Equine photography 101

They shoot horses, don't they?

Sure they do, and you can too. Of course, we're talking about shooting pictures, not committing equicide!

A digital camera offers some advantages, not least of which is their ability to shoot picture after picture. Many allow instant review and deletion, so you can just erase any shot you don't like. There are lots of places to get a quality digital camera for less than retail price. I bought mine on eBay, but you may want to look at what Dell, Kodak, or HP have in refurbished cameras. Google can find their websites for you.

Single use digitals are another option, but they won't give you the erase what you don't like option. Many are available for about ten to fifteen dollars. Try CVS, Walgreen's or Ritz Camera for a good selection at a value price.

Now for the practical advice. First and foremost, have your subject looking his best. This may mean you'll need to bathe him, comb his mane, untangle his tail, and polish (oil) his hooves. If your horse gets surly or "out of sorts" by this much handling, you may find it a good idea to put him in a stall with a nice flake of hay, or a bucket of grain until his temperament improves. You'll want him relaxed and cooperative for the shoot.

"I'm ready for my closeup, Mr. DeMille".

Formal Dinner, standing at Hidden Point Farm


The great head shots you see in stallion ads are generally taken by professionals with tons of experience (and often, a price to match). They know lots of tricks to make their work stand out, and you can employ some of them quite easily.
Trick one, get that shine by applying a light film of oil or even just water to his face. A moist towelette will do the trick, just be sure to avoid anything with a strong scent or lots of alcohol.
Trick two, shoot the headshot indoors, or in a small, confining paddock. You don't want Ole Dobbin plotting his escape while you're setting up the shot. If indoors, choose a location with lots of sunlight streaming in, but try to avoid placing your subject in direct sunlight. If you must resort to using a flash, rig some kind of deflector, so that the flash bounces off the ceiling, rather than off the horse's face.

Using a digital camera offers a few more advantages here. First, you can attach a lead to the halter and crop it out later, and second, you can zoom and cut to make the head fit more precisely in the finished photo. But even if you use a film camera, you can still do these things by having your film processed onto a digital form, usually a CD which you can input into a graphics program for fine tuning.

Conformation shots. These are what you generally see in catalogs, stallion registers, or for sale ads, and they can be a great help in getting your horse sold, or they can make him look like Barney Google's horse Sparky.

Colony Light, standing at Rising Hill Farm
These should always be taken outdoors, with a natural background, and on pavement or very short grass. Buyers want to see the horse's hooves, and may suspect that you're trying to hide something if long grass covers the hooves to the coronet band.

Sunlight can be the photographer's best friend, or her worst enemy. Bright sunlight is not what we want here, nor is it needed. Best times of day are about an hour or two after sunrise or before sunset. The light will add a "glow" at those times. Midday is all right if there is a light cloud cover, but be careful that the sun doesn't cause the legs or the face to be in shadow.

Morning or evening, it is best to have the sun behind the photographer's shoulder. Never, never shoot with the sun at right angles to the subject. And if the sun is directly at your back, you may have a long shadow of your own to deal with. Shooting into the sun will generally introduce you to the law of unexpected consequences.

Setting up the conformation shot. As I said before, it is best to have a natural background. Buildings and fences will only detract from the finished product, unless your location looks like one of the top Kentucky breeding farms, so try for a background which has distant hills or woods, but avoid any sharp delineation of dark/light, such as a dark thicket giving way to a bright sky half way up the horse. The area directly behind the horse should be more or less the came color or intensity throughout, extending to well above his ears.

Pick out the spot where you will set up the horse, and the place from which you'll shoot before even bringing him into the scene. It is best to have a knowledgeable horseperson handle the horse, and even better if it's someone whom he knows and feels comfortable with.

Lights, camera, action!

So now that everything is in place, the subject looks like a million dollars, your assistant has placed him where you want, and you have camera at the ready, it's time to start clicking away, right? WRONG!

If you've ever taken pictures to accompany registration applications, you are probably aware that they require that all four legs are visible in every shot. We want that here, as well. So be sure to set up the horse with both front legs straight and positioned with the off (right) leg just slightly behind the near leg, and the off hind leg slightly ahead of the other. You get both front legs in the picture by positioning yourself just back of midpoint of the horse's body, about parallel with his belly. If you are of average height, you will want to squat, kneel, or even sit in a chair, so as to avoid shooting from above the midpoint of the horse vertically. Shots taken from above this point result in a picture of a horse with shortened legs.

You will want his ears to be upright, and turned forward. Usually this is easy to accomplish simply by having the handler call his name, chirp to him, or swing the lead rope just a bit.

Once everything is just so, it's time to start shooting, and you should shoot like Butch and Sundance taking on the entire Bolivian army. Take at least three shots in rapid succession, reposition yourself and your subject, then start shooting again. Just like in body building, it's the repetitions which lead to success. Be patient, and take a few minutes between shooting sessions if you don't feel you have got just the right results.

"And in the end, the love you take is equal to the love you make."

Don't know what that has to do with anything, but it's one of my favorite Beatles lyrics. And in the end the quality of the picture you take will be equal to the effort you make to follow these recommendations.

Stallion Spotlight - Delaware Township

In 1920, the great Man o’ War roared into legend. That same year, his dam Mahubah gave birth to her last foal, a rather delicate chestnut filly which received the name of Mirabelle.

Unfortunately, Mirabelle showed no trace of Man o’ War’s shattering talent, running unplaced in two starts. She was also an indifferent broodmare in spite of having visited some of the best sires of her day. Nonetheless, Mirabelle’s family continued through her daughter First Love (by *Sir Gallahad III), granddaughter Love (by Count Fleet), and great-granddaughter Double Bubble (by Double Jay), none of which ever won a race or even placed and none of which became a stakes producer. Seldom has a series of matings to good sires been attended by so much futility.

The family’s fortunes began to revive with Bubbling Miss, a Florida-bred daughter of Double Bubble by the useful sire Minnesota Mac, a son and successor of Ocala Stud’s foundation sire, Rough’n Tumble. While Bubbling Miss carried on her own family’s tradition of failing to win, she did manage to finish second once and third three times in sixteen starts. Then, bred to the Hail to Reason horse Hail the Prince, Bubbling Miss produced Champagne Shower, who beat the odds against a filly by a once-winning sire out of five straight generations of non-winning mares amounting to anything at all by taking the 1979 Vallejo Stakes as a three-year-old.

Thanks to her racing ability, Champagne Shower was mated to some of the better sires in Florida. Her broodmare career was, if anything, even better than her racing career as she produced stakes winners Shower of Silver (by Silver Buck), Winalot Dancer (by Fire Dancer), and He’sfullafire (by Fire Dancer).

Sunny Mimosa, Champagne Shower’s 1988 daughter by the unraced Northern Dancer stallion Sunny North, never raced, perhaps due to either mental or physical limitations inherited from her sire or from Champagne Shower’s tail-female line. That her problems were hereditary is suggested by the fact that four of her nine foals aged three and upwards have never even started. She also slipped her foal in four of her first six seasons as a broodmare. But her second foal to live was one for which many sins might be forgiven a broodmare: a chestnut son of the good Florida sire Notebook who received the name of Delaware Township.


Photo by Joseph V. DiOrio

A foal of 1996, Delaware Township proved a good but not great sprinter, limited by a come-from-behind style and an unwillingness to go inside horses that left him vulnerable to traffic problems. After winning the Tyro Stakes as a juvenile, he was unable to race at three due to physical problems but won the Forest Hills Handicap (G2) and the listed Longfellow Handicap at four.

At five, Delaware Township benefitted from a three-horse speed duel up front and charged down the stretch to win the Forego Handicap (G1) at Saratoga. He also repeated in the Forest Hills Handicap but left himself with too much to do in the Breeders’ Cup Sprint (G1), in which he was shuffled far back in the field of fourteen. Although he was perhaps running fastest of all at the end, he ended up sixth behind winner Squirtle Squirt. But a smaller field in the Frank J. DeFrancis Memorial Dash (G1) at Laurel left plenty of room for his closing kick, enabling him to earn his second G1 win. He retired with ten wins and five placings from 21 starts and earnings of $996,950, making him Notebook’s leading earner.

Retired to Padua Stables near Summerfield, Florida, Delaware Township to date has sired 130 foals of racing age, of which 46 are juveniles of 2007. His 86 foals aged three years and upwards have so far produced 65 starters (75.6%) and 45 winners (52.3%), respectable but not exceptional percentages. His first two crops also featured 57.0% juvenile starters and 22.1% juvenile winners, very good percentages for those seeking runners with early speed. His prowess at getting early runners probably helps to account for his solid lifetime average of $53,464 (median $35,500) for two-year-olds in training.

Lizzy’s Township (x Tarahumara, by Black Tie Affair [Ire]) became her sire’s first stakes winner as a juvenile by winning the listed Mountaineer Juvenile Fillies Stakes in 2005. She has not trained on, but two other members of Delaware Township’s 2003 crop became stakes winners at three: Electrify, winner of the Ocala Breeders’ Sales Sophomore Stakes and the Unbridled Stakes, and Victorina, winner of the Eire Go Brach Stakes and the Meafara Stakes. Both have trained on to win stakes at four, Electrify winning the Mecke Handicap on July 4 and Victorina winning the Princess of Palms Handicap back in February and the Vacaville Handicap on July 14.

No stakes winners have yet emerged from Delaware Township’s 2004 crop, but his 2005 crop contains Whatever Whenever, third in the Hollywood Juvenile Championship Stakes (G3) on July 4. Given that only ten of Delaware Township’s 2005 foals have made their first start yet and that the bulk of the juvenile racing season still lies ahead, this is a promising beginning.

While it is probably too early to predict any sire patterns with certainty, Delaware Township appears to be getting winners from a fair variety of sire lines. He seems to respond particularly well to mares carrying a return of In Reality in their pedigrees, a pattern seen in two of his three stakes winners as well as in a fair number of lesser winners. Another inbreeding pattern that appears in two of Delaware Township’s stakes winners is to Northern Dancer, with the dam’s return of Northern Dancer coming through Nijinsky II in both. Whatever Whenever is also inbred to Northern Dancer, but in his case, the second strain of Northern Dancer comes through Danzig.

Delaware Township ranked second on the 2005 freshman sire list and nineteenth on the 2006 second-crop sire list according to The Blood-Horse despite smaller crops than many of the other stallions on the lists; at present, he stands twenty-fourth on the third-crop sire list. His future is uncertain due to the announced relocation of Padua Stables’ operations to Kentucky, but it seems quite possible that he will remain within the state of Florida. On bloodlines and stud performance to date, he is a good fit for the regional market and, one hopes, will contribute to that market for some time to come.

Affirmed remembered

With the Belmont Stakes fresh in our memories, it seems appropriate to remember perhaps the greatest Belmont and the greatest Triple Crown of all time: Florida's greatest champion, Affirmed, versus his marvelous rival Alydar Other Triple Crown winners may have done the job in more spectacular fashion, but none ever faced a classier or more determined opponent throughout the series than did Affirmed.

Foaled on February 21, 1975, Affirmed came into the world at Harbor View Farm near Ocala, Florida, which had also bred and raced his sire Exclusive Native. A 1965 son of the brilliant Raise a Native and the excellent broodmare Exclusive, Exclusive Native won the Sanford Stakes at two and the Arlington Classic at three in a career shortened by injury. He exceeded expectations as a stallion as he led the American general sire list in both 1978 and 1979. Affirmed was by far his best runner, but Exclusive Native also holds a special place in racing history as the sire of champion filly Genuine Risk, only the second female Thoroughbred to win the Kentucky Derby.

Won't Tell You, the dam of Affirmed, had far less in the way of credentials than did Exclusive Native, who had already proven both a good runner and a good sire by the time Won't Tell You was sent to him in 1974. Although the mare had proved reasonably durable as a runner, winning five of her twenty-three starts, she never rose above the status of a low-level allowance horse and raced mostly in claimers. All of her five foals prior to Affirmed were winners but none were above allowance class.

Affirmed did not really look like a potential champion at first. He was a rather slight individual who could easily have been taken for a filly at a casual glance when he was sent to trainer Laz Barrera. His first start was in a Belmont maiden special weight over five and one-half furlongs on May 24, 1977. He went off at odds of 14.30-to-one - the longest of his entire career - but won by four and one-half lengths while ridden out. Affirmed would never be taken so lightly by anyone again.

The colt's second start came in the June 15 Youthful Stakes, in which he met up with Alydar for the first time. It was the first start for the latter colt and the experience gap showed; while Affirmed stalked the early pace until mid-stretch and then drew off to win, Alydar broke slowly and was trapped behind horses coming out of the turn, ending up fifth. The nearly five-length margin between Affirmed and Alydar was the widest that would ever separate the pair, and Alydar was able to reverse the verdict in Great American Stakes on July 6. With the help of a five-pound weight break, Alydar ran Affirmed down in the stretch, winning by three and one-half lengths.

While Alydar remained in the East (his next major target was the grade I Sapling Stakes at Monmouth, which he won), Affirmed made the first of his many cross-country trips, going to Hollywood Park in California for the Hollywood Juvenile Championship (gr. II), which ran in two divisions due to the number of entries. Affirmed drew into the first division and won it by seven lengths over He's Dewan and Esops Foibles. He then headed back to New York for the Sanford Stakes (gr. II) and won that with sensational young jockey Steve Cauthen aboard for the first time. Cauthen would become the colt's regular pilot through Affirmed's three-year-old season.

The Sanford victory set Affirmed up for the Hopeful Stakes on August 27, in which he met Alydar for the third time. This race was much closer than the colts' previous two meetings, with Affirmed the winner by a slowly widening half length at the finish. His time of 1:15-2/5 was a new stakes record for the six and one-half furlong race. Then came the Futurity Stakes (gr. I) on September 10. From the half-mile marker to the finish, the two colts battled furiously to the wire. At the end it was Affirmed by a desperate nose. The time for the seven furlongs was a very quick 1:21-3/5.

Two such battles would probably have burned out ordinary colts, but both Affirmed and Alydar were far from ordinary. The pair clashed again in the Champagne Stakes (gr. I) on October 15. Alydar was always at his best against Affirmed when he could make a single strong run to get by him, and that was what happened in the Champagne; Alydar surged ahead of Affirmed in the last hundred yards to win by a length and a quarter.

Then came the October 29 Laurel Futurity (gr. I) and with it the race for the juvenile championship. This time, the race set up in Affirmed's favor, with Alydar forced to split horses to reach the front. Once again, the pair battled down the stretch, neither yielding, and the decision went to Affirmed by a slowly shrinking neck. On the basis of his four-to-two margin in his tilts with Alydar - and doubtless helped by Alydar's upset loss to Believe It in the Remsen Stakes a month later - Affirmed won both the Eclipse Award as the divisional champion and the highweight position on the Experimental Free Handicap. He was weighted at 126, with Alydar and Believe It both one pound below him at 125. The one-pound difference between Affirmed and Alydar accurately captured their merits with respect to each other, but as time would prove, the weights were a gross underestimate of the superiority of the top pair to the rest of the crop.

The Laurel Futurity was the last race of Affirmed's juvenile season, and he was given some time to grow and develop before making his three-year-old debut in a six and one-half allowance race on March 8, 1978, at Santa Anita. He won easily by five lengths against a badly outclassed field. Ten days later, he won the San Felipe Stakes (gr. II) over the San Vicente Stakes (gr. III) winner, Chance Dancer, by two lengths.

Laffit Pincay Jr. was subbing for a suspended Steve Cauthen in the April 2 Santa Anita Derby (gr. I). It mattered nothing to Affirmed, who probably would have won carrying anything short of a baby elephant, for he came home laughing by eight lengths. Two weeks later, with Cauthen back in the saddle, he was workmanlike but not spectacular with a two-length win in the Hollywood Derby (gr. I).

In the meantime, Alydar had dominated the Eastern classic hopefuls, finishing off his pre-Derby campaign with a thirteen-length blowout in the Blue Grass Stakes (gr. I). That performance made Alydar a 6-5 favorite in the Kentucky Derby, with Affirmed at 9-5. Once again, however, Affirmed reversed the odds, easily containing Alydar's too-late charge to win by a length and a half. The final time was a solid 2:01-1/5. It was Affirmed's easiest victory over Alydar since the colts' first encounter in the Youthful Stakes.



Both horses moved on to Pimlico. This time Affirmed was a slight favorite, and the crowd had things pegged about right. Alydar was much closer to the pace than he had been in the Derby and came after Affirmed at the top of the stretch. From there on out, both colts surged at each other repeatedly, with Affirmed in front by a neck at the end. The victory made Affirmed the youngest horse ever to pass the $1 million mark in earnings.

Only five horses entered the starting gate for the 110th Belmont, and three of them did not matter except as footnotes to racing history. (For the record, they were Darby Creek Road, Noon Time Spender, and Judge Angelucci.) Affirmed and Alydar broke side by side from positions three and two, respectively, but Cauthen sent Affirmed up to take the early lead and the inside path. Jorge Velasquez on Alydar let his colt settle into stride for the first three furlongs but then moved, knowing that to let Afirmed have thins all his own way on a slow pace would be suicidal. The two colts hit the half-mile mark together - and the battle of the ages was on.

For a full mile, Affirmed and Alydar went after each other like two evenly matched heavyweight fighters, neither yielding an inch. As the crowd roared, Affirmed clung grimly to the narrowest of leads at the mile and stretch calls; then, in deep stretch, Alydar shoved his head in front. Calling on every reserve, Affirmed wrested back the lost ground and a few inches more - just enough - and held Alydar's last desperate surge safe to win by a head.

Both colts had turned in one of the greatest performances of all time, but only one could wear the blanket of carnations. Affirmed stood alone in the winner's circle, flanks heaving; Alydar went back to the barn with the bittersweet glory of becoming the first horse to finish second in all three Triple Crown races. The total difference between the two colts for all three races had been less than two lengths, and the final difference in the Belmont itself was the unyielding will of Affirmed, who simply would not be beaten.

Affirmed went on to be champion three-year-old male, though his last meeting with Alydar proved anticlimactic. Coming into the final turn in the Travers Stakes (gr. I), Alydar moved strongly up the inside and was actually lapped on Affirmed when Laffit Pincay Jr. cut over to the rail sharply with Affirmed. The colts made contact and Alydar had to pull up sharply before regrouping to finish second. No one was really surprised when the “Inquiry” light went up on the tote boar, and there was sadness but not shock when Affirmed was disqualified for impeding Alydar. No rematch would be possible; on September 11, five days before the Marlboro Cup in which both colts were scheduled to appear, Alydar showed signs of lameness while cooling out from a workout. X-rays revealed a fracture on the wing of the colt's left fron coffin bone, ending Alydar's season. The following year, Alydar would struggle through a disappointing season during which he never seemed one hundred percent before another injury ended his career for good.

Despite two finishes behind Seattle Slew during the fall season, Affirmed was named Horse of the Year in 1978. He would repeat at four; after losing his first two starts of the season, he won five straight grade I races while carrying up to 132 pounds. His season finale was the Jockey Club Gold Cup, in which he defeated champion three-year-old male Spectacular Bid by three-quarters of a length. The prize money for first and second place made Affirmed and Spectacular Bid the first two horses to earn more than a million dollars in a single season of racing, with Affirmed reaching that mark first by less than one-fifth of a second.

Affirmed left racing with twenty-two wins from twenty-nine starts; he also had five seconds and one third. He had won divisional championships each year he raced along with two Horse of the Year titles and had earned $2,393,818. One year after his retirement, he was inducted into the National Museum of Racing Hall of Fame, where his great rival Alydar would join him in 1989.

Retired to Spendthrift Farm, Affirmed proved a good and consistent sire whose offspring often showed a surprising bent for turf racing. His most noted runners in North America were two-time champion grass mare Flawlessly and the 1993 Canadian Triple Crown winner Peteski, while he was represented abroad by the 1988 Irish One Thousand Guineas (Ire-I) winner Trusted Partner, 1987 French champion three-year-old filly Bint Pasha, and 1991 Irish champion older male Zoman. None of his sons proved able to carry on as sires, but Affirmed's daughters have earned him the reputation of a good broodmare sire.



Forced to move from Spendthrift Farm and then Calumet Farm by the financial woes of both farms, Affirmed spent the last decade of his life at Jonabell Farm. He was humanely destroyed on January 12, 2001, and was buried at Jonabell.


Photo by Barbara Livingstone

Trippi in the spotlight

If ever a horse was bred to be a Florida sire, Trippi was it. A product of Harry T. Mangurian's breeding program, Trippi is by End Sweep, winner of the 1994 Jersey Shore Breeders' Cup Stakes (G3). Retired to stud at his owner's Mockingbird Farm, End Sweep sired 34 juvenile winners from his first crop, foals of 1996, setting a new Northern Hemisphere record. He was sold to Japan after the 1999 breeding season but died of complications of an accidental injury in 2002. Besides Trippi, he sired Grade I winners Swept Overboard (now at stud in Japan), Nany's Appeal, and the perhaps prophetically named Dark Ending.



End Sweep was a well-bred horse, but on paper one might well have expected Classic potential from him rather than sprinting speed. He was sired by Forty Niner, a G1 winner at up to ten furlongs, out of the Alabama Stakes (G1) winner Broom Dance, by multiple G2 winner Dance Spell. Given his race record and bloodlines, he was the kind of horse that could reasonably have been expected to have success in a regional market, but the level of that success was almost certainly a surprise to everyone involved.

Valid Appeal, the broodmare sire of Trippi, could also be considered an overachiever at stud. Sired by top Florida sire In Reality out of two-time Ramona Handicap winner Desert Trial, by Moslem Chief, he was a full brother to two-time U.S. champion filly Desert Vixen and closely related to Sorority Stakes (G1) winner Stub (whose dam, 1970 Monmouth Oaks winner Kilts N Kapers, was a half sister to Desert Trial). Talented enough to win the 1975 Dwyer Stakes (G2), Valid Appeal nonetheless did not appeal to Kentucky breeders; besides having an unfashionable pedigree by commercial standards, he was a small horse with upright pasterns. He went to stud at Mockingbird Farm in 1977.

Twenty years later, the breeding world had a much different assessment of Valid Appeal, who was pensioned in 1997 and died in 2002. Although his mates were for the most part of modest stature, he begot 88 stakes winners from 789 foals, and his sons include the successful sires Valid Expectations and Successful Appeal. His daughters have shown ability as broodmares as well, and he is currently twentieth on The Blood-Horse's national broodmare sire list and eighth on the corresponding list for Thoroughbred Times. (The differences in the national rankings are due to the different standards applied by the national trade magazines as to qualifications for a stallion to appear on the list and inclusion of foreign earnings.)

A half brother to multiple stakes winner Miss Jealski (by Baldski), multiple G2 winner Appealing Skier (by Baldski), and multiple listed stakes winner Jealous Forum (by Open Forum), Trippi is out of Jealous Appeal (out of Jealous Cat, by *Cougar II-Only the Loyal), who was a solid allowance filly in her own right. She descends from the family of 1934 U.S. champion juvenile filly Nellie Flag, which was a mainstay for the famous Calumet Farm.

Both End Sweep and Jealous Appeal had stud records that suggested that the transmission of speed was their forte, and Trippi certainly lived up to that heritage. Racing for Dogwood Stable, he had his best season as a sophomore, when he won the Swale Stakes (G3), the Riva Ridge Stakes (G2), the Tom Fool Stakes (G2), and the Vosburgh Stakes (G1), the latter two at the expense of his elders. Seven furlongs appeared to be his best distance, but he also showed enough stamina to capture the nine-furlong Flamingo Stakes (G3). Despite disappointing performances in the Kentucky Derby (G1) (eleventh) and the Breeders' Cup Sprint (G1) (ninth), Trippi had still done more than enough to earn honors as Florida-bred champion three-year-old male and champion sprinter for 2000.

Plagued by physical problems throughout his four-year-old season, Trippi managed only one placing in four starts, a second in the Gulfstream Park Breeders' Cup Sprint Handicap (G2), and was retired with seven wins and three placings from 14 starts for earnings of $666,220. He was originally slated to enter stud at Vinery near Lexington, Kentucky, but instead was purchased by a group of investors headed by Ocala Stud and made his first season at Ocala Stud in 2002.

Although Trippi led the 2005 Florida freshman sire list (nationally, he ranked sixth per Thoroughbred Times and ninth per The Blood-Horse), his first season was somewhat disappointing compared to the first-season success of his sire. Forty of the 76 first-crop foals reported to The Jockey Club got to the races as juveniles, but only seventeen won and none were stakes winners, though Cab (x Lovely Cabrini, by Cabrini Green) did run second in the Kentucky Cup Juvenile Stakes (G3).

Things began turning around the following year, however. Trippi got his first stakes winner on May 12, 2006, when A Sea Trippi (2003 filly, x Best of the Sea, by Lord of the Sea) won the six and one-half furlong Harmony Lodge Stakes at Calder. A Sea Trippi has since become her sire's first multiple stakes winner by taking the U Can Do It Stakes, another six and one-half furlong sprint at Calder, over older fillies and mares.

Three more stakes winners emerged in 2006 after A Sea Trippi broke the ice. The best of them, Green Vegas (x Wa Ka Ridge, by Cox's Ridge) won the Foolish Pleasure Breeders' Cup Stakes and the restricted In Reality Stakes at Calder and is his sire's leading earner thus far with $457,200 in his bankroll. Trippi's other 2006 stakes winners were Villainage (x Pharmstar, by Adhocracy), who won the five and one-half furlong B L's Sweep Stakes at Calder on June 23 and later ran second in the restricted Affirmed Stakes, and Dream of Angels (x Burn Brightly, by American Chance), who won the six-furlong Middleground Breeders' Cup Stakes at Lone Star Park on July 23. In addition, Trippi was represented in 2006 by three stakes-placed runners in Miss Macy Sue, Trippi Street, and Ice Man Cometh, while Cab won a non-blacktype stakes at Sam Houston Park.

Trippi continues to have success in 2007, though as yet he has not sired a real headliner. Miss Macy Sue (x Yada Yada, by Great Above) became a stakes winner on March 31, 2007, by winning the Carousel Handicap, a six-furlong sprint at Oaklawn Park. Just over a week later, Try to Fly (x Try Your Best, by Kris S.) sped home first in the six-furlong San Pedro Stakes at Santa Anita. Trippi is also the sire of 2007 stakes-placed runners James Wilfred and Poschner.

As of April 23, 2007, the 143 foals from Trippi's first two crops of racing age have so far yielded 108 starters (75.5%), 73 winners (51.0%), and seven stakes winners (4.9%). These are not exceptional figures, but they do suggest that Trippi is a solid fit within the regional market. To date, most of his offspring have been sprinters - according to Equineline, the average winning distance of Trippi's progeny is only 6.27 furlongs with an average maximum winning distance of 6.56 furlongs - but in fairness to the stallion, he has not seen very many mares with the stouter backgrounds that would be needed to add some bottom to his get.

Examination of Trippi's better runners suggests that Never Bend, *Turn-to, War Relic through sources other than In Reality, and Damascus are all elements to look for in potential mates. Returns of In Reality, somewhat surprisingly, have not done very well, and inbreeding to Mr. Prospector has so far produced only Dream of Angels (whose dam also carries *Turn-to and War Relic via his grandson Olden Times) and James Wilfred as blacktype runners. Northern Dancer appears to have at best been a neutral factor with Trippi so far.

Trippi seems to lean somewhat more towards Valid Appeal than Forty Niner in physique. Like Valid Appeal, he is slightly on the fine-boned side but lacks the upright pasterns commonly associated with the In Reality line and has a strongly made body with very nice overall balance. At 16.1 hands high, he could easily be used to refine an overly coarse mare without risking too much loss of size and scope.

As a commercial sire, Trippi has been doing well within the Florida market. He sports yearling and two-year-old auction averages of $45,545 (median $30,150) and $65,348 (median $40,000), respectively, suggesting that he is a reasonable choice for the breeder who desires some flexibility as to whether to sell or race, and he recently topped the 2007 OBS spring two-year-olds in training sale with a $410,000 colt out of Unbridled Bliss. Based on results so far, he cannot be called a great stallion, but he remains quite popular, suggesting that most Florida breeders view him as offering fair value for his stud fee.

Derby Fever under the Florida Sun

The field is set for the 56th running of the Florida Derby (G1). I started this series of articles leading to this race with 149 horses, I've watched each prep race, hoping my favorites would make the race. Wondering if and hoping Breeder's Cup Juvenile (G1) Champion Street Sense would make a start in the race. So many stories so many talented horses. Now two months after starting this journey I am ready and the field is set for the Florida Derby.

Stories are in play with this years race - California's shippers, Michael Matz goes from hot horse to who is that horse, Scat Daddy still trying to prove to the racing community that he is a horse to be reckoned with, and is Bird truly the word. All eyes are focused on that $1,000,000 dollar prize. Time is running out for preps for the Kentucky Derby, this race may be the last prep for some contenders, and may be the second to last hope for others. Sadly we won't get to see Nobiz Like Shobiz, Street Sense, or Circular Quay. We have a talented and exciting field nonetheless.

The field for the 56th running of the Florida Derby includes: Post Position order

1.) Notional - By In Excess (IRE) - Truly Blessed by French Deputy: Continue his cross country assault on Kentucky Derby preps, following wins in California, and Louisiana, is Florida his next conquest on his way to Churchill Downs. He has the pedigree being by In Excess (IRE) who could run at any distance it seemed. As a sire In Excess always seems to have a quality individual making some sort of noise in some division, this year it is Notional. In Excess is already a classic type sire, siring Indian Charlie who ran a credible third in the 1998 running of the classic. Notional is out of Truly Blessed a daughter of leading sire French Deputy a son of Deputy Minister has had his best success at stud with Sprinter/Milers including champion Left Bank who did win the G1 Whitney H.at 9 furlongs. Truly Blessed's broodmare sire is the great sire Exclusive Native who is no stranger to Kentucky Derby success. Lets think real quick on his success with Genuine Risk, Triple Crown winner Affirmed, and Our Native. Distance not a question with this pedigree, if he wins the Florida Derby look out, this horse will be tough as nails in the Kentucky Derby. OWNED BY: J. Paul Reddam, TRAINER: Doug O'Neill JOCKEY: Robbie Albarado

2.) Imawildandcrazyguy - By: Wild Event - Frosty Cupcake by Top Account: This talented 2 year old ran a credible second to Notional in the Risen Star Stakes G3. This colt is breed to cover a distance of ground, my guess would be that he may find more success on the turf, but his form on dirt is good nonetheless. The Gray or roan is a son of G1 Turf star Wild Event. A half brother to other successful turf horses like Paradise Creek, and Forbidden Apple he obviously had speed to win a 7 furlong race, and the stamina to win a mile and a half race. Imawildandcrazyguy is Florida breed thru and thru. Second dam Din's Darling is a half sister to G1 Placed Din's Dancer who could also cover a distance of ground. Frosty Cupcake is a daughter of former Florida stallion Top Account. Top Account won the Grade 2 King's Bishop at three, it is obvious that Top Account is going to give Imawildandcrazyguy a dose of speed that his distance loving sire and second dam could possibly need. My thinking is that this colt has the recipe for a classic type horse. Distance not a question just feel his best potential finish in this race is a 4th or 5th if the top horses really fire.
OWNED BY: Lewis Pell, and Michael Eigner TRAINED: Todd Pletcher JOCKEY: Rafael Bejerano

3.) Scat Daddy: By Johannesburg - Love Style by Mr. Prospector: As I mentioned before Scat Daddy is just like he was as a two year old, being forgotten. WHY???? Grade 1 winner at two of the Champaign Stakes, this horse was given the hypothetical finger when he was left off of the Eclipse Award ballot as Champion Two Year Old. The winner of the G2 Fountain of Youth , has been as a three year old forgotten, ranking a low number seven on Haskin's Derby Dozen. He has done as much if not more than a lot of those ahead of him. Pedigree wise he is from the first crop of the talented race horse Johannesburg who is as much on fire with his three year olds as he was with two year olds. He is out of the Mr. Prospector daughter Love Style who was unraced. Scat Daddy is by far her best foal, she is also the dam of a non winner Lo Styliste. Her dam is the G1 winner Likeable Style by Nijinsky II. When asked about Scat Daddy's ability to go 2 turns. Owner James Scatuorchio said, "Even when he was a youngster, we thought he would go two turns. A lot of people looked at his pedigree and thought he was more of a sprint type, but Todd and J.J. never thought that. He's got a long stride to him and he's just a very, very, good racehorse. He definatley deserves to be a derby contender." I look for him to be ready for this one, like his owner said he is a racehorse.
OWNED: James T. Scatuorchio and Michael B. Tabor TRAINER: Todd Pletcher JOCKEY: Edgar Prado

4.) Adore The Gold: By Formal Gold - Amore E Bacci by Dixieland Band: Swale Stakes (G2) winner Adore The Gold is a handsome well made son of Formal Gold who in most cases is best remembered for defeating super horse Skip Away in the Woodward Stakes (G1), Donn H. (G1), and Phillip H. Iselin H. (G2) in which he set a NTR of 1:40 1/5. Formal Gold has been a successful sire not really having a knock out horse, maybe Adore the Gold is that horse, that will make both of them a household name. It appears that Formal Gold is a sire of sprinter-miler type horses, but I think that with Dixieland Band as a broodmare sire maybe just maybe he will be able to go the classic distance. Interesting pedigree note is that second dam Love and Affection is the dam of Yellowstone, a son of Rock of Gibraltar (IRE) who is being pointed to the European classics. Should be able to handle the distance, not sure what direction he is headed after the Fountain of Youth (G2), if he gets an uncontested lead he may hang in there. OWNED: John D. Murphy TRAINED: Mike Gorham JOCKEY: Cornelio Valasquez

5.) Stormello: By Stormy Atlantic - Wilshewed by Carson City: The beautiful and talented Stormello will turn 3 on Florida Derby day. It would be a wonderful birthday present for all included. The chestnut son of Stormy Atlantic on looking at his pedigree alone appears to be outrunning his pedigree. Stormy Atlantic never won at more than 6 furlongs, and as a sire it appears he has had more success with horses in the 6 furlong range. However he is the sire of Atlantic Ocean, who did in fact win at 9 furlongs, as well as Icy Atlantic who also has won at 9 furlongs. Wilshewed is a daughter of leading sire Carson City. Carson City as a sire is probably best remembered as a sire of Sprinters and early two year olds. However he is the broodmare sire of the immortal BARBARO (G1).

Barbaro (right) shown winning last year's Florida Derby


While Stormello's female family is full of decent black type runners he is by far the class of the family in recent times, the only other really outstanding horse to come from the female family is G1 winner Marlin. I think he will continue to outrun his pedigree. I hate even writing that, but on paper it appears that he would be a sprinter-miler type, however he is a good horse. I think he will try very hard to repeat his performance in the Fountain of Youth (G2), however he is out to win. OWNED: William L. Currin & Alvin Eisman TRAINER: William Currin JOCKEY: Victor Espinoza

6.) Chelokee: By Cherokee Run - Dixie Ghost by Silver Ghost: On looks alone this colt has everyone defeated. He is very talented with 5 starts 2 wins 2 second and 2 third. By Sprint Superstar Cherokee Run who interesting enough finished second in the Preakness Stakes, has been a great sire however looking at his best foals they seem to be in the 6.5 furlong to 7.5 furlong range. However I feel this is a moot point with this talented colt. Dixie Ghost was a G3 winner of the Just A Game Breeders Cup H., as well as G2 placed in the Long Island H. She is the dam of Mymich, who as a two year old was 3rd in the Schylerville S.(G3) and has earned over $250,000. This is another colt that has the combination of speed with stamina that I think could go ahead and win any of the classic races. I expect him to be a little green in the Florida Derby, however he will have a nice pace to run at, and could potentially do quite well. And maybe bring good memories of Barbaro's win in this race last year.
OWNED: Centennial Farms TRAINED: Michael Matz JOCKEY: Ramon Dominguez

7.) Boogie Boggs: By Dixie Union - Smokey Mirage by Holy Bull: Okay, in all honesty I don't know much about this horse. He is a son of the highly regarded stallion Dixie Union, a son of Dixieland Band. Dixie Union won the Haskell Invitation H. (G1) at three over captain Steve and Milwaukee Brew, that race at 9 furlongs was his most important win, however his win in the Malibu Stakes (G1) was his best win. As a sire he is showing the ability to produce horses who can go up to an above 8 furlongs. Boogie Boggs is out of the Holy Bull mare Smokey Mirage. A winner of $78,970, Smokey Mirage is a half sister to Florida Derby winner High Fly $927,300, Estimraar $580,00, and Velvet Rope $258,447. Don't know if he is ready for this kind of race, however he has the pedigree to handle the distance. I don't think he is going to be anything but a interesting side note in the race. OWNED: My Meadowview Farms TRAINED: Nick Zito JOCKEY: Joe Bravo

8.) Johannesburg Star: By: Johannesburg - Gammy's Alden by John Alden: Ran last in the Fountain of Youth (G2), not sure if he is able to go with this crowd. I would put some of the new shooters ahead of him. Pedigree is interesting, but in all honesty I'm not sure he really belongs here. And not sure how to interpret his pedigree. I don't know what to expect from him, possibly he will improve off the Fountain of Youth defeat. However I don't place him too high. OWNED: Bisnath Parbod TRAINED: Colin Maragh JOCKEY: R Maragh

9.) Birdbirdistheword: By Pure Prize - Berchta by Rocky Mountain: Florida bred Birdbirdistheword gets to race in his home state's biggest race. After a week or so of speculation is he going to the Blue Grass (G1) the decision was made. If you ask my honest opinion Birdbirdistheword is in this race. I think that if he was to go to the Blue Grass he is going to meet up with all the top three year olds, Street Sense, Circular Quay, etc. I think they are trying to insure that if it comes to graded earnings to get into the derby field he will have enough. I think between the two races the Florida Derby shapes up as an easier race for him to finish on the board. I like this horse, he is got a intriguing pedigree. It in a way represents Florida's blue collar bloodlines thru his mother, crossed with Kentucky's blue blooded pedigrees. Distance should not be a problem. Has the ability to win this race if he is good enough. OWNED: Raymond Cottrell Sr. TRAINED: Ken McPeek JOCKEY Manoel Cruz

I see the 56th running of the Florida Derby is going to be a good test for our top horses Scat Daddy, Stormello, Notional, and Birdbirdistheword. I hope that you will take the time to watch live streaming coverage of the race at 5:15 PM on NBCSports.com. I have to say I enjoyed my first foray as a "writer". A lot of studying and research went into this. As a Florida breeder I am going to root for the home team with Birdbirdistheword, Chelokee, and Imawildandcrazyguy, however Scat Daddy, Notional and Stormello have a lot riding on this race.

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The Florida Derby is called "The Run for the Orchids". 2001 winner Monarchos seems to enjoy their scent.



Daniel Lewis is currently an assistant to FrancisVanlangendonck of Summerfield Sales. Daniel has worked with such superstar racehorses as champion Silver Charm, champion Real Quiet, champion Xtra Heat, Lion Heart, Appealing Zophie, D'Wildcat, all G1 winners, and many more. Daniel is owner/operator of Icon Bloodstock Agency. He has bred many Quarter Horse, Paint and Thoroughbred horses.

"My clients deserve an agent who focuses on honesty and integrity."

Hialeah's Historic Flamingo

Hialeah's Flamingo Stakes was once the premier Kentucky Derby prep of the Florida season. It produced twelve dual winners, starting with Lawrin in 1938 and continuing through 1979, when Spectacular Bid won both races.

Other notable winners which did not go on to victory at Churchill Downs, but who were influential in other ways include Black Helen in 1935 (when the race was called the Florida Derby), Olympia in 1949, Nashua in 1956, Bold Ruler in 1957, Never Bend in 1963, and Alydar in 1978.

The 1985 winner was Chief's Crown (originally disqualified but reinstated on appeal). The final running in 2001 went to Thunder Blitz.

Hialeah's operator Eugene Mori was a great promoter, and even had a beverage concocted to honor the race.



The Flamingo cocktail
A Blend of Coconut & Pineapple Juice, Grenadine & Rum
Pour over crushed ice and garnish with pineapple chunk and cherry.
* Many recipes say Apricot Brandy, Gin, Lime juice and Grenadine, but the above is taken from a Hialeah Flamingo Cocktail glass.

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Here are the winners of the Flamingo Stakes who also won the Kentucky Derby.

1938 - Lawrin
1948 - Citation
1954 - Turn-To
1956 - Needles
1958 - Tim Tam
1961 - Carry Back
1964 - Northern Dancer
1966 - Buckpasser
1975 - Foolish Pleasure
1976 - Honest Pleasure
1977 - Seattle Slew
1979 - Spectacular Bid

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Spectacular Bid also won the Florida Derby of 1979

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FLORIDA DERBY FIELD TAKES SHAPE

In a matter of weeks Florida will roll out the red carpet for the top three year olds headed to the Kentucky Derby-G1. The Florida Derby G1 has been the starting point to Derby success of a great many of great racehorses. Top horses to win both Derbies include: The first Florida breed to capture the Kentucky Derby G1, Needles, Tim Tam, Carry Back, Northern Dancer, Forward Pass, Spectacular Bid, Swale, Unbridled, Thunder Gulch and most recently Monarchos.

So far there has not really been a true standout to shine under the Florida sunshine. With the best three year olds switching wins around left and right, and 2 year old champion Street Sense still not making his 3 year old debut, the likelihood of seeing him in the Florida Derby becomes slimmer and slimmer. Street Sense was to make his three year old debut in the Tampa Bay Derby, hopefully we will get to see him, looks like the jinx will continue for another year.

At this time March 11, 2007, three Saturdays away from the Florida Derby G1, the likely field for the Derby could potentially include the following horses:

* STREET SENSE- DKB/BR COLT By Street Cry (IRE) - Bedazzle by Dixieland Band; Off Juvenile score this colt should love all of the triple crown races. However the lack of a race as of March 10, is sort of troublesome, however if anyone can get a horse to the Kentucky Derby G1, It would be Carl Nafzger. The colt is definitely bred to go the distance, and his 2nd dam's 1/2 brother, leading sire Mr. Greeley, has shown an ability to throw distance capable runners. Has the talent, the pedigree, the looks to be a derby champion. Lets just hope he will have the conditioning to get the job done that first Saturday in May. FLORIDA DERBY POTENTIAL, not sure this race is in his cards anymore, we will have to wait and see.

* CIRCULAR QUAY - CH COLT By Thunder Gulch-Circle of Life by Belong To Me; Has the pedigree by a Derby champion and out of a Grade 1 winning filly, this colt looks like a horse sitting on a big race. He has the talent, has the ability and obviously is going to go the distance. This colt is entered in the Louisiana Derby G1. FLORIDA DERBY POTENTIAL: the possibility for him to run in the Florida Derby seems to be slim, but he may make an appearance.


* SCAT DADDY - DKB/BR COLT By Johannesburg-Love Style by Mr. Prospector; Scat Daddy showed new a new dimension in the G2 Fountain of Youth, instead of going to the lead he sat back, and waited, and won in a perfectly timed run. The colt looks like he is maturing and showing that he is a force to be reckoned with, definitely if all goes well will be a favorite for the Florida Derby G1. A colt that was shunned as a potential 2 year old champion, I think he is out for revenge and will see his name on the champion 3 year old lists. FLORIDA DERBY POTENTIAL: He will be there and ready to rumble.

* BIRDBIRDSTHEWORD - DKB/BR COLT By Pure Prize - Berchta by Rocky Mountain; With earnings of $702,100 he has the graded earnings to get into the field for the Florida Derby G1, not sure though what is going on with this handsome colt. He is also a Florida bred so I would have to back him a little. Pedigree wise he has the ability to go the distance, having Alydar, Seeking The Gold, Secretariat, Northern Dancer, etc in his pedigree, I have to say I am confused pedigree wise as to what the future holds for this very nice horse. FLORIDA DERBY POTENTIAL: NOT SURE, would love to see him run.

* NOBIZ LIKE SHOBIZ - B COLT By Albert The Great - Nightstorm by Storm Cat; After finishing third in the Fountain of Youth, you wonder what the heck is wrong with this colt. This horse has so much talent and the way he won the Holy Bull G3, you would expect better results. However the fact that the colt ran wide on the turn, ducked in, and acted the fool, I am worried that this colt is just not headed in the right direction, with a trainer like Tagg, you would expect this colt to mature with each race, he seems to be back peddling. FLORIDA DERBY POTENTIAL: Should run, but I think they should spend the next few weeks just letting this horse have some time to mature, relax etc.


* KING OF THE ROXY - DKB/BR COLT By Littleexpectations - Marrakesh by Bold Forbes; The Valid Appeal line had recent success when Successful Appeals son Closing Argument ran a good 2nd in the Kentucky Derby G1. It is obviously clear that the King has been sighted, and is looking to claim his throne. All jokes aside, this is a talented colt, a handsome well made colt, that has shown the ability to run in tough races and do his best, however in a way you do wonder about his ability to go a distance of ground, but with broodmares sire Bold Forbes in the mix, maybe, just maybe we can see him in the top three in the Kentucky Derby G1, and he may in fact use his speed and talent to win the Florida Derby as well. FLORIDA DERBY POTENTIAL: Should be there if all goes well.

* STORM IN MAY - GR/RO COLT By Tiger Ridge - Laun Shaw by Relaunch; Florida bred Storm In May has run in eleven races, finishing in the money in ten of those races, recently finishing 6th to King of The Roxy. Storm In May is a son of former Florida stallion Tiger Ridge, with his recent deportation to South Africa I would love to see him personally jump up and have a good runner to put his name in the spot light. SIM is a son of the unraced mare Laun Shaw a daughter of leading sire and broodmare sire Relaunch. Laun Shaw is out of the grand mare Shawnee Creek the dam of the decent sire Storm Creek by Storm Cat, recent stakes winners from daughters of Shawnee Creek include G1 placed runner Fircroft (A. P. Indy), Victory Lap, winner of the Lone Star Oak -L, and Grade 1 winner Amadeus Wolf. Kind of an underdog horse, worth watching, he will continue to make a name for himself, has the ability to win on dirt and turf. FLORIDA DERBY POTENTIAL: Will be pointing for the race, if it comes down to earnings should get in, again would love to see him enter the gates for this race.

* ADORE THE GOLD - DKB/BR COLT By Formal Gold - Amore E Baci - by Dixieland Band; Swale Stakes G3 winner Adore the Gold ran a tough race in defeat in the Fountain Of Youth, he is ultra talented but is maybe being pushed a little harder than he should be. Pedigree wise he should obviously be okay at all classic distances. We will have to wait and see. FLORIDA DERBY POTENTIAL: Probably will go to the race, however my personal opinion is to be patient and maybe go to the Bluegrass, and then the Kentucky Derby G1.

* REATA'S ROCKET (CAN) -CH COLT By Cape Canaveral - Selborne (CAN) by French Deputy; Nice talented horse, would love to see him do good, love his sire, Cape Canaveral, love the way his dam is breed, being by the top stallion French Deputy, however after his fourth place effort in the Hutcheson Stakes G2 it appears he is not exactly in the first or second group of three year olds. If this were my colt, I would point him to the Canadian classics, this colt should dominate other Canadian breds. FLORIDA DERBY POTENTIAL: With derby fever all around, they will probably consider the race.

* DRUMS OF THUNDER - CH COLT By Concerto - Parental Uproar by Future Storm; Talented two year old here in Florida, continued to show he is good here in Florida when 2nd in the Holy Bull G3. However is he going to be able to go outside of Florida and run with the top horses, I don't think so. However, this horse will be a solid horse in the state. Pedigree wise, he has the sire Concerto, sire of Bellamy Road, but looking at his pedigree I am not sure what he is capable of. FLORIDA DERBY POTENTIAL: I am not sure if he heads this direction.

* OUT OF GWEDDA - CH COLT By Out of Place -Gwedda by Gone West; Love the pedigree of this horse, by the consistent sire Out of Place, who has always seemed to have a top three year old every year with the likes of Fonz's, Certain, Orville N Wilbur's, Meetyouathebrig, and Sort it Out. Looking at Out of Gwedda's pedigree I can say that if he doesn't like distance it will be a surprise. Pedigree looks to like a mile and over. My one concern is just how much heart this horse has, he is talented however his two starts at three he just appears to lacking EFFORT, love his female family going back to the champion filly Quill. FLORIDA DERBY POTENTIAL: Not sure if he will go, but would like to see him go for the big races, and put his self out there.

* AIR LORD - B COLT By Stormin Fever - Sunny Mimosa by Sunny North; Ran a good race in his 5th place finish to King of The Roxy. The pedigree of this colt is intriguing, by one of my favorite sons of Storm Cat, Stormin Fever, who is a full brother to the very talented runner Raging Fever, who had the ability and talent to win some tough races at a distance of ground. Stormin Fever was good at about 6 1/2 to 7 1/2 furlongs, however he appears to be able to throw a horse that can sprint, and stay. He is the sire of Grade 1 winners Tarlow on dirt, and Sweet Talker. Air Lord is a half brother to Successful Florida stallion Delaware Township. Delaware Township was good at the sprints, but his sire was a known source of speed. So maybe Stormin Fever will give this son of Sunny Mimosa some more distance to his pedigree. I think this is a colt to watch. FLORIDA DERBY POTENTIAL: I say run him, talent pedigree, etc. Would like to see him progress like Sunriver did last season, hope that he can do a heck of a lot better though.

* GREEN VEGAS - B COLT By Trippi - Wa Ka Ridge by Cox's Ridge; Florida's Champion Two Year Old colt, earned an impressive $424,700 while staying in the state of Florida as a TWO YEAR OLD!!!!! His career line is an impressive 9 starts, 3 wins, 2 seconds, and three thirds. By the Sprinter son of End Sweep, Trippi is off to a very solid start at stud. Definitely will continue Ocala Stud's storied career at producing leading sires nationally, joining leading sires of recent years, Montbrook, Concerto, Sweetsouthernsaint, and Notebook. Green Vegas, bred by Ocala Stud, is out of the nice mare Wa Ka Ridge, a daughter of the good stallion Cox's Ridge. This mare has a pedigree that would hopefully add some stamina to Trippi's speed. FLORIDA DERBY POTENTIAL: Not sure exactly when or where this horse will show up. Would love to see him in the National Spotlight. And would love to see him repeat as Florida's Champion three year old.

* BLUE'S STREET - DKB/BR COLT By Street Cry (IRE) - Capote Blues by Capote; Okay guys, not exactly sure what the plans are for this colt, however I had to put him on this list because of his earnings of $379,577 so he may be able to draw into the Florida Derby Field, or be among the also eligible list. Also I had to put him here because I am personally attached to this horses female family, I was his dam's groom as a baby, and I was her mother's groom when she was a two year old. And I also have worked with her great mother Gussie's Appeal. I can't say that I am gonna be a very good judge when It comes to this guy, I am honestly rooting for him no matter what. FLORIDA DERBY POTENTIAL: Would love to see him there, would love to see him take the race, but not sure he will make it to the race.

Well, a lot of research has been put into this top 14, maybe these will be the 14 horses to run in the Florida Derby G1. Are we going to see this years Derby champion come from this great race, or maybe from California, is Fountain of Youth G2 second place finisher Stormello going to be nominated to the Florida Derby or is he going to go back and face Ravel in the Santa Anita Derby G1? Those are the questions that are out there. However one can be certain this may be the year of a TRIPLE CROWN! After the sorrow our industry carried last year, wouldn't it be nice to have the excitement of a Triple Crown winner?

Spotlight on Halo's Image

On raw numbers, Halo’s Image has not been an exceptional stallion. As of February 26, 2007, he has 182 winners from the 341 foals in his first seven crops (foals three years old and older in 2007), or 53.3 percent – adequate, but certainly not exceptional. Only thirteen of those foals – 3.8 percent – have become stakes winners, barely more than the breed average of 3.5 percent.

There’s more than mere numbers to define Halo’s Image, however. He may not be the most consistent stallion around, but it is his proven ability to get the big horse that has made him Florida’s leading sire by progeny earnings for 2006, a position he also attained in 2004.

Bred and raced by the partnership of Arthur Appleton and Happy Alter, Halo’s Image scored his biggest wins in the 1994 Tropical Park Handicap (G3) and the 1996 Broward Handicap (G3). Consistent and versatile, he hit the board in 20 of his 26 starts and won stakes at distances from six to nine furlongs. He was nowhere near being a top-class runner, as demonstrated by his non-threatening third in the 1994 Florida Derby (G1) behind Holy Bull, but his record was certainly good enough to merit a chance at stud in a regional market. He stood his first season for $3,500 at Appleton’s Bridlewood Farm in 1998.

Halo’s Image first attracted marked notice in 2003 with Sir Oscar and Southern Image. The former was unbeaten at two, sweeping the Florida Stallion Stakes series, while the latter won the Malibu Stakes (G1) as a late three-year-old in December.

Sir Oscar was unable to follow up on his good juvenile form, winning only one race in eleven starts since then, but Southern Image went on to become one of the best handicap horses of 2004, scoring victories in the 2004 Santa Anita Handicap (G1) and Pimlico Special (G1) before running second over an off track to Colonial Colony in the Stephen Foster Handicap (G1).


He eventually retired following the last-named race and now stands at Taylor Made Farm in Kentucky.



Southern Image

Both Sir Oscar and Southern Image are out of mares from the Northern Dancer male line, which certainly fits the conventional wisdom that a son of Halo might do well with Northern Dancer-line mares. But since then, Halo’s Image has sired only the minor stakes winner Time to Divorce from a Northern Dancer-line mare. While opportunity may well be a factor – the Northern Dancer sire line is not quite as common in Florida as in Kentucky – other considerations may also be at play.

All strains of Northern Dancer are not created alike, and a key factor to selecting mares from this line that will suit Halo’s Image may well involve his broodmare sire, Valid Appeal. Unlike the Halo line, Valid Appeal and his sons have not been particularly effective with Northern Dancer-line mares as a group, nor have Valid Appeal daughters produced strong results when crossed to Northern Dancer-line sires; in fact, some Northern Dancer branches have produced distinctly negative results. Among the sons of Northern Dancer, Valid Appeal has combined best with Dixieland Band, Danzig, and Nijinsky II – and it may be no coincidence that two of these branches are represented in Southern Image (whose dam is the Dixieland Band mare Pretty Image) and Sir Oscar (whose dam is by Danzig’s son Honor Grades).

As Dixieland Band, Danzig, and Nijinsky II have all combined well with Halo in pedigrees, these would seem to be the best Northern Dancer strains to try in future matings to Halo’s Image. Non-Northern Dancer lines that may also be worth looking for in potential mates for Halo’s Image include Forty Niner (whose son Twining is the broodmare sire of 2006 Canadian Derby (Can-3) winner Halo Steven), Ack Ack, Prince John, Never Bend, and male strains of *Mahmoud; all of these strains have historically done well when combined with Halo or Valid Appeal.

Halo’s Image commanded a fee of $10,000 in 2005 and 2006 but has dropped back to $7,500 for 2007. Even this fee may seem high given his overall results.


Nonetheless, he may be worth the money if careful attention is paid to selecting potential mates with the pedigree factors that appear to have the best chance of working with him.

Halo's Image

Ladies on the lawn

This past Saturday saw two stakes races run on the lawn at Gulfstream Park and featured some better than average turf distaffers in Royal Highness(GER), winner of the $100,000 The Very One Handicap (gr. IIIT), completing the 1 3/8-mile distance in 2:12 3/5, and Audacious Chloe, who handed champion 2-year-old filly of 2006 Dreaming of Anna her first defeat on grass in the $76,500 Gaily Gaily Stakes. The final time for the 1 1/16-mile turf contest was 1:41 3/5.

Royal Highness is a daughter of MONSUN out of Reem Dubai by NASHWAN. Outcrossed thru five generations, she still boasts some powerful linebreeding, having HYPERION 6s x 6S x 8D x 8d x 7d x 9d x 8D x 6D, and NEARCO 6s x 9s x 6D x 8d x 8D x 7D.

Royal Highness, owned by Monceaux Stable, previously competed in France, where she was a group II winner and group I-placed on three occasions. Since her arrival in the USA she has been trained by Christophe Clement, who sent her out in last fall in the Turf Classic Invitational (gr. IT) at Belmont Park, finishing third behind English Channel. She subsequently appeared in the Long Island Handicap (gr. IIT), where she finished second by a half-length behind Safari Queen. Her race record now stands at three wins, five seconds and two shows in 12 starts with earnings of $491,581. She is obviously capable of running with some very good company.

Royal Highness(GER)
winner of Gulfstream Park's
The Very One H.

Audacious Chloe, by MORE THAN READY and out of Audacious by MANILA, is trained by Todd Pletcher and runs in the colors of Team Valor Stables and Never Tell Farm. Highclere Inc. bred the $300,000 Fasig-Tipton filly in Kentucky. Audacious Chloe has MR. PROSPECTOR and NORTHERN DANCER 4x4 in her pedigree, plus boasting three crosses each of BOLD RULER, NASRULLAH, and ALMAHMOUD.

Audacious Chloe had three starts on dirt, and was a maiden winner before Pletcher switched her to the turf, where she won the Junior Champion stakes at Monmouth Park, setting a New Course Record of 1:34 1/5. In her only start since then, Audacious Chloe nearly notched another win in the 1 1/16-mile Jessamine before losing out by a neck on the Keeneland grass. Her record now stands at three wins and two seconds in six starts with earnings of $148,139.

Audacious Chloe,
shown here winning the
Little Silver S at Monmouth

It's always nice to see such opportunistic performances, especially when they involve the ladies and the lawn.

Opportunities for fillies and mares who prefer to run on the green abound in Florida racing in coming weeks. Here's what's scheduled:

March 4 Gulfstream Park, Honey Fox H. (G3), $100,000, 4&up f&m, 8.5f T
Mar. 17 Tampa Bay Downs, Hillsborough S. (G3), $150,000, 4&up f&m, 9f T
March 25 Gulfstream Park, Herecomesthebride S. (G3), $100,000, 3yo f, 9f T
March 31 Gulfstream Park, Orchid H. (G3), $150,000, 4&up f&m, 12f T
April 1 Gulfstream Park, Magna Distaff, $75,000, 4&up f&m, 8.5f T


I don't know about you, but I'm looking forward to all of these.




Honey Ryder, twice winner of the Orchid H.

Florida Derby: Underdogs

I could write about leading Florida Derby G1 contenders Nobiz Like Showbiz, Scat Daddy, Buffalo Man, and Street Sense. However I think by Florida Derby Day these horses will have had so much written about them, we will be aware of when the horse snorts. We will also have heard everything there is to know about their pedigrees.

While thinking about how to write this article, it dawned on me to write about the lesser known, but equally talented underdogs. One colt that comes to mind is the very handsome, very impressive maiden winner Came To Pass. This bay colt foaled April 8, 2004 will be maturing at the right time, however the graded earnings will probably come into play with him, but I still feel he is worth my time in writing about. This colt represents the powerful Darley Stables who purchased the son of Came Home for $350,000.00 at the Fasig Tipton Calder Two Year Olds in Training sale.

Came to Pass is from the first crop of Hopeful Stakes G1, Pacific Classic S G1, and Santa Anita Derby G1 winner Came Home. The speedy, tough, and durable son of Gone West was represented by 7 two year old winners, including C P West, who ran 2nd in the Grade 2 Futurity Stakes at Belmont, as well as Beautiful Venue who ran third in the listed Bassinet Stakes. It can be said that he was a bit disappointing because he didn't have as many early two year olds as one would have thought. Especially from this speedy two year. Came Home however was great as a three year old, hopefully the colts and fillies by him will only get better with age like he did, and like I think Came To Pass will do as well.


Came Home, sire of Came to Pass, stands at Lane's End Farm In Versailles, KY

Photo by Tony Leonard


When looking at Came To Pass' female family one is first and foremost impressed by the names in his ancestry as well as the overall look of balance to it, his pedigree appears to be one that is going to be good at sprints, as well as a horse that can go long.

Easy Pass, the dam of Came to Pass, was unable to get to the winners circle in 3 starts, however being a daughter of the great chestnut champion Easy Goer, an obvious impression would be that she would have the potential to be the dam of a potential derby starter. She would not be the first daughter of Easy Goer to be represented by a potential derby candidate.

Classic winner Easy Goer is a son of the Triple Crown Placed Alydar. He was out of the champion and broodmare of the year Relaxing, a daughter of the great stallion and racehorse Buckpasser. The Phipps family homebred classic winner won some of Belmont Park's most prestigious races for his age groups by taking the Champagne Stakes G1 at two, the Belmont Stakes G1 at three, and the Suburban H G1 at four. He ran a career record of twenty starts, fourteen wins, five seconds, and one third place, never out of the money, he had career earnings $4,873,770.00 and won 9 Grade 1 races.

In the breeding shed Easy Goer was on his way to becoming a great stallion. Siring My Flag, winner of the Breeders Cup Juvenile Fillies G1, as well as being named Champion 2 year Old Filly. This great mare also ran third in the Belmont Stakes G1 at three. He is also the sire of top three year old colt Will's Way who won the Travers Stakes G1. Sadly racing was only blessed with 133 foals by Easy Goer, 4 crops with 8 stakes winners.

Lets look at Easy Goer as a broodmare sire. This is where the stallion has honestly kept his name in the stud book, despite his daughters throwing at times his club foot. He has managed to have grand foals that are both sound and able to maintain a classic distance, despite the sire the mare is breed to.

Easy Goer's daughters, with best runner.

FURLOUGH: G2 winner, dam of 2006 Grade 3 winner or the Aqueduct Handicap, Happy Hunting, her first foal, has foals coming up by all the top sires.

ITSOEASY: Non-winner, is the dam of Santa Anita Derby G1 runner up Easy Grades.

MONTERA: unraced, dam of another classic contender when she produced Easyfromthegetgo, who ran second in the Grade 2 Louisiana Derby, and third in the Lexington Stakes G2. She is also the dam of G3 winner Sue's Good News.

MY FLAG: CHAMPION G1 winner: This great race mare and the top earning offspring of Easy Goer is the dam of Champion Two Year Old, and Breeder's Cup Juvenile Fillies G1 winner Storm Flag Flying. She is also the dam of G3 placed On Parade. Florida Breeders have access to this wonderful female family as well as to Easy Goer by going to My Flag's winning son Leading The Parade, a son of two time leading sire A. P. Indy. This handsome colt is in many ways almost a dead ringer for Easy Goer.

RETROSPECTIVE: WINNER: This 1/2 sister to leading sire Broad Brush has added to the families ability to have classic type sires. Retrospective's first foal has become a classic producing sire in Ireland when she produced Mull Of Kintyre. In his first crop of foals in 2006 Mull of Kintyre sired the tough three year old Araafa (IRE) who won the Irish Two Thousand Guineas IRE-G1, as well as winning the St. James's Palace S. ENG-G1. Mull of Kintyre comes to America's Ashford stud for 2007 with a steal for a stud fee at only $10,000.00.

MULTIPLY: Unraced: This mare is on her way to a broodmare of the year. This mare has top four year old Corinthian, who ran a good third in the Florida Derby G1. He recently came back in an allowance race at Gulfstream Park to demolish a field that included Belmont Stakes G1 winner Jazil. Multiply also is represented as the dam of Maiden three year old winner Vitruvious, a son of young stallion E Dubai, won his maiden race on February 17. This mare is no stranger to classic potential as she is also the dam of G2 San Rafael winner Desert Hero, who also ran a good third in the Santa Anita Derby.

Looking at his female family you see his second dam is a daughter of Nijinsky II, the Horse Of The Year in Europe, as well as top 2 and 3 year old in both England and Ireland, Nijinsky II won 11 of 13 starts. The third dam of Came To Pass is the tough race mare Margaise, winner of the Hollywood Lassie stakes, Nursery S. Goose Girl S. etc. She won 10 races and earned $170,00 plus dollars. She is a daughter of the great runner Round Table, leading sire, third horse to become a million dollar earner.

Came To Pass' female family is one that is solid throughout, however it lacks the big names you would like to see, as far as females under his second and third dams have produced. But hey, I think this is a special colt.

I would like to see this colt headed to the Florida Derby G1, however Darley Stables when they have talented horses, Discreet Cat as well as Bernardini come to mind, tend to take their time. This colt may be this years Bernardini. Like I mentioned he is an April 8 foal, he would be maturing at the right times. He ran an impressive maiden race at 7 furlongs. Who knows, this handsome, well built colt may be one to watch.

I hope that you enjoyed this, the first part of my articles on the Grade 1, Florida Derby. This year marks the 56th running of one of the top three year old preps for the Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum Brands G1, The mile and one eighth race is to be run on March 31, 2007.

Daniel Lewis
Icon Bloodstock
4858 South Roebuck Way
Homosassa, Florida 34448
352-697-2162

Welcome

Welcome to the only Weblog exclusively dedicated to Owners and Breeders of Thoroughbred Racehorses in Florida.


Our mission will be the exploration of the current breeding scene in Florida, education as to opportunities for owning and breeding in Florida, and examination of successes from the past.

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