Monday, July 14, 2025
Two win graded stakes . . .
    Bregman Family Racing and Swinbank Stables’ Governor Sam (Improbable – I’m Betty G, by Into Mischief) romped in the Gr. III, $175,000 Quick Call at Saratoga Race Course to become one of two OBS grads to win graded stakes on the weekend.

    Trained by George Weaver, the son of Improbable annexed three turf sprint stakes as a juvenile and finished third in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf Sprint at Del Mar. Weaver added that Governor Sam could next contest the Gr. III, $175,000 Mahony on Aug. 10.

    Governor Sam was purchased by Bregman Family Racing and Ivan Cabrera for $275,000 from Wavertree Stables, Inc. (Ciaran Dunne), Agent at the 2024 OBS Spring Sale after breezing in :9 4/5.

    At Saratoga, Hit The Bid Racing Stable, Morplay Racing and Randall Hartley’s Italian Soiree (Uncle Mo- Social Call, by Smart Strike) earned her first graded win and second career victory when she captured the Gr. III, $175,000 Coronation Cup.

    Trained by John Terranova, the daughter of Uncle Mo prevailed by one length over Laurice, who edged Abientot by a neck for place honors with Cloe completing the superfecta. Bred in Kentucky by Repole Stable, Italian Soiree, a full sister to stakes-winner Be Better, was a $600,000 purchase by Hit The Bid Stables from the Hartley/DeRenzo Thoroughbreds consignment at the 2024 OBS March Sale after breezing in :10 flat. 

    At Gulfstream Park, Miguel Vasquez proved to be a perfect fit for C2 Racing Stable, Kuehne Racing and Mark Corrado’s Andrea (Thousand Words- Photoplay, by Tiznow) in their first pairing together as they scored a half-length victory in the $75,000 Azalea Stakes.

    The Saffie Joseph Jr.-trained Andrea notched her second stakes victory in eight career starts and her first since winning the Hallandale Beach at Gulfstream last September. At the 2024 OBS April Sale, she worked in :9 4/5 and was purchased by Joseph for $105,000 out of the Eddie Woods consignment. 

    At Colonial Downs, Dream Big Racing's Winfinity (Not This Time-Winter, by Awesome Again) captured the $125,000 Miss Disco Stakes for 3-year-old fillies open to both Virginia-bred/sired & Maryland-bred/sired sophomores.

    Trained by John Alexander Ortiz, the daughter of Not This Time had done well at Colonial previously, winning the Keswick Stakes for Virginia-Restricted horses last August. She was purchased for $300,000 by John Wade from the de Meric Sales consignment at the 2024 OBS April Sale after breezing in :10 1/5.

    At Century Mile, Peter Redekop B. C., Ltd.’s Apprehend (Arrogate – Hero’s Amor, by Street Hero) was victorious in the $75,000 Century Mile Handicap (Listed) by 3 ¾ lengths to earn his third straight stakes victory and fifth straight win overall. Trained by Barbara Heads, he set a track record when he covered the distance in 1:39.83. The son of Arrogate was purchased by Alistair Roden Bloodstock for $185,000 out of the Top Line Sales consignment at 2021 OBS June Sale after breezing in :20 4/5.
Sunday, July 13, 2025
Edwin Gonzalez hits No. 1,999 . . .
    HALLANDALE BEACH - A mandatory payout of the 20-cent Rainbow 6 jackpot pool yielded multiple payoffs of $14,191 today at Gulfstream Park.

    The multi-race wager had gone unsolved for five consecutive racing days since mandatory payouts of $4,220 on June 29. A total of $954,078 was put into the Rainbow 6 today on top of a $98,693 carryover from Saturday’s program.

    Sharpazano ($19.40) captured the Race 10 finale to complete the winning 7-2-5-2-6-9 combination. Other winners in the sequence were Refined Honor ($6) in Race 5, Trelawny ($8.60) in Race 6, Garuda ($13.40) in Race 7, Wink of an Eye ($8.20) in Race 8 and Mr Narcissistic ($3.80) in Race 9.

    The Rainbow 6 begins anew when the Royal Palm Meet resumes Friday, spanning Races 4-9. Charlie’s Beauty chases a third straight win in the Race 7 feature, an optional claiming allowance for Florida-bred fillies and mares 3 and up sprinting six furlongs on the main track.

    Notes: Jockey Jose Morelos rode two winners today, Tinkatwo ($12.80) in Race 2 and Trelawny ($8.60) in Race 6 … Meet leader Edgard Zayas also doubled on Refined Honor ($6) in Race 5 and Mr Narcissistic ($3.80) in Race 9, as did seven-pound apprentice Yolber Torres with High Prince ($5.80) in Race 3 and Wink of an Eye ($8.20) in Race 8 … Jockey Edwin Gonzalez picked up career win No. 1,999 with Garuda ($13.40) in Race 7. Gonzalez is named in six of nine races when the Royal Palm Meet resumes Friday.
Wednesday, July 9, 2025
Effective immediately . . .
    OCALA - The Florida Thoroughbred Breeders' and Owners' Association announced that it will waive most registration fees for Florida-bred and Florida-sired foals of 2025, effective immediately. This unprecedented offer is available exclusively to FTBOA regular members whose names appear as the official breeder of record.

     "After successfully defending our industry – once again – against decoupling efforts in the 2025 legislative session, we wanted to show our appreciation for the unwavering support of Florida's Thoroughbred breeding community," FTBOA CEO Lonny Powell said. "It's our way of giving back to those who stand with us."


     The Florida-bred registration schedule for foals of 2025 is:

 •           Foals: Aug. 31, 2025 ($0 FTBOA Members / $300 Non-Members), or

•           Extended Foals: Dec. 31, 2025: ($0 FTBOA Members / $500 Non-Members), or

•           Yearlings: Dec. 31, 2026: ($400 FTBOA Members / $800 Non-Members).


     Florida-bred foals of 2025 sired by registered Florida stallions assume full eligibility for the Florida Sire Stakes upon successful Florida-bred registration by December 31, 2026. Late registrations (2-year-olds) for the Florida Sire Stakes remain available, as follows:

 •           Two-year-old Standalone: Jan. 15, 2027 ($5,000), or

•           Two-year-old Last Chance: May 1, 2027 ($10,000), or June 30, 2027 ($15,000).


   Florida-bred and Florida Sire Stakes registration forms reside at FTBOA.com, or contact the FTBOA office for assistance ([email protected], 352-629-2160).

     All applications must be postmarked within FTBOA's published deadlines to qualify for registration and member pricing. Registration fees and deadlines for non-members remain unchanged from prior years, as do Florida stallion registration schedules and fees.

 

 
Monday, July 7, 2025
Violence colt is 2-for-2 . . .
    Leland Ackerley Racing’s Obliteration (Violence- I’mclassyandsassy, by Master Command) improved to 2-for-2 in his burgeoning career when he scored a dominating 10 1/2-length victory in the Gr. III, $175,000 Sanford, a six-furlong test for juveniles, at Saratoga Race Course to lead the slate of stakes-winning OBS grads.

    Trained by Hall of Famer Steve Asmussen, the son of Violence broke his maiden by 7 1/2 lengths on June 12 at Churchill Downs prior to his Spa effort and hit the wire Saturday in a final time of 1:10.65. Obliteration was a $200,000 purchase by his owner at the 2025 OBS March Sale from the consignment of breeder Ocala Stud after breezing in :21 3/5.

    Other stakes-winners included Kingsolver (Omaha Beach - Famous Writer, by Speightstown) who graduated in Friday’s Listed $150,000 Schuylerville, a six-furlong sprint for juvenile fillies during the July 4th Racing Festival at Saratoga Race Course. Trained by Rodolphe Brisset, Kingsolver is owned by Storyteller Racing, who purchased her and own her in partnership with Michael Schroeck, Open Gate Horse Ventures, Brian Cahoe, Scott Catlett, Dave Russel, Matthew Ransdell, Michael Motley and Joel Braun.

    She was purchased for $95,000 at the 2025 OBS March Sale from the JVC Training and Sales consignment after breezing in :10 flat.

    At Presque Isle Downs, D. J. Stable’s Horsepower (Good Samaritan - Bear's Lightning, by Maria's Mon) rallied past by Breeders’ Cup winner Nobals for an upset win in the $100,000 Karl Boyes Stakes. Horsepower, trained by Joe Orseno, won for the third time in five starts and earned his first stakes score. He was purchased by D.J. Stable for $60,000 from the Whitman Sales consignment at the 2023 OBS March Sale after breezing in :10 1/5.

    At Prairie Meadows, Patricia’s Hope and Carolyn Wilson’s Sassy C W (Yaupon-Sassy Miss Sue, by Tiznow) went gate to wire to take the $100,000 Prairie Gold Lassie and remain unbeaten in three career starts. Trained by Larry Rivelli, the filly previously captured the $150,000 Astoria Stakes on June 5 at Saratoga. Consigned by Top Line Sales, Sassy C W was a $375,000 purchase at the 2025 OBS March Sale by Carolyn Wilson after breezing in :9 4/5.

    At Horseshoe Indianapolis, Resolute Racing’s Dana’s Beauty (Not This Time – City Siren, by City Zip) got up at the wire to win the $100,000 Indiana General Assembly Distaff and become a millionaire. Trained by Mike Maker, Dana’s Beauty improved her record to 13 wins from 47 starts with a career bankroll of $1,034,495. The daughter of Not This Time is a two-time OBS graduate, sold first by Bobby Jones Equine for $47,000 at the 2019 October Yearling Sale then sold for $70,000 by Blue River Bloodstock, Agent to Sarah Russell Stables & TNT Equine Holdings at the 2020 Spring Sale after working in :21 3/5.

    Also at Horseshoe Indianapolis, Paradise Farms Corp.’s Willy D’s (Lookin At Lucky – Boston Mine, by Mineshaft) went wire-to-wire to take Saturday’s $100,000 Michael G. Schaefer Memorial by 4 1/2 lengths, setting a track record of 1:37.98 for a mile and 70 yards. The son of Lookin At Lucky was purchased by Danny W. Brown for $60,000 at the 2023 OBS April Sale from the Woodside Ranch consignment after breezing in :22 1/5.

    At Gulfstream Park, jockey Edgard Zayas guided BC Racing’s Prevent (Neolithic - Bossy Gal, by Pioneerof the Nile) to a front-running victory in the $75,000 Soldier’s Dancer Handicap. Trained by Carlos David, Prevent was purchased for $15,000 by Brian Cohen at the 2022 OBS Winter Mixed Sale from the Las Palmas Farm consignment.

    On June 30, Golden Afternoon (Goldencents – Afternoon, by Street Cry (IRE)) prompted the pace and drew off by 2 1/2 lengths to capture the $100,000 Tom Ridge Stakes at Presque Isle Downs to give Nick Vaccarezza his first win as a licensed trainer. The gelding is owned by a partnership headed by Carlo Vaccarezza, Nick's father, and includes Eddie and Pat Greco, Scott Jaffe, and Michael Cloonan. Golden Afternoon was purchased by Carlo Vaccarezza at the 2024 OBS April Sale for $70,000 from the Ocala Stud consignment after breezing in :21 2/5.
Sunday, July 6, 2025
Zayas wins a pair of stakes . . .

    HALLANDALE BEACH - Jockey Edgard Zayas put the finishing touches on a three-win Saturday at Gulfstream Park by guiding BC Racing’s Prevent to a front-running victory in the $75,000 Soldier’s Dancer and give the Royal Palm Meet’s leading rider a sweep of the afternoon stakes.

    Racing with blinkers following an 11th-place finish in the 1 3/8-mile Mac Diarmida on March 1 on the Gulfstream turf, the 4-year-old colt by Pleasant Acres stallion Neolithic ($14.40) completed one mile and 70 yards on the all-weather Tapeta course in 1:39.31 to register his fifth career victory. It came four races after Zayas rallied Implementation to the wire first in the $75,000 Smile Sprint.

    “It’s been a great day,” said Zayas, who tops the Gulfstream riders with 74 wins. “I’ve been getting on some good horses and getting pretty good support from all the trainers and owners. It’s been really good.”

    Prevent broke alertly from Post 5 in a field of eight and went the opening quarter-mile in :23.63 seconds, given closest chase by turf stakes-winner and Gr. III-placed Tocayo in second with Spy Novel saving ground in third inside 24-1 long shot I Know I Know. The half went in :46.58 with no change in the top two, and Prevent straightened for home with a lead he held through the lane despite getting leg weary late.

    “He was drifting out a little bit late but he’s the type of horse if you start fighting with him he gets to messing around,” Zayas said. “He drifted out but there was no one to the outside and he was running pretty good so I let him go. I feel like he’s a really tough horse to deal with and he can get a little rank,” he added. “There was some speed in the race so I was trying to let him go and see if he could settle a little bit, but he didn’t. He just took the lead and just kind of let him run and do his thing and he held on.
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    Kalik, sent off at 17-1, emerged from a tight pack in second, with I Know I Know third, 3-2 favorite Just a Photo fourth and Tocayo fifth. Grand Mo the First, the 9-5 program favorite, was scratched.