ftboa.com • Monday • April 12, 2021 FEC/FTBOA PUBLICATION
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In This Issue: Super Stock Makes Arkansas Derby A Family Affair For Asmussen
Juliet Foxtrot Leads All the Way to Win Jenny Wiley
Delaware Wins First North American Race in Danger’s Hour
Paco Lopez Reaches 3000-Win Milestone at Gulfstream Park
First Under Tack Show Session for OBS April Postponed
Gulfstream Park Charts
Tampa Bay Charts
Florida Stallion Progeny List Florida-bred C Z Rocket/COADY PHOTO C Z Rocket Dethrones Oaklawn Florida Breeders’ List Wire to Wire Business Place Sprint King Whitmore Again in Featured Advertisers Count Fleet Handicap Florida Department of Agriculture FTBOA BY BROCK SHERIDAN ______tive time on Whitmore’s home track as he won the $500,000 Count Fleet Handicap Journeyman Stud Winning a Grade 3 sprint is a notable by two lengths against his accomplished Ocala Breeders’ Feed & Supply accomplishment by any measure but to do rival, who finished second. so against Whitmore at Oaklawn increases The Count Fleet had a field of seven 3- Ocala Stud the notoriety. year-olds and older who went six furlongs. RiceHorse Stables Florida-bred C Z Rocket did just that After losing to Whitmore by two-and- Seminole Feed Saturday against the 2020 Eclipse Award three-quarters lengths in the Grade 1 Six K’s Training & Sales champion sprinter for the second consecu- See COUNT FLEET on page 3
Back to Top Page 3 Count Fleet Continued from COVER Breeders’ Cup Sprint on Nov. 7 at Keeneland to close out his cam- paign last year, the Peter Miller-trained C Z Rocket has now defeated Whitmore twice in two meetings in 2021. C Z Rocket defeated Whitmore by a neck in the $200,000 Hot Springs Stakes on March 13 at Oaklawn to halt a four-race win- ning streak by the latter going back to 2017 in that six furlong test. Whitmore had also won the Count Fleet in three of the last four years with his only blemish coming when second to that year’s champion sprinter, Mitole, in the 2019 renewal. The Breeders’ Cup Sprint and the Hot Springs was the rubber match between the two in the Count Fleet with C Z Rocket now having the edge while earn- ing $300,000 and increasing his Peter Miller/EQUINE SPORTSWIRE PHOTO career bankroll to $1,311,641. That ranks him at No. 99 on the list of the all-time richest Florida-breds behind Richman with $1,314,360 and ahead of Caledonia Road with $1,307,800. The Tom Amoss-trained No Parole jumped out to set the pace in the Count Fleet as he carried Ramon Vasquez through a quar- ter-mile in :21.92 while a length in front of Strike Power in second with Whitmore and jockey Ricardo Santana Jr. tucked in behind the leaders on the rail in fourth, about two-and-a-half lengths back. Moving into the turn, C Z Rocket and Florent Geroux had one horse beat while racing on the outside and about two-and-a- half lengths farther behind. Strike Power and No Parole came out of the turn together after a :45.35 half-mile with Mr. Jagermeister to their outside as Santana looked for a seam for Whitmore behind those three. Meanwhile, Geroux had C Z Rocket in full gear while racing six wide and the 7-year-old gelding gunned for the lead with an impressive move on the outside. Whitmore found running room at the top of the stretch and quickly shot past the frontrunners but C Z Rocket had the advantage and the momentum in the middle of the track. See COUNT FLEET on page 5 FTBOA Maintains Office Building Drop Box For Official Business While the FTBOA offices remain closed to visitors and mem- bers doing business as a precaution due to the Coronavirus pan- demic, be advised that all services provided by the Association and its related companies remain on going. Most business can be conducted via mail, email or telephone and a drop box has been installed near our side entrance of the FTBOA building at 801 SW 60th Avenue, Ocala, Fla. for mem- bers to use when dropping off time-sensitive documents. Forms may be found at this lo- cation or on our website at www.ftboa.com. Please call us at 352-629- 2160 if you have any questions or contact us at [email protected].
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Back to Top Page 5 Count Fleet page 3 Continued from fifth-place finish, C Z Rocket has C Z Rocket drew clear and Whitmore won six of seven starts with his was unable to run down his rival as they only loss coming when second finished the six furlongs in 1:09.62 on the Breeders’ Cup. the fast track. Longshot Empire of Gold He won a $50,000 claiming was another length-and-a-half back in race at Oaklawn in his first start third followed by Strike Power, Mojo for Miller and Kagele, then a sec- Man, Mr. Jagermeister and No Parole in ond condition, $62,500 optional that order. “Great trip. All the speed was what it claiming race at Churchill for them looked like on the pp's,” Geroux said. on June 21. After winning another “Tried to find a nice rhythm with him and optional claiming allowance at when he was ready to go, I just tipped Keeneland in July and the Grade 2 him out and tried to run everyone down. Pat O’Brien at Del Mar on Aug. 29, Madaket Stables LLC and “I got [Whitmore] again. Two nice hors- C Z Rocket (far left)/COADY PHOTO es. My horse was a little bit unlucky with the Gary Barber partnered with trip in the Breeders' Cup. Whitmore had a great trip that day. They are Kagele and saw him win the Grade 2 Santa Anita Sprint just prior to very similar. Looks like my horse was a little bit better today.” the Breeders’ Cup. “Very similar race [to the Hot Springs],” Miller said. “We were C Z Rocket is by City Zip out of stakes-placed, Florida-bred behind Whitmore again and we had to give up a lot of ground, but mare Successful Sarah, by the Florida-bred stallion Successful we didn't get stopped, either. You trade one for the other. Appeal. In addition to C Z Rocket, Successful Sarah has also pro- Whitmore's a great horse and ran a great race, as always. He's a duced stakes-placed City Success. champion. I think that the [Hot Springs] tightened [C Z Rocket] C Z Rocket is a graduate of the Ocala Breeders’ Sales Open up good. I think that definitely set him up good for this.” Sale held in June of 2016 where he was consigned by Stephens C Z Rocket paid $6 to win as the 2-1 second choice. Whitmore Thoroughbreds and purchased by Frank Fletcher Racing was favored at even money. Operations for a then sale record of $800,000 after working an C Z Rocket has now won 11 of 25 starts with two seconds and eighth-mile in :10.20 at the under tack session. He made his first two thirds. Since being claimed for $40,000 by trainer Peter Miller 17 starts for Fletcher before Miller and Kagele took him in the and owner Tom Kagele at Oaklawn on April 30 last year after a aforementioned claim.
RICEHORSE STABLE Brandon & Alexandra Rice 12110 N.E. Hwy 315 • Fort McCoy, Fla. 32134 Brandon: (352) 817-0943 Ali: (352) 572-5404
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Back to Top Page 7 Super Stock Makes Arkansas Derby A Family Affair For Asmussen
BY OAKLAWN PRESS OFFICE ____ switched him to the outside where he pounced on the two frontrunners to HOT SPRINGS, AR—Super Stock pro- power to a two-and-a-half-length victo- duced a moment to remember for the ry in the mile-and-one-eighth major Asmussen family and became another prep race for the Run for the Roses. star graduate of their family business “We got a beautiful trip. I was talk- after his upset victory in Saturday’s $1 ing to Mr. Steve [Asmussen] for about million Arkansas Derby (Grade 1) two weeks about this race,” Santana which also punched a ticket for all of said. “The post was perfect. We both them to the Kentucky Derby presented liked breaking from the number one by Woodford Reserve (G1) on May 1 at [post]. We knew there was some speed Churchill Downs. and everything came out perfect. It was Jockey Ricardo Santana Jr. and the a really important win for Steve and his 3-year-old son of Dialed In out of the family. I'm really blessed to be the one Florida-bred mare Super Girlie, by they chose to ride this race.” Florida-bred stallion Closing Argument Steve Asmussen agreed that the sat on the rail behind the speed duel set Arkansas Derby produced a winning by favorite and Rebel Stakes (G2)-win- scenario for Super Stock. ner Concert Tour and Smarty Jones vic- “[Tactically it set up] perfectly. We tor Caddo River, who went a quarter- wanted to use [Super Stock’s] post posi- mile in :22.62 and the half-mile in tion,” he said. “I thought he used his :46.51. post position into the first turn extreme- At the top of the stretch, Super Stock ly well. Those horses went :46 and two- appeared to be no factor while racing [fifths] for a half-mile. Plenty solid fac- behind the leaders before Santana Super Stock/COADY PHOTO See ASMUSSEN on page 9
F. Exaggerator – Polly Alexander (IRE) #29 #735 F. Maclean’s Music – Dreamlicious F. Munnings – Ten Carat Lady #301 #848 F. Maclean’s Music – Ginza F. Gormley – Well Traveled #386 #884 C. Tonalist – Harbin C. Midshipman – Wow Me Free #420 #1107 C. Flat Out – Million Gift (JPN) C. Shackleford – Callista #577 #1153 F. Mineshaft – More Royalty F. Candy Ride (ARG) – Cat Fight #596 #1202 F. Exaggerator – One More #626 F. Runhappy – Cielo Conquistador
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Back to Top Page 9 Asmussen page 7 Continued from Keith Asmussen, a former quarter tions, carried him nicely. He got up behind horse jockey, and his wife Marilyn, them a little quicker than I thought he who once trained quarter horses in would, obviously, in the stretch. My confi- the Southwest, have operated El dence level was he was going to run really Primero Training Center near good. I've been in races like that, that you Laredo, Tex., for more than 50 years have no control over how good or bad where they have produced six Eclipse somebody else runs. But I felt like that he Award winners, three Breeders’ Cup was going to represent us extremely well.” winners and 13 millionaires. Super Hall of Famer Steve Asmussen also Stock is a good bet to be added to at won his 11th training title at Oaklawn this least one of those lists of accom- year with 45 wins, 11 more than Robertino plished alumni with career earnings Diodoro in second. Asmussen has been the of $804,762. meet’s leading trainer in 2007, 2008, The winner paid $26.40 and cov- 2010, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2016, 2017, 2018 ered nine furlongs in 1:50.92. Caddo and 2019. River held second by a head over In addition to the $600,000 earned for Concert Tour in third followed by Get winning the Arkansas Derby, Super Stock Her Number, Last Samauri and got 100 points on the Kentucky Derby Hozier in that order. leaderboard and will go into the first leg of Caddo River earned 40 points for the Triple Crown at No. 3 with 109 points finishing second to push his total on behind top ranked Toyota Blue Grass the Derby leaderboard to 50 and rank (G2)-winner Essential Quality with 140 13th. Concert Tour was already guar- and Twinspires.com Louisiana Derby (G2- anteed a spot in the Kentucky Derby before Saturday but earned 10 points hero Hot Rod Charlie with 109. Marilyn, Steve and Keith Asmussen/COADY PHOTO Super Stock is co-owned by Erv for running third and now has 70 Woolsey and Keith Asmussen, the father of Hall of Fame trainer points and a No. 9 ranking. Fourth-place finisher Get Her Number Steve Asmussen, who won his fifth Arkansas Derby, the most of is now on the bubble in 26th place with 20 points. any trainer in the 85 years of Oaklawn’s showcase event. See ASMUSSEN on page 18
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Back to Top Page 11 Juliet Foxtrot Leads All the Way to Win Jenny Wiley BY KEENELAND PRESS OFFICE ______LEXINGTON, KY—Juddmonte Farms’ homebred Juliet Foxtrot (GB) took the lead out of the gate and cruised to a two-length vic- tory over Tamahere (Fr) to win the 33rd running of the $300,000 Coolmore Jenny Wiley (Grade 1) for fillies and mares on a soggy Saturday afternoon at Keeneland. The performance marked the 16th graded-stakes victory at Keeneland for Juddmonte. In honor of the historic milestone, Juddmonte received a Keeneland Pitcher as part of Keeneland’s signature Milestone Trophy Program. Juddmonte becomes the fourth owner to win a Keeneland Pitcher. It is the fourth victory in the race for Juddmonte, whose previ- ous triumphs came with Tates Creek in 2002 and Intercontinental (GB) in 2004 and 2005. Trained by Brad Cox and ridden by Tyler Gaffalione, Juliet Foxtrot covered the mile-and-one-sixteenth on a yielding turf course in 1:44.51. It is the first victory in the race for Cox and Gaffalione and was the third winner of the afternoon for Cox. Gaffalione put Juliet Foxtrot right on the lead and led the field of six through fractions of :24.35, :49.45 and 1:13.72 with Tamahere tracking in second. Juliet Foxtrot (GB)/COADY PHOTO Juliet Foxtrot maintained a daylight margin into the stretch and through early fractions of :22.39, :45.87 and 1:11.30 as Hernandez never was threatened in the run down the lane. gave King Fury a ground-saving trip in midpack. Approaching the The victory, the first Grade 1 for Juliet Foxtrot, was worth far turn, Bezos dropped out of contention as King Fury began a $180,000. A 6-year-old daughter of Dansili (GB) out of the King’s move on the inside and Starrininmydreams moved three-wide. Best mare Kilo Alpha (GB), Juliet Foxtrot increased her earnings At the five-sixteenths pole, King Fury split Noble Reflection and to $701,831 with a record of six wins, two second and three thirds Swiftsure and surged to the lead at the quarter pole and was not in 20 starts. threatened in the run to the finish line. Sent off as the favorite, Juliet Foxtrot returned $5.40. King Fury is a Kentucky-bred son of Curlin out of the Flatter Tamahere, ridden by Irad Ortiz Jr., finished a neck in front of La mare Taris. The victory was worth $120,000 and increased his Signare (Fr). It was another three-quarters of a length back to earnings to $262,739 with a record of three wins in six starts. Etoile (Fr), who was followed in order by Maxim Rate and King Fury returned $38.40. Micheline. Unbridled Honor, finished second, two-and-a-quarter lengths in front of Starrininmydreams. It was another length back to King Fury Scores 18-1 Upset in Stonestreet STONESTREET LEXINGTON Lexington See on page 13
Fern Circle Stables and Three Chimneys Farm’s King Fury split horses nearing the top of the stretch and drew off to post a two-and-three-quarters-length victory over Unbridled Honor in the 39th running of the $200,000 Stonestreet Lexington (G3) for 3-year-olds. Trained by Kenny McPeek and ridden by Brian Hernandez Jr., King Fury covered the mile-and-one-sixteenth on a sloppy track in 1:43.50. It is the second victory in the race for McPeek, who sad- dled Senior Investment in 2017. With the victory, King Fury picked up his first 20 points toward the May 1 Kentucky Derby presented by Woodford Reserve (G1). The Derby is limited to the top 20 point earners that pass the entry box and the 20 points is not in the top 20. Unbridled Honor picked up eight points for running second to boost his total 13. Starrininmydreams picked up his first four points for third, and Proxy added two points for finishing fourth to boost his total to 36. The trio of Noble Reflection, Swiftsure and Bezos raced King Fury/COADY PHOTO
Back to Top Back to Top Page 13 Stonestreet Lexington page 11 Continued from length at the wire. Proxy, who was followed in order by Noble The victory was worth $90,000 and Reflection, It’s My House, Swiftsure, increased Silver Dust’s earnings to Hockey Dad and Bezos. $975,677 with a record of seven wins, seven seconds and five thirds from starts. A Keeneland sales graduate, Silver Dust is Silver Dust Holds on to Win a 7-year-old Kentucky-bred son of Tapit Ben Ali out of the Hard Spun mare Filare l’Oro. The gelding is also a graduate of the Tom Durant’s Silver Dust eased by Ocala Breeders’ Sales March Sale of 2016 pacesetting Sprawl after a prolonged where Durant paid $510,000 for him out of stretch duel and then had enough to hold the de Meric Sales consignment. off odds-on favorite Night Ops by a half- Silver Dust returned $11.20 as the third length to win the 90th running of the choice. Favored Night Ops, ridden by $150,000 Ben Ali (G3) for older horses. Javier Castellano finished second, a neck Trained by Bret Calhoun and ridden by in front of second choice Beau Luminarie. Adam Beschizza, Silver Dust covered the Sprawl finished another nose back in mile-and-one-eighth on a sloppy track in fourth and a nose ahead of Treasure Trove. 1:50.21 to pick up his fourth Grade 3 victory. Sprawl took the lead out of the gate in Change of Control Wins Giant’s the field of five with Silver Dust tracking just off his flank through fractions of Causeway to Give Trainer :23.79, :47.63 and 1:12.32. On the far turn, Lovell 500th Victory Silver Dust drew on even terms but could not push past until deep stretch. Horseshoe Racing’s Change of Control Once clear of that rival, Silver Dust held roared past even-money favorite Into Mystic off first Beau Luminarie and then Night inside the sixteenth pole to win the 24th run-
Ops with the field separated by less than a Silver Dust (right)/MATT WOOLEY/EQUISPORT PHOTO See BEN ALI on page 20 Gulfstream Park Spring/Summer Florida-bred and Florida Sire Stakes Races and Bonuses Date Race Conditions Distance Purse May 1 Big Drama (Fla.) 3yo and older 6 fur. $75,000* April 18 May 29 Musical Romance (Fla.) 3yo and older, fillies and mares 6 ½ fur. $75,000* May 16 May 31 Soldier's Dancer (Fla.) 3yo and older 1 1/16 mi. turf $75,000* May 16 June 12 Ginger Punch (Fla.) 3yo and older, fillies and mares 1 1/16 mi. turf $75,000* May 30 July 3 Princess Rooney Invitational (G2) 3yo and older, fillies and mares 7 fur. $350,000** Invite July 3 Smile Sprint Invitational (G3) 3yo and older 6 fur. $200,000** Invite July 4 Bob Umphrey Turf Sprint 3yo and older 5 fur. turf $75,000** June 20 July 31 FTBOA Florida Sire Stakes Dr. Fager 2yo colts and geldings 6 fur. $100,000 Closed July 31 FTBOA Florida Sire Stakes Desert Vixen 2yo fillies 6 fur. $100,000 Closed Aug. 14 Benny the Bull (Fla.) 3yo and older 7 fur. $75,000* Aug. 1 Aug. 21 Proud Man 2yo 7 ½ fur. turf $75,000** Aug. 8 Aug. 21 Sharp Susan 2yo fillies 7 ½ fur. turf $75,000** Aug. 8 Aug. 28 FTBOA Florida Sire Stakes Affirmed 2yo colt and geldings 7 fur. $200,000 Closed Aug. 28 FTBOA Florida Sire Stakes Susan's Girl 2yo fillies 7 fur. $200,000 Closed Sept. 11 Sheer Drama (Fla.) 3yo and older, fillies and mares 7 fur. $75,000* Aug. 29 Sept. 18 Armed Forces 2yo 1 mi. turf $100,000** Sept. 5 Sept. 18 Our Dear Peggy 2yo fillies 1 mi. turf $100,000** Sept. 5 Sept. 25 FTBOA Florida Sire Stakes In Reality 2yo colts and gelding 1 1/16 mi. $400,000 Closed Sept. 25 FTBOA Florida Sire Stakes My Dear Girl 2yo fillies 1 1/16 mi. $400,000 Closed Sept. 25 FTBOA Florida Sire Stakes Wildcat Heir 3yo and older 1 mi. $125,000 Closed Sept. 25 Hollywood Beach 2yo 5 fur. turf $100,000** Sept. 12
(Fla.) = Restricted to Florida-breds * Plus $25,000 Florida Sire Stakes Win Bonus ** Plus $25,000 Florida-bred Win Bonus
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Page 14 Delaware Wins First North American Race in Danger’s Hour BY BRIAN BOHL, NYRA PRESS OFFICE ______OZONE PARK, NY—Delaware (GB) arrived in the United States with high expectations after displaying group-stakes winning form in France. In his seventh start since coming to North America, the British-bred son of Frankel used a deep-stretch surge to overtake pacesetter Rinaldi in the final sixteenth, setting an Aqueduct Racetrack inner turf course record at one mile with a three-quarter length score in Saturday’s $100,000 Danger’s Hour. The sixth running of the Danger’s Hour—the first turf stakes of 2021 on the NYRA circuit—saw Rinaldi break well from the inside post and lead the seven-horse field of 4-year-olds and up through the opening quarter-mile in :23.67, the half in :47.27 and three-quarters in 1:10.27 over firm going. Past the sixteenth marker, Delaware displayed an impressive turn-of-foot from the outside, overtaking his rival and stopping the clock in 1:33.67. That bested Inspector Lynley’s previous course mark of 1:34.13, set on April 7, 2019 in the previous running of the Danger’s Hour. Delaware, owned by Michael Dubb, Nice Guys Stables and Delaware (GB)/COGLIANESE PHOTO See DANGER’S HOUR on page 21 Paco Lopez Reaches 3000-Win Milestone at Gulfstream Park BY GULFSTREAM PARK PRESS OFFICE ______HALLANDALE BEACH, FL – Jockey Paco Lopez notched his 3000th win Saturday at Gulfstream Park, reaching the career mile- stone via the disqualification of the first-place finisher in the day’s second race. After notching Win 2999 aboard Our Little Devil ($5.20) in Race 1, Lopez was awarded the 3000th victory of his career by the stewards, who placed Heart of God ($6) first in Race 2 following the disqualification of the first-place finisher. The 35-year-old jour- neyman came right back to win Race 3 aboard Eamonn ($5.60). “It’s exciting to make the milestone with my agent Cory Moran, who was with me from the beginning. It’s also exciting to win my 3000th race in South Florida, where I started,” Lopez said. “I won a lot of races in Mexico with the quarter horses, but to win 3000 races in America with the best horses and the best jockeys, I’m feeling very lucky to be here.” Paco Lopez/RYAN THOMPSON PHOTO After riding quarter horses in his native Mexico from a young chance to ride in America,” Lopez said. age, Lopez ventured to South Florida in 2006. Lopez rode his first Lopez has won 89 career graded-stakes, eight of them Grade 1, winner July 13, 2007 at Calder. He won 229 races and nearly $4 including his first in the 2014 Whitney (G1) with South Florida- million in purse earnings on his way to winning the Eclipse Award based Itsmyluckyday and the 2018 Breeders’ Cup Sprint aboard as champion apprentice in his first full season in 2008. Roy H. Lopez won back-to-back Championship Meet riding titles at Later Saturday, Lopez launched his quest for 4000 with two Gulfstream in 2010 and 2011. He also won the 2019 Gulfstream more winners at Gulfstream Park. Park West crown and owns 11 riding championships in New He came back to win aboard Eamonn ($5.60) in Race 3 before Jersey, eight of them at Monmouth Park, where he spends the scoring again in Race 7 aboard Tidal Forces ($29.40). summer and early fall. Trainer Saffie Joseph Jr. saddled four winners, scoring back- Lopez was joined in the winner’s circle for a special presenta- to-back with Bailey ($8.40) in Race 4 and first-time starter Twelve tion by his wife Renata and two young sons. Volt Man ($8) in Race 5 before winning with Causalistic ($3) in “I’m very excited and I thank God for my family and for the Race 8 and Twenty Four Seven ($ ) in Race 11.
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First Under Tack Friday Charts Show Session for Click Here to View Entries for Gulfstream Park OBS April Postponed !" #$ % $& #' # # ($)* %+,-. ) ! / !# ! / !0+.#1, 1.&!# 2 #3' '#) # # ( 3 ( # 3# ' BY OBS PRESS OFFICE ______'# '# # ( ) 4$'+56 7$0,1+,,#)* 01. 7$ ++,5+-) 4$ 0 -8 )* '+,,)*9 -0,.) 9 6+.)4 9 06)9 +6)*9 +:6)*$(00) ;*$ :-00 OCALA, FL—The first session of ) ;<*$ +-00 );$ =-00 )<4 *;$ >+,00 )* ?45 - / 7 @,: ! "#$%& best and safest course of action for ' () *)+ ,-)+ . *+) *+ )+ ,/0)+ 01 both horses and people. < "3 3 ;$ $* $ The under tack show will now be @ $; $ held over six sessions beginning */# /#2 $ ) A < 3 ) $?4 ! < * 3 )?$ Monday, April 12 and continuing " ! < *4 3 )<$;4) >" <