, he was seven lengths in front and still pulling away. Bred by Jack T. Hammer of Ocala, Ron the Greek eventually hit the wire more than 11 lengths in front of Cash Rules in second and Fort Loudon in third in a running time of 1:49.19.

While the time over the sloppy track may not have turned many heads, the 115 Beyer Speed Figure remains the best in North America on a main track at a mile or further this year through Feb. 1. And it was certainly good enough for Mott and owners Brous Stable, Wachtel Stable and Mr. Hammer to consider shipping again to Santa Anita in Southern California to defend their title in the Mar. 2, $750,000 Santa Anita Handicap.

There Ron the Greek is expected to meet Game on Dude, another older horse with Horse of the Year aspirations after winning the Grade 2 San Antonio Handicap on Feb. 2 at Santa Anita.

Yes, I admit it is a bit early to start campaigning for Ron the Greek to be Horse of the Year. There are still more than 10 months to go and as the late Hall of Fame trainer Charlie Whittingham said, “Thoroughbreds are like strawberries. They can go bad overnight.”

But if Ron the Greek stays as ripe as he was in the Sunshine Millions, it will be difficult on his adversaries in future contests. And maybe Ron the Greek will get those necessary nods from the voters for the golden trophy given to the Horse of the Year next January.

Florida finger prints cover Kentucky Derby day

Although there were no Florida-breds in the Kentucky Derby presented by Yum! Brands this year, there were plenty of Marion County finger prints all around Churchill Downs on the first Saturday in May. As many as 11 of the Derby starters had connections to the Ocala area, including the top three finishers.

Winner I’ll Have Another was purchased out of the 2010 Keeneland September Yearling Sale by Victor Avilia of Ocala, who works as an exercise rider at Dr. Barry Eisaman’s Eisaman Equine in Williston, Fla. Avilia purchased the son of Flower Alley for $11,000 before returning to Ocala to train the colt with the assistance of Eisaman.

Derby runner-up Bodemeister received his early training from J.B. and Kevin McKathan at their training Center in Citra and third-place finisher Dullahan spent time at Gold Mark Training Center in Ocala.

After six months of training I’ll Have Another, Avilia sold the colt under Eisaman’s consignment at the 2011 Ocala Breeders’ Sales Company Spring April Sale of Two-Year-Olds in Training for $35,000. (See story on page 53). If you’re keeping score, that is $24,000 in profit that hit the Marion County economy. Add to that the feed, employees, veterinary care and supplies, land, barns, race track maintenance, transportation and tack spent on I’ll Have Another during his stay here in Marion County, and one can begin to calculate the impact one young thoroughbred has on the area and Florida economy. According to one Ocala-area farm manager, the cost to train a yearling into his 2-year-old year and up to the date of his sale, hovers around $90 per day. So for a horse like I’ll Have Another who was brought to Marion County in September of 2010 and sold in April of 2011. That roughly equates to nearly $19,000. With several thousand yearlings coming to Marion County each year, their total impact on the economy is hundreds of millions. If one uses the horses that pass through just the four two-year-old in training sales conducted in Florida this year, they alone generate some $40,000,000 in economic impact before there is ever a hand raised to bid on them. A conservative estimate is that these two-year-olds will generate some $85,000,000 in gross receipts at these four auctions.

It wasn’t just Derby horses at Churchill Downs that day that received their early training in Ocala. Little Mike, winner of the $500,000 Woodford Reserve Turf Classic received his early training from James Crupi and his team at New Castle Farm in Ocala. Bred in Florida by Carlo Vaccarezza of Parkland and owned by his wife Priscilla, Little Mike is trained by Dale Romans. But Vaccarezza is quick to point out that Crupi deserves much of the credit for the success of the 5-year-old gelding.

“I want to give a lot of credit to Jimmy Crupi,” Vaccarezza said after the Turf Classic. “He had the horse since he was a baby. He took his time, never rushed it with the horse and broke him the right way. And like he tells me, a strong foundation goes a long way.”

The Twin Spires Turf Sprint (G3) run at Churchill on Derby day, was also won by a Florida-bred in Great Attack. Bred by Edward Seltzer of Williston and Murray Durst of Hollywood, Great Attack is also by the Stonewall Farm Ocala stallion Greatness. In winning the $125,000 Turf Sprint, Great Attack was just ahead of Bridgetown in second, who is yet another local product. Bridgetown is owned by Melnyk Racing Stables and bred by Eugene Melnyck, owner of Winding Oaks Farm in Ocala.

So don‘t be misled when the Kentucky Derby does not feature a registered Florida-bred. At one time or another, most of them have considered Marion County home. A closer look at the other stakes at Churchill Downs that day and there is little doubt the major impact Florida breeding and training continues to have on thoroughbred racing on a national scale.

Keyed Entry filly, Wildcat Heir colt quickest at April Under Tack show’s second session

Press Release, Joe DiOrio Photo


Hip No. 363, a filly by the Bridlewood Farm stallion Keyed Entry, and Hip No. 488, a colt by the Journeyman Stud stallion Wildcat Heir, worked quarters in :20 4/5 to post the fastest works at the distance at the second session of the Under Tack Show for the Ocala Breeders’ Sales Company’s 2012 Spring Sale of Two-Year-Olds in Training. The bay filly by Keyed Entry, consigned by H.J. Parra Racing Stables, is out of Dixie Image, by Halo’s Image, a full sister to millionaire OBS graduate Southern Image. The chestnut colt by Wildcat Heir, named Spare No Expense and consigned by Journeyman Bloodstock (Brent and Crystal Fernung), Agent, is out of Golden Horseshoe, by Belong to Me, a daughter of stakes winner Striking Profile.

Three horses worked quarters in :21 flat. Hip No. 316, consigned by Nickajack/Rey de Oros, is a dark bay or brown colt by Bob and John out of Credential, by Valid Appeal, a half sister to stakes winner Table the Motion. Hip No. 352, a gray or roan Concorde’s Tune colt consigned by Ocala Stud, is out of Delta Silks, by the Ocala Stud stallion Montbrook, a half sister to stakes winner Rocky River. Hip No. 379, Dubai Bob, consigned by Eddie Woods, Agent, is a chestnut colt by Forestry out of Dreamworld, by Unbridled’s Song, a half sister to graded stakes placed Womble.

Six youngsters shared honors for the session’s fastest eighth, each stopping the timer in :10 flat. Hip No. 469, consigned by Ricky Leppala, Agent, is a bay filly by Tiznow out of Gdanska, by Danzig. Hip No. 518, Foundthecandy, is a chestnut filly by Candy Ride (ARG) consigned by Old South Farm, Agent, out of Harlow Gold, by Orientate, a half sister to graded stakes winning OBS graduate Sea of Tranquility. Hip No. 529, Shawtown, consigned by Costanzo Sales, is a chestnut colt by Cowtown Cat out of grade one stakes placed Her She Shawklit, by Air Forbes Won, and is a half brother to graded stakes winning millionaire Crafty Shaw. Hip No. 566, a bay colt by Sky Mesa consigned by Wavertree Stables, Inc. (Ciaran Dunne), Agent, is out of graded stakes winner Ing Ing (FR), by Bering (GB), a half sister to grade one winner Execute. Hip No. 567, consigned by McKathan Bros., Agent, is a chestnut filly by Candy Ride (ARG) out of stakes winner Into Reality, by Untuttable. Hip No. 584, Indian Splendor, a dark bay or brown filly by Indian Ocean consigned by Ravensway (Rick and Christine Lopez), Agent, is out of Jeet, by Tactical Advantage, a half sister to stakes winner Rich Pearl.

Two horses worked three eighths in :33 3/5. Hip No. 489, a bay colt by Wild Desert consigned by Blue River Bloodstock, Agent, is out of Golden Park, by Touch Gold, and is a half brother to stakes placed Artie Luvsto Party. Hip No. 502, La Thali, a chestnut filly by Ecclesiastic consigned by Tres Potrillos, is out of Gratorious, by Honor Grades, a half sister to stakes placed Voluptuous.
The Under Tack Show resumes Thursday morning at 8:00 a.m. with Hip No’s 599 – 898 scheduled to breeze.

The workouts were recorded and videos will be available on the OBS website at obssales.com, in their entirety or by individual hip number. They will also be available for viewing in the video room adjacent to the Horsemen’s Lounge in the sales pavilion as well as several kiosks in the lobby and the covered walking ring. In-room viewing is available at Holiday Inn, The Courtyard by Marriott, Homewood Suites, Residence Inn and the Ocala Hilton, plus lounge viewing is available at the Hilton. Under Tack Show results are posted on the OBS website.

In addition to catalogs for upcoming sales, the OBS website includes sales results, the latest news regarding OBS graduates, sales schedules, nominations, credit requests, travel information and other news relevant to OBS consignors and customers. E-Mail should be addressed to obs@obssales.com This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it . For catalogs or more information regarding the OBS Spring Sale or OBS website, please call (352) 237-2154.

Near miss Saturday for Florida-breds

Close is only good in horseshoes and hand granades. Always a bridesmaid, never a bride. Close but no cigar.

Well, you get the point.

It was a day of near misses in big races for Florida-breds on Saturday as five horses that are a product of the Sunshine State finished second in five different graded races around the country. Obviously, finishing second is not as good as winning, but a near miss in a graded stake is nothing to sneeze at and quite frankly, is a proud accomplishment.

Plus, it does create some very nice black type. And black type with a “Gr” in a sale catalogue or stallion advertisement can often have a positive financial impact that is far greater than the difference between a first and second-place check in a race.

In the Grade 1 Jenny Wiley Stakes for older fillies and mares at Keeneland, the Adena Springs-bred mare Bay to Bay finished second to winner Daisy Devine in the 1 1/16-mile race.

It happened twice at Oaklawn Park as Santa Anita Handicap (Gr. 1) winner Ron the Greek, who was bred by Jack T. Hammer, made a furious rally in the final strides of the Grade 2 Oaklawn Handicap but was unable to catch winner Alternation. Earlier that day at the Arkansas track, Donald Dizney’s homebred 5-year-old horse Apriority, was caught five wide in the far turn of the six furlong Count Fleet (G3), then drifted out in the stretch to lose narrowly to Outta Tune.

Duke of Mischief, a product of Marilyn McMaster’s Florida breeding program, tried to defend his title in the $1 million Charles Town Classic (G2) and looked like he might repeat when he took the lead at the top of the stretch. But the successful defense was not to be as he was caught and passed by eventual winner Caixa Electronica.

Further north in New York, C C’s Pal was unable to pull the upset over It’s Tricky, but hung on for second in the Grade 2 Distaff Handicap. Bred in Florida by Beth Bayer, the 5-year-old mare is also a $7,000 graduate of the Ocala Breeders’ Sales Company October Sale as a weanling in 2007.

Do not despair too much Florida breeders. There were plenty of Florida-bred winners on the day including Master Rick, winner of the Northern Spur Stakes at Oaklawn and Immortal Eyes’ victory in the Webb Snyder Stakes at Charles Town.

Florida-breds also won several nice allowance races that day including June Cleaver, a Paul Sharp-bred filly who captured a $49,000 non-winners other than race at Keeneland; They Call Him El, a 5-year-old gelding bred by Tiffany A. Atteberry DVM and Beth Hendry who won a similarly conditioned $33,040 allowance race at Golden Gate; and Joyous Music, who was bred in Florida by John O. Sutton and won a $35,000 allowance event at Charles Town. E. Paul Robsham Stables’ Florida home-bred R King of the Road also took a very nice $62,000 allowance at Aqueduct.

Oaklawn fans witnessed Deadly Card, a 3-year-old Florida gelding bred by Guilherme and Angela Bombonato, break his maiden; while Jewelian Rose did the same a Tampa Bay Downs for breeder Annie-o-Productions.

Master Rick Takes Northern Spur Stakes

The results of the $100,000 Northern Spur Stakes Saturday at Oaklawn Park answer the age old question as to why they run horse races.

Before the race, it was difficult to see how Drill could be beat. He was a Southern California-based multiple stakes winner of the Grade 1 Del Mar Futurity and the Grade 2 San Vincente. He came from the barn of Hall of Fame trainer Bob Baffert, who had won his fifth and sixth consecutive stakes at the Arkansas track later in the day when Alternation won the Oaklawn Handicap (G2) and Bodemeister took the Arkansas Derby (G1). Drill was by far the richest competitor in the Northern Spur with $339,710 and the only one with even a six figures bankroll. His pilot was Rafael Bejarano, the second leading rider at the current Santa Anita meeting. Obviously the wagering public thought the same as they made Drill the odds-on favorite at 3-5.

But none of that mattered to Florida-bred Master Rick.

During the early stages of the race, jockey Corey Nakatani had Master Rick placed behind the moderate pace of leader Double Rah Rah, who ran the first quarter of a mile in :24 seconds and the half in an even slower :48.40. Around the far turn, Master Rick came from between horses to get to the front while Drill raced four-wide to get to even terms with the leader and the two began their battle. They bobbed heads until just inside the eighth pole when Master Rick pulled away, winning by 1 ¼ legnths. Master Rick completed the one mile Northern Spur in 1:36.73.

Master Rick gave his supporters $12.60 for their $2 win tickets and gave trainer Steve Asmussen and Nakatani their fifth win together on the day.

Asmussen began the final two days of the Oaklawn meeting one race behind Allen Milligan, who had led the standings for most of the meeting. But Asmussen won three races on Friday to Milligan’s one, then pulled ahead for the title with the big final day concluding the “Fifth Season” with 36 wins to Milligan’s 31.

“It’s a great day for Steve [Asmussen] and I’m really happy to be part of his team,” Nakatani said after winning on Master Rick. “And I’m very [happy] for owner [Richard L. Davis.]” Despite all the success the jockey and Asmussen had earlier, like those who bet Drill and 9-5 second choice Explain, even Nakatani was taken aback by Master Rick’s performance in the Northern Spur. “It shaped up a little better than I thought it would,” he continued. “I was biding my time and about the half-mile pole, I let him out a little bit and when Drill came to me, I opened up a little bit on him. Hoping it would work and it did.”

It was only the second win for Master Rick who had just broke his maiden at Oaklawn Mar. 17 after four tries in previous races. Bred by English Ranch Farms, Master Rick earned $60,000 for the win and increased his earnings to $94,930.

Master Rick is a graduate of the last year’s Ocala Breeders’ Sales Company Spring Sale of Two-Year-Olds in Training where he sold for $47,000. That same sale begins a week from today and runs four days through Apr. 28 at the Ocala Breeders’ Sales Company located on SW 60th Avenue.

“It was a good opportunity for [Master Rick] today,” Asmussen said. “But we’re going to find more big races for him.”

Drill, who was bred in Kentucky by Stonewall Farm which is now located in Ocala, hung on for second and finished eight lengths ahead of third-place finisher Explain. Drill, a son of the late stallion Lawyer Ron, only returned $2.20 for a $2 place ticket but the $2 exacta with Master Rick on top paid a nice $26.00.