OCALA, FL (352today.com) – As one Ocala-trained colt punched his ticket to the Kentucky Derby, others lit up the track at Florida Cup Day at Tampa Bay Downs, where Marion County-bred horses delivered record-breaking performances and memorable wins.
The 22nd Annual Florida Cup featured six $110,000 stakes races – three on dirt and three on turf – with two stakes records falling. One came in the seven-furlong Ocala Breeders’ Sales Sophomore Stakes, where 3-year-old colt Macho Music, bred by Ocala’s Bridlewood Farm, set a new record.
Crystal Quest, representing Charlotte Weber’s Live Oak Plantation in Ocala, broke the stakes record in the 1 1/8-mile ESMARK Turf Classic. The 4-year-old colt’s victory highlighted the strength of Ocala’s breeding and training programs.
Win N Your In picked up her third stakes victory in the seven-furlong Stonehedge Farm South Sophomore Fillies Stakes. Trained by Carlos David, the filly was ridden to victory by jockey Luis Saez – is first of three wins on the day.
“I thought this would be a better spot to run her against Florida-breds, although she’s won in open company,” said David. “We wanted to find a race where she could win and still look good, pick up her numbers and her form and here we are.”
Saez also rode Ocala’s Tank, bred by Arindel Farm and trained by David, to victory in the 1 1/16-mile Equistaff Sophomore Turf. Another Saez winner, Hurricane Nelson, took the six-furlong NYRABETS Sprint. The 4-year-old colt is from Ocala Stud.
“He’s a pretty fast horse… he took the lead and when he came to the top of the stretch, he’s a fighter,” said Saez.
While Florida Cup Day celebrated state-bred talent, perhaps the biggest buzz surrounds Sandman. Trained by Mark Casse and broken and trained in Ocala by Tom McCrocklin, the colt won the Arkansas Derby on March 29 and is now Kentucky Derby-bound.
“It was nice finally for things to go his way… He’s kind of a fan favorite,” said Casse. “He’s beautiful, his color and his name… the only name you would hear being screamed out was Sandman.”