Aside from half the field having received their early training at Ocala farms, here are the Kentucky Derby entrants who have current Marion County ties.

1. Citizen Bull (Into Mischief). Has 10 owners, one of them Barbara Banke's Stonestreet Stable, which owns a branch in Summerfield.

2. Neoequos (Florida-bred by Neolithic). Bred at Pleasant Acres Stallions by the farm's owners, Joe and Helen Barbazon, in partnership with Matalona Thoroughbreds.

4. Rodriguez (Not This Time). Same 10 owners as Citizen Bull, including Stonestreet Stables.

8. Journalism (3-1, by Curlin). Has 5 owners, including Ocala's Bridlewood Farm (John & Leslie Malone).

15. Render Judgment (Blame). Trained by Ken McPeek, owner of the Summerfield Training Center. 

17. Sandman (Tapit). Trained by Ocalan Mark Casse, owner of the Casse Training Center. 

 

 

 

    HALLANDALE BEACH - C2 Racing Stable, Ian Parsard, Shining Stables and Stefania Farms’ Neoequos breezed a half-mile this morning at Gulfstream Park in preparation for a desired start in the May 3 Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs.

    The Saffie Joseph Jr.-trained Florida-bred colt, who finished third in both the $1 million Curlin Florida Derby and $400,000 Coolmore Fountain of Youth 1 at Gulfstream, sits 21st in the qualifying points standings for the first leg of the Triple Crown. The 3-year-old son of Neolithic will need a defection from the current Top 20 to run in the 1 ¼-mile Run for the Roses.

    Neoequos worked in company with Mr. Narcissistic and finished on even terms with his veteran stablemate in 48.43 seconds, the fastest four-furlong clocking of the morning.

    “It went good. He worked in company. He was inside his workmate. It was his last breeze and we were just looking for maintenance,” Joseph said. “It went well. He’s in good form.” Joseph reported that Neoequos will ship to Churchill Downs Friday morning.

    “We feel like we can get into the Derby, but if he doesn’t get in, he’ll run in one of the other races Derby Day,” he said.

    If unsuccessful drawing into the Derby field, Neoequos would run in either the Gr. I American Turf or the Gr. II Pat Day Mile on the undercard.

    “Right now, we’re leaning to the American Turf, but the Pat Day Mile, I’d say, is also in contention,” said Joseph. Flavien Prat will be named on Neoequos and would ride him in the Derby unless Baeza, who sits 23rd in the points standings, also drew into the field.

    Neoequos’ career got off to a rocky start last July when he stumbled and lost his rider early in his debut at five furlongs. The Florida-bred colt bounced back to graduate in his next start before finishing second in the first two legs of the Florida Sire Stakes series behind undefeated Rated by Merit, who produced the fastest Beyer Speed Figure (99) of all 2025 juveniles in the seven-furlong FSS Affirmed.

    Neoequos was sharp off a layoff to win a Jan. 23 allowance by 3 ½ lengths before finishing third behind Sovereignty and River Thames in the 1 1/16-mile Coolmore Fountain of Youth and again in the 1 1/8-mile Curlin Florida Derby behind Tappan Street and Sovereignty, both of whom are Kentucky Derby-bound.

    Joseph-trained Early On has secured a start in the May 2 Kentucky Oaks (G1) at Churchill on the strength of a second-place finish in the March 15 Virginia Oaks at Colonial Downs and a runner-up finish in the April 5 Gazelle (G3) at Aqueduct. The New York-bred daughter of Union Rags graduated at Gulfstream in her 2025 debut on Feb. 5.

    HALLANDALE BEACH - Gulfstream Park has announced the restructuring of the Florida Breeders’ Incentive Fund (FBIF) that is projected to provide over $2 million to owners beginning May 1.

    Previously, the FBIF only included claiming races of $25,000 and up, including maiden special weight, allowance and overnight handicap events. Now, the FBIF will be open to all races, regardless of value. The only exception will be state-bred races.

    Gulfstream also announced that FBIF race incentives, which were offering $5,000 per race, will be raised to $6,000 per race in maiden special weight, allowance and overnight handicaps.

    “We appreciate the work that went into this, and our focus is to have the best summer meet possible,” said Tom Cannell, president of the Florida Thoroughbred Horsemen.

    Bill Badgett, executive director of Florida Racing Operations for Gulfstream Park, said; “The restructuring of the Florida Breeders’ Incentive Fund will provide additional incentives to Florida owners. We look forward to continuing working with horsemen to make Gulfstream’s summer meet a success.

    The quiet confidence consignor Steven Venosa had as he watched Hip 601 head up to the OBS sales ring Wednesday was due in large part to his belief that when individuals are that special, the market will respond accordingly.

    “It’s hard to hide a good horse,” said Venosa, who consigns as S G V Thoroughbreds. “And he’s a great horse.”

    Despite the bay Gun Runner colt taking his turn in the sales pavilion at the end of the second session of the OBS Spring Sale of Two-Year-Olds in Training, the demand was indeed there as he sold for $1.45 million to Kerri Radcliffe, agent for Memo Racing, to headline a day that saw a record number of seven-figure horses sell at the OBS April sale.

    The Gun Runner colt was one of six horses to sell for $1 million or more during Day 2 of the OBS Spring sale and the seventh horse overall to reach that level during the first two days. The previous record for most million-dollar babies sold at OBS April came when five reached that threshold in 2022.

    “Wow, great day,” said Tod Wojciechowski, OBS Director of Sales. “I said before the sale started that I’m always amazed how the consignors continually up the quality of the horses they bring, and I think that was evidenced today by having six horses bring a million or more.

    "I think as an industry we’re a glass half full kind of industry. We’re always waiting for the next big horse or we’re always waiting for the next big win. So, I would never say that we never thought it could happen. We’re always hoping."

    Similar to the OBS March sale when a son of Gun Runner established a record price for an OBS sale when he sold for $3 million, the bay colt by the Three Chimneys stallion that lit up the board Wednesday became part of the history books. The colt breezed in :10 flat during the under tack show and boasts a pedigree bred in the purple.

    He is out of the winning Empire Maker mare Vanquished and is a half-brother to multiple graded stakes winner Takeover Target and stakes winner Ladies’ Privilege, dam of Breeders’ Cup Mile (G1) winner More Than Looks. 

    “A horse like that with a stallion’s pedigree and a Breeders’ Cup horse under the first dam… he came up here and did everything he needed to do,” Venosa said. “He showed well all week, and I had a great team behind me that was able to help me get him here. I was never worried. You can’t hide horses like that, and people come, and he was rewarded. And he went to a person with a great eye for a horse.”

    When asked what made the colt a standout, Radcliffe stated the obvious.

    “He’s a Gun Runner,” Radcliffe said. “It’s a little hard to get away from that. He was gorgeous horse, he breezed really well. Physically he’s lovely and he’s probably going to take a bit more time. We came here to buy nice colts and we got two.”

    Earlier in the session, Radcliffe had gone to $1.05 million to land Hip 378, a dark bay or brown colt by Nyquist also for Memo Racing. Consigned by Harris Training Center, the Nyquist colt is out of the winning Distorted Humor mare Saucy Dame and breezed in :10 flat during the under tack show.

    “He was just gorgeous. Pure class by a stallion like Nyquist out of a Distorted Humor mare and bred by Stonestreet, which doesn’t get much better than that,” said Radcliffe, who added they have not decided which trainer the colt would go to. “Not surprised at the price.”

    The colt is out of a half-sister to graded stakes winner Buffum and well surpassed the conservative reserve put on him by consignor and co-owner Robbie Harris.

    “I had a $249,000 reserve on him, but I knew he was going to sell well,” Harris said. “People were telling me there was a lot of chatter about him that he was one of the top end colts. We loved him. I break 100 head every year and you always knew where he was any time he was on the track.”

    In addition to being a record-setter for OBS, Wednesday’s session was also a banner one for consignor Raul Reyes of Kings Equine. Reyes sold two of the seven-figure horses on the day – both to Libyan based bloodstock agent Mahmud Mouni – including the day’s second highest priced horse, a $1.4 million son of six-time leading sire and OBS grad Into Mischief.

    Consigned as Hip 416, the Into Mischief colt is a full brother to undefeated multiple stakes winner Taraz and showed his talent during the under-tack show when he breezed in :9 4/5, tying for the fastest time at the distance. The colt is out of the winning Empire Maker mare Silk Route.

    “I liked this colt. I specifically came for this colt,” said Mouni, who added that the colt will remain stateside and that a trainer has not yet been decided. “We are lucky to get him at $1.4 million, it’s a fair price. I was unlucky in March for the horse who sold for $3 million, the Gun Runner colt. I tried to bid on him. This sale, we specifically came for this one and we got him. He’s a really, really nice horse.”

    Mouni, who was buying for the newly formed Tagermeen Racing syndicate, also purchased Hip 578, a bay daughter of Tiz the Law, for $1.05 million from the Kings Equine consignment. The filly, who breezed in :9 4/5, is out of the stakes winning graded stakes place mare Tulsa Queen, by Cactus Ridge. 

    “It feels great, I’ve had worse feelings than this,” Reyes said of his consignment’s outing. “I had a bad year last year and I really worked hard this year to be where I am. It’s very easy in this business to go up and down, and it’s hard to get up. I put a lot of effort this year into my business.

    “(The Into Mischief colt) we had high expectations all year for him,” Reyes added. “He proved that he was a nice horse, and we knew he was going to be special. He did everything right and just has a really good mind. He’s a very serious horse and…the rest is history.”

    The day’s third highest price came when owner Kaleem Shah, seated alongside Hall of Fame trainer Steve Asmussen, went to $1.3 million to land Hip 585, a bay colt by OBS grad Yaupon consigned by de Meric Sales. The colt, who worked in :9 4/5, is out of the Stormy Atlantic mare Twitterpated, who is a full sister to Grade 1 winner Stormy Lucy. 

    Asmussen, who trained Yaupon, sees a lot of the same qualities in his future trainee as he did his sire.

    “You walk up on him, and he has so many characteristics of his dad temperament wise,” Asmussen said. “We went back and looked at him multiple times and I liked him more every time I saw him. Obviously, we paid more than retail for him, but we loved who he is compared to a lot of other good horses.

    “Of course you would have been more comfortable getting him for less but the question was, do you think he’s the right horse. And I believe that he is.”

    Another million-dollar baby was born when Donato Lanni, agent for Zedan Racing, stretched to $1.15 million to land Hip 508, a chestnut colt by Tiz the Law consigned by Tom McCrocklin. The colt, who worked in :20 3/5, is out of the winning Forestry mare Taboo, an OBS grad who is out of Grade 1 winner and producer Dream of Summer and is a half-sister to Grade 1 winners Creative Cause and Vexatious and Grade 2 winner Destin. 

    The colt is also a half-brother to stakes winner Let My People Go.

    “He had a great work and came back really good,” Lanni said of the colt. “He’s a horse we wanted to go home with. He was one of the top colts in the sale and we just hope he’s a runner. It’s a deep family and he was just a cool dude. It’s hard to separate them all but this is the colt we gravitated to.”

    Other top prices on the day included:

    Hip 322, a bay colt by Omaha Beach consigned by Eddie Woods, who sold to Three Amigos for $700,000 early in the session. The colt, who breezed in :10 flat, is out of the Quiet American mare Reason, who hails from the female family of Grade 1 winner Switch, and is a half-brother to stakes placed winners Bedard and Barilko.

    Hip 518, a gray or roan filly by Munnings consigned by Thorostock who sold for $700,000 to William K. Werner. The filly, who worked in :21 flat, is out of the winning Tapit mare Tapping Pearl, who is a half sister to Grade 1 winner Drill.

    Hip 373, a gray or roan colt by Knicks Go consigned by Hidden Brook, Agent, who sold for $585,000 to D. J. Stable LLC & West Point Thoroughbreds. The colt, who breezed in :10 1/5, is out of the Indian Charlie mare Sassy Ali Joy and is a half-brother to stakes placed Tuscan Queen, an OBS April grad. 

    Hip 424, a chestnut colt by Gun Runner consigned by Six K’s Training & Sales who sold for $550,000 to Spendthrift Farm. The colt, who breezed in :21 1/5, is out of the winning graded stakes placed Sky Mesa mare Sky Dreamer and is a half-brother to Group 2 winner Kimbear.

    Total gross for the session came in at $26,128,500 from 164 head sold, an improvement over last year’s second session that posted a gross of $25,894,500 from 177 sold. The session average of $159,320 improved from $146,297 in 2024 with the median down slightly, from $68,000 last year to $67,500 this session.

    Overall, for the first two days, a total of 325 horses have sold for $46,393,500, just off last year’s total of $46,853,000 from 336 sold. Total average is up from $139,443 in 2024 to $142,749 this year with the median coming in at $60,000, down from $75,000 a year ago.

    De Meric Sales leads all consignors through two days with 16 head sold for $4,190,000. Mouni leads all buyers with three purchased for $2,690,000. A total of 81 horses have failed to meet their reserve through the first two sessions for an RNA rate of 19.9%.

    Once again, there's a great diversity of talent in the Masters, with a cast of current PGA Tour players battling a group of the LIVers and a group of the old-timers.

    Justin Rose leads the way at Augusta National after round 1 with a great 7-under-par score of 65 over the famed layout which took out its wrath on many past heroes. Rose goes into today's fray with a three-stroke edge over Corey Conners, Scottie Scheffler and Ludvig Aberg.  

    Among the LIVers, Bryson Dechambeau is best with a 3-under 69 and a tie for fifth, followed by Patrick Reed and Bubba Watson with 71s, Sergio Garcia at 72, Dustin Johnson with 74 and Phil Mickelson and Jon Rahm with 75s. 

    The old guys are led by old reliable Freddy Couples with 1-under 71, well ahead of Angel Cabrera and Mike Weir with 75s and Jose Maria Olazabal with 77.

    The lone Gator in the mix is Billy Horschel with 77, and the Seminoles are Daniel Berger (71, tied for 11th) and Brooks Koepka (74). There are 95 players in the field and the very early projected cut is plus 2.

 

 

    HALLANDALE BEACH - A mandatory payout of the 20-cent Rainbow 6 jackpot pool has been rescheduled to Sunday, April 13 at Gulfstream Park.

    Originally scheduled for last Sunday, the multi-race wager’s mandatory payout was postponed due to heavy rains and windy conditions that forced the cancellation of the 2024-2025 Championship Meet’s closing-day card following Race 5.

    The Rainbow 6 went unsolved for the fifth day on Thursday’s Royal Palm Meet’s opening-day program. Today’s Rainbow 6 jackpot pool is expected to grow to an estimated $450,000.

    The sequence will span Races 4-9, featuring a 5 ½-furlong optional claiming allowance for fillies and mares on Tapeta carded as Race 7, in which Eddie Plesa Jr.-trained Time Passage will make her 2025 debut. The 5-year-old daughter of Tunwoo, who will run for a $62,500 claiming tag, has won three stakes on the all-weather surface. Kevin Rice-trained Ms. Tart enters the feature with a victory while cutting back to 5 ½ furlongs last time out.

Silks to Open at 9 a.m. for Dubai World Cup Card Simulcast

    The doors of the Silks simulcast center will open at 9 a.m. Saturday for the convenience of fans wishing to watch and wager on the $30 million Dubai World Cup Day program.

    Gulfstream will be represented by Il Miracolo, Super Chow and Steal Sunshine at Meydan Racecourse. Antonio Sano-trained Il Miracolo, a multiple graded-stakes winner who’ll be ridden by Hall of Famer John Velazquez, will run in the $12 million Dubai World Cup, the 1 ¼-mile feature that is scheduled to close out the action at 1:30 p.m. (ET).

    Jorge Delgado-trained Super Chow, a multiple graded stakes-winner who captured the Gulfstream Park Turf Sprint in his 2025 debut, will be reunited with jockey Chantal Sutherland in the $2 million Dubai Golden Shaheen, a six-furlong test for older horses with an 11:40 a.m. post time. Bobby Dibona-conditioned Steal Sunshine, a Grade 2 winner who will be ridden by Christophe Lemaire, will run in the $1 million Godolphin Mile, a stakes for older horses that is slated for 9:45 a.m.

    Mark Casse trainee and OBS graduate Sandman (Tapit-Distorted Music, by Distorted Humor) used the final Saturday in March to book his plans for the first Saturday in May when he rolled to a 2 1/2-length victory in the $1.5 million, Gr. I Arkansas Derby at Oaklawn Park, headlining a weekend that saw three OBS grads earn graded stakes victories.

    Sandman took advantage of wicked early fractions to unleash his closing kick and collected 100 Kentucky Derby qualifying points. The son of Tapit notched his third win in eight lifetime starts and improved his lifetime earnings to $1,254,595.

    “I couldn’t believe it, actually (early fractions),” Casse told the Oaklawn publicity team. “I said: ‘Well, they’ll have to be superstars to keep going.’ The farther they went, the more confident I was."

    A $1.2 million purchase at the 2024 OBS March 2-Year-Olds in Training sale, Sandman races for D. J. Stable, St. Elias Stable, West Point Thoroughbreds and CJ Stables. He was consigned by Tom McCrocklin as part of a complete dispersal for his breeder, Lothenbach Stables.

    The busy slate of stakes across the country on March 29 also saw C2 Racing Stable, Gary Barber and La Milagrosa Stable’s White Abarrio (Race Day – Catching Diamonds, by Into Mischief) make a triumphant return from his victory in the Pegasus World Cup Invitational with a handy 5 ¼-length score in the $165,000, Gr. III Ghostzapper over fellow Gr. 1-winning OBS grad Power Squeeze at Gulfstream Park.

    White Abarrio, who had captured the Pegasus World Cup by 6 ¼ lengths, is scheduled to run next in the Gr. I Met Mile on June 7 at Saratoga. A two-time OBS graduate, White Abarrio was sold by Summerfield (Francis & Barbara Vanlangendonck), Agent, at the 2020 Winter Mixed Sale and then purchased for $40,000 out of the Nice and Easy Thoroughbreds consignment at the 2021 March Sale after breezing an eighth in :10 2/5.

    At Santa Anita Park, CSLR Racing Partners’ Pilot Commander (Justify-Rebuke, by Carson City) earned his first stakes win when he prevailed in the $100,000, Gr. III San Carlos Stakes going seven furlongs. A 4-year-old colt trained by Bob Baffert, he was purchased by his owners for $700,000 out of the 2025 OBS March sale from the consignment of Niall Brennan Stables after breezing in :9 4/5.

Other OBS graduates who earned stakes victories:

    March 29: Appleton Stakes: Brad Grady and David Grund’s Seminole Chief (Girvin – Secret Song, by Dunkirk) earned his second stakes victory when he annexed the $165,000 Appleton at Gulfstream Park. Trained by Jack Sisterson, Seminole Chief was consigned by Bobby Dodd, Agent, to the 2023 OBS June Sale and sold to HND Bloodstock for $80,000 after breezing in :10 1/5.

    March 30: Ocala Breeders’ Sales Sophomore Stakes: Macho Music (Maclean’s Music-Southern Girl, by Tapit) drew off to an 11 ¼-length victory over fellow OBS graduate P Four to take the $110,000 Ocala Breeders’ Sales Sophomore going seven furlongs at Tampa Bay Downs, lowering the former stakes mark of 1:22.13 set in 2011 by Manicero to 1:21.30. Macho Music is owned by Mark Fletcher Taylor, Rohan Crichton and Daniel L. Walters and trained by Crichton. The partners purchased him for $60,000 from the Pick View consignment at the 2024 Ocala Breeders’ Sales March Sale of Two-Year-Olds in Training after breezing in :10 2/5.

    Sophomore Fillies Stakes: Win N Your In (Win Win Win-Hello Rosie, by Yes It’s True) powered to a 7-length victory in the $110,000 Sophomore Fillies Stakes over fellow OBS graduate Bella Cleopatra at Tampa Bay Downs. The victory was the fourth from nine lifetime starts for Win N Your In, who is owned by Troy Johnson and Maritza Weston, and her third stakes victory. Trained by Carlos David, she was purchased by Johnson for $12,000 out of the Summerfield consignment at the 2023 OBS Winter Mixed Sale.

    HALLANDALE BEACH, FL – After seeing the light go on in Owen Almighty’s second try around two turns, trainer Brian Lynch is hoping for a similar type of response from stablemate Jimmy’s Dailys in Saturday’s $1 million Curlin Florida Derby.

    The 1 1/8-mile Florida Derby for 3-year-olds, one of the country’s premiere Triple Crown preps, anchors a spectacular 14-race program Saturday at Gulfstream Park that features 10 stakes, five graded, worth $2.62 million in purses. Post time is 11:30 a.m. (ET)

    As a qualifying race for the May 3 Kentucky Derby, the Florida Derby offers points to the first five finishers on a 100-50-25-15-10 basis.

    Jimmy’s Dailys will be making his fifth career start and stakes debut in the Florida Derby, coming off a runner-up finish to undefeated Grande in a 1 1/16-mile optional claiming allowance Feb. 27 at Gulfstream. He was ridden that day by Irad Ortiz Jr., who is committed on Disruptor for Hall of Fame trainer Todd Pletcher in the Florida Derby.

    “He hung the whole way down the backside and he was on rein and Irad felt like if he could have steered him it could have been a little bit different,” Lynch said of the most recent run. “Hopefully we’ve ironed that kink out. He’s training really good, so we’re excited about running him.”

    Jimmy’s Dailys is by Vekoma, a Gr. 1 winner at seven furlongs and a mile that was third in the 1 1/16-mile, Gr. II Fountain of Youth at Gulfstream and second in the 1 1/8-mile, Gr. II Blue Grass in 2019. Earlier this month, Owen Almighty was a front-running 3 ½-length winner of the Gr. II Tampa Bay Derby after having run second by a half-length in the 1 1/16-mile Sam F. Davis – his first race beyond one mile.

    “I think as good as Owen Almighty ran in his second time around two turns, this horse is going to show the same sort of things,” Lynch said. “It’s his second go around two turns, he knows what he’s doing now, [and] he’s a lot fitter for it. We’ll find out what class level he’s at now, whether he can run with these horses and whether we’ve got our [Kentucky] Derby contender.”

    Hall of Famer Joel Rosario is named on Jimmy’s Dailys from Post 6 in a field of 10. They are rated at 12-1 on the morning line.

    Jimmy’s Dailys is a homebred of Donald Dizney, who is synonymous with Florida racing as past president of the Florida Thoroughbred Breeders and Owners Association and owner of Double Diamond Farm in Ocala. Among his best horses have been Gr. 1 winner First Dude, runner-up in the 2010 Preakness; 2013 , Gr. III Smile Sprint winner Bahamian Squall, 2011, Gr. III Mr. Prospector winner Apriority and 1996, Gr. I Gulfstream Park Handicap winner Wekiva Springs.

    “I’ve had a few for him over the years,” Lynch said. “I know they’re very excited, as I am, and he seems like a nice little horse to do it with, too.”

    HALLANDALE BEACH - Trainer Brian Lynch has confirmed that Donald Dizney’s Jimmy’s Dailys will make his next start in the $1 million Curlin Florida Derby at Gulfstream Park on March 29.

    Jimmy’s Dailys is slated to make his stakes debut in the Florida Derby, the premier prep for the May 3 Kentucky Derby, but the 3-year-old son of Vekoma has certainly kept the very best of company in his three starts at Gulfstream during the 2024-2025 Championship Meet after a six-month layoff following an unplaced June 23 debut at Churchill.

    Jimmy’s Dailys made his return to action with a fourth-place finish behind Tappan Street, who went on to finish second in the Feb. 1, Gr. III Holy Bull, in a Dec. 28 seven-furlong maiden race, in which Multiverse finished third before going on to break his maiden and finish second in the Hutcheson.

    “After his first start at Churchill, he had an unusual injury that we had to give him time for. He’s owned by the Dizneys, so we sent him down here to their farm in Florida,” Lynch said. “He probably wasn’t in the form that we’d have liked, but we wanted to try to get him on the Derby program. So, he probably wasn’t as ready for his first start as he could have been, but he’s really come on from that.”

    The Dizney homebred was certainly ready for his second Gulfstream start in a seven-furlong maiden special weight race on the Jan. 25 Pegasus World Cup undercard, drawing clear by 1 ¼ lengths after closely stalking the pace. Disruptor, a $1.15 million purchase finished third in that race, before going on to graduate by 9 ¼ lengths for Hall of Fame trainer Todd Pletcher on the March 1 Fountain of Youth undercard.

    Jimmy’s Dailys subsequently made his first start around two turns in a 1 1/16-mile optional claiming allowance Feb. 27, setting the pace before finishing second behind Pletcher-trained Grande, who is undefeated in two career starts, both at Gulfstream.

    “I thought he ran very gritty his first start around two turns,” Lynch said. “He got inside pressed after breaking from the 1 hole – he was committed. He was pressed by that horse of Todd’s, who got the jump on him. I liked the way when he got to the outside of that horse that he boxed on and tried to make up ground. It gave me some confidence that he can go a little bit further. You have to think second time around two turns he’s going to get better.”

    Joel Rosario, a 2024 Hall of Fame inductee, will have the mount aboard Jimmy’s Dailys for the 1 1/8-mile Florida Derby, in which Godolphin’s Sovereignty, a most impressive winner of the Fountain of Youth for Hall of Fame trainer Bill Mott, is scheduled to return.

    Jimmy’s Dailys is also on course to meet former rivals Tappan Street and Disruptor in the Florida Derby.

    Consignor Eddie Woods stood in the back ring March 13, trying his best to articulate the thoughts whipping through his mind in the moments after selling the colt who had just carved out a piece of history on the OBS grounds.

    While the sentences were halted by the rising emotion catching in his throat, they also spoke volumes about what the man who has been a fixture in Ocala for more than three decades had just achieved in what is slated to be his penultimate outing under his banner.

    Woods, who is planning to offer his final consignment at the OBS April sale next month, made sure to lock down his place in the company’s annals during the third and final day of selling at the 2025 OBS March Two-Year-Olds in Training Sale. Hip 654, a gray or roan colt by Gun Runner from Woods’ consignment who had been one of the most popular members on the sale grounds, justified his hype when he sold for an all-time OBS record $3 million to Donato Lanni, Agent for Zedan Racing.

    The colt, who is the first foal out of the Liam’s Map mare Tynan, a half-sister to graded stakes winners Pappacap and Boppy O, first turned heads when he breezed an eighth in :9 3/5 during the under-tack show, tying for the fastest time at the distance.

    After opening with a bid of $200,000, the steel-colored youngster – who is a three-quarter sibling to Pappacap – proceeded to blow past the previous record price for a horse sold at OBS: $2.45 million paid by agent John Moynihan on behalf of Coolmore Stud interests for a Tiznow colt at the 2017 April Two-Year-Olds in Training sale.

    “I mean he wasn’t a secret. He’s a pretty cool horse and everyone loved him,” Lanni said after signing the ticket. “Just very lucky to get him for (owner) Amr Zedan. We always come here to look for nice horses and he was nice horse.

    “He (Zedan) is pretty excited, and Gun Runner is a tremendous stallion. This colt worked really well, he galloped out good, he did everything you’d want one to do. Just excited about him.”

    For Woods, the milestone achievement allowed him a moment of reflection as he prepares for his swansong at the OBS April Sale of Two-Year-Olds in Training auction, which runs from April 15-18 with the under-tack show taking place April 6-12.

    “It’s like winning the Olympics,” an emotional Woods said. “My God, the only way to go out is on top. That’s the only way. It’s been 31 years in April that we started selling here. We’ve done well here. We’ve made a lot of money here; we’ve lost a lot of money here. It’s just the way it is.

    “The three million I couldn’t see coming,” Woods continued. “I mean, there hasn’t been a 2-year-old selling for $3 million in a long time. He’s just a special horse and that’s what it takes to get that thing done. Now I hope he’s lucky for them.”

    The record-setting Gun Runner colt was one of four horses that cracked seven figures on the day to close out a solid edition of the OBS March Sale, which posted gains in gross and average compared to the 2024 exercise. Overall, a total of seven horses sold for seven-figures or more during the three-day auction, the most ever for an OBS March sale.

    “I thought it was a great sale, it was a fun three days,” said OBS Director of Sales Tod Wojciechowski. “The quality of horses showed through in the prices. Really from the day after the under-tack show when most of the people were getting here to look at horses, there was a ton of activity on the grounds. You could really feel the juice in the air.

    “Eddie (Woods) has been a big part of OBS for a number of years now…and he’s been instrumental in the growth and evolution of the 2-year-old sales,” Wojciechowski continued. “It was very gratifying to see him go out like that.”

    The day’s second highest priced horse and second highest price of the sale came when Hip 721, a bay filly by freshmen sire Maxfield consigned by de Meric Sales, Agent, sold to Marquee Bloodstock, Agent for $1.25 million. The filly, who breezed in :9 4/5, is out of All in With Aces by Quiet American, and is a half-sister to Grade 1 winner Hard Aces and multiple stakes winner Astrollinthepark. 

    “Her work was pretty outstanding, not just in the time but the way that she did it,” said Ramiro Restrepo of Marquee Bloodstock. “She was a very talented filly. When you went back there to see her, she was just showing herself with a ton of class. Obviously, there were a lot of people on her. This filly comes from Carrie Brogden (of Machmer Hall) and they’ve produced so many Grade 1 horses on their farm. And Maxfield is a very exciting horse.”

    Added Tristan de Meric, “You never expect that much. We knew that everyone was there that could get her over that million-dollar mark but when it does happen you have to really be thankful because they don’t come around like her a lot.”

    Hip 636, a bay filly by Quality Road consigned by Wavertree Stables, Inc. (Ciaran Dunne), Agent was the first to hit seven-figures during Thursday’s session when she sold to AMO Racing USA LLC for $1.05 million. The filly, who breezed in :9 4/5, is out of the multiple stakes winning and Grade 1 placed Congrats mare Toasting, who is an OBS March graduate.

    “AMO is looking for high end fillies that can go two turns on the dirt…and this filly fit the mold,” said Ben McElroy, who signed the ticket on behalf of AMO Racing. “She breezed very well, she’s by a top sire of fillies. She’s been on our hit list right from the get-go. We’ll take her back, assess her and make a decision on a trainer. She’s not a filly that is going to be running super early, so we have time.”

    The final seven-figure offering of the sale came when Hip 725, a bay colt by Nyquist consigned by Scanlon Training & Sales, Agent, sold for $1 million to Shannon Potter on behalf of Epic Horses LLC. The colt, who breezed in :10 flat, is out of Alottalute, an OBS graduate by OBS March graduate Midnight Lute, and is a half-brother to stakes winners Street Lute and Alottahope.

    “He was just a great mover on the track, and I really liked him physically,” Potter said. “He’s just what (Epic Horses) is looking for as far as trying to buy a few decent colts. He’ll go to (trainer) Todd (Pletcher). He ticked all our boxes. We thought he was going to be expensive…but we’re tickled to death to have him.”

    The other million-dollar horses sold during the March sale included Hip 486, a Good Magic filly consigned by Top Line Sales who sold to Kimmel and Sallusto on behalf of Flanagan Racing for $1.1 million on Wednesday, Hip 404, a bay colt by Independence Hall consigned by Woods who sold to JPM Bloodstock for $1 million, and Hip 119, a bay colt by freshman sire Maxfield consigned by Wavertree that brought $1 million from Japan-based trainer Mitsu Nakauchida.

Other top prices Thursday included:

    Hip 798, a bay colt by OBS graduate Yaupon consigned by Pick View LLC, Agent and purchased by Spendthrift, West Point, Schurman, and CJ Stables for $875,000. The colt, who breezed in :20 3/5, is out of the Bluegrass Cat mare Blue Grass Mary, a half-sister to graded stakes winner Sharp Impact.

    Hip 765, a chestnut filly by Gun Runner consigned by Pick View LLC, Agent and purchased by Case Clay Thoroughbred Management for $750,000. The filly, who breezed in :21 1/5, is out of the Graydar mare Baffling, a half sister to Grade 1 winner and sire Constitution.

    Hip 687, a dark bay or brown colt by Maclean’s Music consigned by Paul Sharp Agent and purchased by Legion Bloodstock, Agent for Icon Racing for $575,000. The colt, who breezed in :10 flat, is out the winning mare Wild at Midnight, a daughter of OBS March graduate Midnight Lute, who is a full sister to graded stakes winner Wild Bout Hilary.

    Hip 718, a bay colt by Uncle Mo consigned by Top Line Sales LLC, Agent and purchased for $525,000 by Jones/Everett, Agent. The colt, who breezed in :10 1/5, is out of the winning, stakes-placed Bernardini mare Alberobello, a full sister to Grade 1 winner A Z Warrior.

    For the first time, the OBS March Sale offered a new entry option of “Gallop Only” where sellers could enter their horses with the designation on the catalog page. Two of the top selling horses who galloped only included:

    Hip 224, I Did I Did, a bay colt by Curlin out of the winning stakes placed Bluegrass Cat mare Ithinkisawapudycat. The colt is a half-brother to Grade 1 winner Sweet Loretta and sold to trainer Mike Maker for $300,000

    Hip 661, a chestnut colt by Munnings out of winning, stakes-placed Tapit mare Ursula who sold to D. J. Stable LLC & Robert Cotran for $210,000. Both colts were consigned by Niall Brennan Stables, Agent, for Mt. Brilliant Farm.

    Thursday’s session generated gross receipts of $25,316,500 from 152 sold, well ahead of last year’s third session that posted a gross of $19,404,100 from 131 sold. The session average of $166,556 was up from $148,123 while the median dipped from $75,000 in 2024 to $63,500 this year. The RNA rate for the session came in at 15.6% as 28 horses failed to meet their reserve. 26.4 in 2024. The RNA rate for the session was 26.4% in 2024.

    The sale concluded with strong overall figures. The gross of $65,815,500 from 432 sold surpassed the 2024 tally of $65,239,100 generated by 454 sold. The average of $152,351 was up from $143,698 last year while the median of $70,000 was down slightly compared to $72,000 in 2024. The RNA was 17.6% as 92 horses failed to meet their reserve. The RNA rate in 2024 was 23.9%.

    “It felt like it was going to be a great sale, and it came to pass,” said Wojciechowski. “There was strength all the way through, a number of the gallop-only horses sold well. Very happy with the international trade as well. It felt like it was strong throughout the whole three days.”

    Top Line Sales led all consignors with 22 head sold for $6,954,000. Woods finished as the second-leading consignor with 19 sold for $6,448,500.

    Lanni’s purchased of the sale-topping colt on behalf of Zedan made him the leading buyer by gross.

    HALLANDALE BEACH - Break out the clubs and participate in one of the best charity golf tournaments at one of Florida’s top rated public golf courses.

    The Florida Derby Charity Golf Tournament, considered one of the finest run charity events, will tee off Monday, March 24 at Plantation Preserve Golf Course & Club and will benefit Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance (TAA).

   The fun-filled day will include raffles, food and beverages, gift bags, sponsored golf holes and awards. Tee time is 12 P.M.

   Players can register at https://fevo-enterprise.com/event/Floridaderby2. Sponsorship packages are available. For more information contact [email protected].

    The day after Joe Highsmith won the Cognizant Classic in the Palm Beaches by two strokes and collected the $1,656,000 bonanza that goes with it, an elderly lady who plays the game asked a pointed question: "Who are these guys?" 

    'These guys' included Jacob Bridgeman, who finished tied for second with J. J. Spaun (each cashed in for $818,000), and Jake Knapp, who shot 59 on Thursday and was contending late Sunday until he took a water-logged triple bogey and wound up at 12 under. 

    There was a short list of the 'name' guys in the mix - Webb Simpson, Lucas Glover, Zach Johnson, Rickie Fowler, Jordan Spieth, Matt Kuchar and Shane Lowry - but none of them were around down the stretch. It's been that way since the LIV guys took off for the bottomless money pit in the Middle East.

    Highsmith's victory was the stuff of which legends are made. He needed to can a five-foot putt on the final hole Friday to make the cut right on the line, then added a pair of 64s to come from way behind.

    The talk of the week was another great performance by Luke Clanton, the Florida State junior who is now ready - and eligible - to join the PGA Tour. Luke shot 67-66-70-69, 12 under par. If he had been eligible to cash, the others at minus 12 earned $117,606 each.

    The Seminole who did cash was Daniel Berger, whose 63-68-70-72 put him at 11 under, worth $73,271. It's the same score turned in by Gator veteran Billy Horschel, who shot 66-70-67-70. 

    The tour goes upstate this week for the Arnold Palmer Invitational at Bay Hill, and Scottie Scheffler is the defending champ. Horschel and Berger will be there, but Jordan Spieth will not. Amazingly, he's the 7th alternate, while 'these guys' named Rafael Campos, Mackenzie Hughes, and Min Woo Lee have been given sponsors' exemptions. Doesn't make much sense to the lady in the first paragraph.     

    HALLANDALE BEACH - Godolphin’s Sovereignty made a last-to-first sweep to overtake previously undefeated River Thames nearing the finish of Saturday’s $415,000, Gr. II Coolmore Fountain of Youth at Gulfstream Park.

    The son of Into Mischief, who closed out his 2-year-old season with a victory in the Gr. III Street Sense  at Churchill Downs, stamped himself as a most promising prospect for the Triple Crown campaign while winning his 2025 debut by a neck.

    The 79th running of the 1 1/16-mile stakes for 3-year-olds offered qualifying points for the Kentucky Derby on a 50-25-15-10-5 scale.

    Sovereignty ($8.40) settled into stride as Neoequos was rushed out of the starting gate by Irad Ortiz Jr. to challenge River Thames for the lead and take early command entering the backstretch. Neoequos set fractions of :23.12 and :47.07 seconds for the first half-mile while the long-striding Sovereignty continued to trail the six-horse field. John Velazquez asked River Thames and the son of Maclean’s Music put in his challenge to the pacesetter on the far turn. Meanwhile, jockey Junior Alvarado also asked Sovereignty for his run, and the strapping colt responded, making a three-wide sweep to loom boldly while passing a struggling 9-5 favorite Burnham Square.

    Neoequos maintained a lead at the top of the stretch before River Thames changed leads and took charge in mid-stretch, only to be caught late by the fast-closing Sovereignty.

    “It was a great run. He had a good trip. We had a good post inside, saved some ground on the first turn,” Hall of Fame trainer Bill Mott said. “Fortunately, we didn’t get an outside post and have to be wide on the first turn. He saved some ground, he was able to tip out, and he’s got some acceleration.”

    Sovereignty, who broke his maiden in his third career start in the Street Sense, ran 1 1/16-miles in 1:43.12 to provide Alvarado with his second Fountain of Youth win, joining Mohaymen (2016).

    “I was just trying to give him a good race,” Alvarado said. “We’ve been running second and third and I wanted to make sure he could finish. At the three-eighths pole I found myself trying to save ground, but I don’t think the inside’s the best place to be, so I thought, ‘let me lose a little ground here and put him on the outside.’ I was already riding him a little bit and when I put him in the clear, it seemed like everything came back to his head and he turned it on. After that it was like, ‘I hope we get there in time,’ and he did. He kept grinding his way there. He’s such a nice horse.”

    The $1 million, Gr. I Curlin Florida Derby on March 29 at Gulfstream is a strong possibility for Sovereignty’s next start on the Triple Crown trail.

    “We got one under our belt and now we get with the team and see where we go. I guess it’s a good thing that we’ve shown that we can run over the track,” Mott said. “Naturally, [the Florida Derby] is on the list of things to be considered very strongly.”

    WinStar Farm and CHC Inc.’s River Thames, the 2-1 second betting choice, was making his stakes debut in the Fountain of Youth following a pair of dominating races to launch his career during Gulfstream’s Championship Meet.

    “He kind of got to looking around a little bit late. [Jockey] Johnny [Velazquez] said he was looking at the screen and just got a little bit complacent on the lead. He showed that he’s still maturing.” Hall of Fame trainer Todd Pletcher said. “We actually got a perfect trip, stalking the horse that we thought would show speed. We were able to put him away and it looked like he was maybe home, and I think he got a little complacent. The winner ran a very good race.”

    River Thames finished 2 ½ lengths clear of Neoequos, who finished a neck ahead of Burnham Square, the impressive Holy Bull winner last time out but who was never a factor in the Fountain of Youth.

    “He didn't break that good, like always," said Burnham Square's jockey, Edgard Zayas. "Last time, he made a nice move on the backstretch. But today he wasn't there. He's just still learning. It looked like in the turn he was going nowhere. But all of a sudden when I got him back to the outside, he really picked it up again. At the end he just got beat by two lengths, I think. He didn't get beat by much. I thought, ‘wow, if he had given me this from the turn going into the stretch.’ He definitely needs more distance and a longer stretch. Last time it was probably a weaker field. But he's going to keep improving.”

    HALLANDALE BEACH - Whitham Thoroughbreds’ Burnham Square, a most impressive winner of the Gr. III Holy Bull (G3) on Feb. 1, is scheduled to clash with seven other 3-year-olds entered for next Saturday’s $415,000, Gr. II Coolmore Fountain of Youth at Gulfstream Park.

    The Fountain of Youth, a key prep for the March 29, $1 million, Gr. I Curlin Florida Derby, will headline a program with nine stakes, eight graded, worth $2.15 million in purses. The 79th running of the Fountain of Youth will offer qualifying points for the May 3 Kentucky Derby on a 50-25-15-10-5 scale.

    Burnham Square will seek his third straight victory of the Championship Meet in the 1 1/16-mile Fountain of Youth after graduating by nine lengths at 1 1/16 miles and winning the 1 1/16-mile Holy Bull by 1 ¾ lengths going away.

    The Ian Wilkes-trained gelded son of Liam’s Map was equipped with blinkers for his two dominant victories at Gulfstream after finishing second in his debut at Keeneland and third at Churchill Downs. Edgard Zayas, who was aboard Burnham Square for his two recent victories, has the return call.

   Hall of Fame trainer Todd Pletcher is represented in the Fountain of Youth field by CHC Inc. and WinStar Farm’s River Thames and Donegal Racing’s Gate to Wire, both of whom are scheduled to make their two-turn debuts.

    Late-developing River Thames debuted at Gulfstream on Jan. 11 with a 4 ¾-length romp at six furlongs before stretching out to a mile for a 6 ½-length score on Feb. 1. Hall of Famer John Velazquez has the return mount aboard the son of McLean’s Music.

    Gate to Wire is coming off a strong-closing five-length upset victory in the seven-furlong Swale on the Holy Bull undercard. Dylan Davis has the return call aboard the son of Munnings.

    Godolphin’s Sovereignty is set to make his 2025 debut after concluding his 2-year-old campaign with a five-length maiden-breaking score in the 1 1/16-mile, Gr. III Street Sense on Oct. 27 at Churchill Downs. Trained by Hall of Famer Bill Mott, the son of Into Mischief will be ridden by Junior Alvarado.

    St. Elias Stable, West Point Thoroughbreds and CJ Thoroughbreds’ Keep It Easy will make his first start of 2025 after winning the 6 ½-furlong Ed Brown at Churchill Downs in his 2-year-old finale. Trainer Dale Romans awarded the return mount to Corey Lanerie. Ian Pasard, Shining Stable and Stefania Farms’ Neoequos, a sharp optional claiming allowance winner Jan. 23 who was twice placed in Florida Sire Stakes events last season, will make his first start in an open stakes. Irad Ortiz Jr. is scheduled to ride the Saffie Joseph Jr.-trained son of Neolithic for the first time. Leon King Stable Corp.’s McKellen will seek to rebound from a sixth-place finish in the Jan. 4 Mucho Macho Man for trainer Jose D’Angelo. No rider was named at the time of entry.

    The $215,000, Gr. II Fasig-Tipton Davona Dale drew a field of seven 3-year-old fillies for the 39th edition of the mile stakes that will offer Kentucky Oaks qualifying points on a 50-25-15-10-5 scale.

    Tracy Farmer’s La Cara, who captured the Gr. III Pocahontas at Churchill Downs last year before concluding her 2024 campaign with a fifth-place finish in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies, enters the Davona Dale off a 6 ¼-length romp in the Suncoast at Tampa Bay. Trained by Hall of Famer Mark Casse, the homebred daughter of Steet Sense will be ridden by Dylan Davis.

    C2 Racing Stable and Mathis Stable’s The Queens M G will also bring graded-stakes credentials into the Davona Dale having captured the Gr. III Adirondack last season at Saratoga, where she won the Schuylerville in her previous start. The Saffie Joseph Jr.-trained daughter of Thousand Words is coming off a third-place finish in the Gr. III Forward Gal at Gulfstream in her 2025 debut. Irad Ortiz Jr. has the return mount.

    Rodeo Creek Racing’s Ballerina d’Oro is slated to make her 3-year-old debut in the Davona Dale after concluding her 2024 campaign with a second-place finish in the Gr. II Demoiselle at Aqueduct. Tyler Gaffalione is scheduled to ride the Chad Brown-trained daughter of Medaglia d’Oro for the first time.

    Lugamo Racing Stable’s Frida, Just for Fun Stable’s My Denysse, and Baron Thoroughbreds’s Quinn’s Promise and Madeline’s Promise, round out the field

    The $215,000, Gr. II Gulfstream Park Mile, a mile stakes for 4-year-olds and up, attracted nine entries, including Repole Stable and St. Elias Stable’s Mindframe, a Pletcher-trained son of Constitution who hasn’t competed since back-to-back second-place finishers in the Belmont Stakes and Haskell Invitational last year, and Godolphin’s Encino, a winner of four of five races for trainer Brad Cox.

    The $215,000 Mac Diarmida, a 1 3/8-mile turf stakes for 4-year-olds and up, drew a field of 12, including Frankly Speaking’s Dashman, who captured the 1 ½-mile, Gr. III McKnight over the Gulfstream turf last time out.

    The $215,000, Gr. III Herecomesthebride, a mile turf stakes for 3-year-olds fillies, fielded a group of 10, including a trio trained by Casse – D. J. Stable and Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners’ Vixen, who captured the Sweetest Chant as the odds-on favorite last time out, Gary Barber, Blue Diamond Racing and Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners’ Classic Q, and D. J. Stable’s Smudge.

    The $215,000 Colonel Liam, a mile turf stakes for 3-year-olds, attracted a field of 10, including Gary Barber’s Mi Bago, a Casse-trained son of Vekoma who is coming off victories in the Pulpit and Dania Beach Stakes during the Championship Meet.

    The $165,000 Honey Fox, a mile turf stakes for older fillies and mares, drew a field of 12, including Resolute Racing and Miller Racing’s In Our Time, who finished third last time out in the $500,000, Gr. II Pegasus World Cup Filly & Mare Turf Invitational.

    The $165,000, Gr. III Canadian Turf, a 1 1/16-mile turf stakes for 4-year-olds and up, drew 10 entries, including Spendthrift Farm LLC’s Major Dude, who captured the Dec. 21 Fort Lauderdale (G2) prior to a sixth-place finish in the $1 million Pegasus World Cup Turf Invitational (G1).

    The $165,000 The Very One, a 1 3/8-mile turf stakes for older fillies and mares, attracted nine entrants, including Dixiana Farms’s Forever After All, who captured the Gr. III La Prevoyante last time out over the Gulfstream turf.

    Justin Grant, Michael Zito and Mike Murphy were winners at the Country Club of Ocala Invitational.

    In the Open Division it took a playoff hole for Grant to lay claim to the title. After regulation play Grant found himself in a tie with Sean Butcher at 2-over-par 146. Grant shot a 1-under-par 71 in the final round and Butcher shot a 2-under-par 70. Grant won on the first playoff hole. Finishing third was Eoin Buckelew with a 150 (77-73). Fourth place went to Ty O’Shields at 151 and tied for fifth were Steve Kline and Daniel Wear at 152.

    In the Senior Division Georgia’s Zito shot a 2-under-par 70 which gave him a 2-under-par 142 total and a two-shot victory. Finishing in second place was Thomas Lowe who wound up at even par 144 (70-74). Third place went to Daniel Owen at 146 (76-70) and tied for fourth were Charles Kirk and Dough Jones at 147. This was the second tournament win in a row for Zito, he previously won the Senior Division in The Memorial.

    The Super Senior Division was a runaway for Tampa’s Mike Murphy who shot his second straight 4-under-par 68 for a 136 total and a 9-shot win. Second place went to Steve Humphrey at 145 (74-71) and tied for third place were Tom Murphy, Peter Guillette and Berger Warner at 148.

    Since returning to action after his unfortunate kitchen accident, Scottie Scheffler has finished tied for ninth at the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am at 15 under par, tied for 25th at the WM Phoenix Open at 9 under par, and tied for third at the Tigerless Genesis Invitational at 9 under par, three strokes behind Ludvig Aberg.

    Scottie looks like he's ready again, but it's doubtful he can duplicate 2024, when he won nine times and was an easy Player of the Year choice. Scottie won't be in Vallarta, Mexico for this week's $7.1 million Mexico Open at Vidanta World, and neither will be the other big guns left after the LIV defection, and TV viewership promises to be at a minimum.

    The most notable of the Mexico group include Charley Hoffman, Emiliano Grillo, senior Padraig Harrington, Patrick Rodgers, who tied for third with Scottie last week, and Francesco Molinari. The rest are the same names and faces of the hopefuls, looking to get a victory to solidify their place on the exemption list. Jake Knapp, last year's winner, will be back: he was 19 under par in 2024 and collected $1,458,000 to ensure he won't be missing any meals in the near future.

    There are no Gators or Seminoles traveling south, both Billy Horschel and Daniel Berger have been having recent success. Berger tied for second at the WM Phoenix Open, tied for 12th in the Genesis, and tied for 21st at the American Express. Horschel tied for ninth at Pebble Beach, tied for 21st the American Express and was 51st at The Sentry.       

    At the beginning of the 1979-80 Tampa Bay Downs meeting, when the track was still known as Florida Downs and Sam F. Davis was the president, Sam hired Ocalan David Goldman to act as publicity, advertising and marketing director for the Oldsmar track. David had years of experience in the field in New England, and then at old Tropical Park, Calder Race Course and Hialeah Park in South Florida.  

    At the time, before the advent of simulcasting, the track was averaging less than $300,000 a day in handle and Sam was determined to do something about it. Aside from his salary, Sam told David he would give him a bonus of $10,000 if David could get Florida Downs over the $300,000 mark. David's first move was to have the maintenance crew nail signs on telephone poles all over town giving directions to the track. The track announcer then was a young Tom Durkin, destined to become one of the nation's best a short time later. 

    Among the new ideas David came up with was to name races after many of the local personalities from newspapers, TV and radio stations and invite them to present the winner's trophy after their respective races. It generated a great deal of publicity from each of the media organizations when their presenter's race came up.   

    (Another genius idea David instituted was to hire a racing writer named Bernie Dickman to conduct handicapping seminars on the ground floor, first on Saturdays and years later on Sundays after Sunday racing was approved).

    With two weeks remaining in the meeting, which ended in April in those days, the daily average handle was up to about $309,000 a day and the bonus appeared to be safe. But - it was that time when the snowbirds began heading north, and by closing day the average dropped to $297,000. Goodbye bonus. 

    Then, the track was turned over to Stella Thayer and George Steinbrenner for the 1980-81 season and it became Tampa Bay Downs, with myriad improvements. That partnership lasted six years before Mrs. Thayer bought out the New York Yankees owner, and the track has prospered ever since, becoming one of the simulcasting leaders in the country.

    On Sam F. Davis day a few weeks ago, with a crowd of 5,401, there was on-track handle of $552,673, while ITW handle reached $419,695 and ISW handle an eye-opening $11,198,488. That's an all-sources figure of $12,170,856. The same day, Gulfstream's all-sources handle was $11,853,973.

    Sam F. Davis would be proud. So would David Goldman.

    As the old Virginia Slims commercial used to say, "You've come a long way, baby."