BY BROCK SHERIDAN
ARCADIA, CA—Horsemen from throughout Ocala, Marion County and surrounding areas were well represented by winners of Breeders’ Cup World Championship races Friday and Saturday at Santa Anita including Eddie Herrera’s Nice and Easy Thoroughbreds, who claim $6 million Longines Breeders’ Cup Classic-winner White Abarrio among their many successful graduates.
“Today has been one of the best days of my life,” Co-owner Antonio Pagnano said after his White Abarrio won the Grade 1 Breeders’ Cup Classic. “I want to thank the trainer [Rick Dutrow]. I want to thank [partners] Mr. Clint [Cornett], Mr. Mark [Cornett]. Most of all, I want to thank my partner, Carlos Perez. He has been with me since the beginning.”
Perez signed the ticket to purchase White Abarrio after putting in a final bid of $40,000 at the 2022 Ocala Breeders’ Sales March Sale where the nearly white colt was consigned by Eddie Herrera’s Nice and Easy Thoroughbreds.
White Abarrio is a two-time graduate of OBS as Francis and Barbara Vanlangendonck sold him through their Summerfield consignment for $7,500 to Jose Ordonez at the 2020 OBS Winter Mixed Sale.
Also represented in the Breeders’ Cup Classic was Bridlewood Farm, who provided early training for third-place finisher Proxy, who races in the famous blue colors of Godolphin.
Cody’s Wish, who defended his title in the Grade 1 Big Ass Fans Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile for Godophin and trainer Bill Mott, is also a graduate of the early training program at Bridlewood Farm.
The Vanlangendoncks, of Morriston, also count PNC Bank Breeders’ Cup Filly and Mare Sprint-winner Goodnight Olive among their Summerfield alumni. Goodnight Olive was purchased by First Row Partners, Liz Crow agent for $170,000 at the 2019 Fasig-Tipton October Yearling Sale and later received her early training from Paul Sharp of Ocala.
Repole Stable’s Fierceness, who won the $2 million FanDuel Breeders’ Cup Juvenile presented by Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance Friday for trainer Todd Pletcher, is a product of the training program at Ocala Stud. Fiercness is the second consecutive winner of the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile for Repole and Pletcher and who won last year with Forte, who also received his early conditioning at Ocala Stud.
“They do a great job at Ocala Stud,” Repole stable manager Jim Martin said to Wire to Wire via text.
Fierceness won the $2 million Breeders’ Cup Juvenile over second-place finisher Muth, who Jimbo and Torie Gladwell started at their Top Line Sales in Reddick. Top Line also consigned Muth to the OBS March Sale where bloodstock agent Donato Lanni purchased him for $2 million.
The Gladwells also trained Dirt Mile third-place finisher Skippylongstocking.
Another winner on Breeders’ Cup “Future Stars Friday” was Hard to Justify, who won the Grade 2 Juvenile Fillies for Wise Racing LLC and trainer Chad Brown. Hard to Justify received her initial race training at Niall Brennan Stables in Ocala.
Juvenile Fillies Turf third-place finisher She Feels Pretty received her early training from Tristan and Valery de Meric, FanDuel Breeders’ Cup Mile third-place finisher Casa Creed was started at Kinsman while Longines Breeders’ Cup Distaff third-place finisher Clairiere is a graduate of the training program at Stonestreet Training and Rehabilitation in Summerfield. Candied, the third-place finisher in the NetJets Juvenile Fillies, is a graduate of Susan Montayne’s SBM Training and Sales.
Editor’s Note: Wire to Wire will continue working to learn more local connections to horses that finished in the top three during the Breeders’ Cup World Championships this year. If one of your graduates had Breeders’ Cup success, please feel free to contact Editor-in-Chief Brock Sheridan at: bsheridan@ftboa.com.
We encourage all horsemen based in Central Florida to contact Wire to Wire about any of your connections to stakes horses who received their training locally.
