BY BROCK SHERIDAN
Florida-breds Loco Abarrio and Big Martini, who finished first and second respectively in the $150,000 FTBOA Gil Campbell Memorial Handicap at Gulfstream Park on Oct. 19, will face off again Saturday in the $100,000 FTBOA Florida Sire Stakes Marion County at Tampa Bay Downs. The seven-furlong test for 3-year-old colts and geldings by registered Florida stallions has a field of six.
The Gil Campbell Memorial was the first stakes victory for Loco Abarrio and the second time the two familiar foes made up an exacta at Gulfstream. Trained by Ronald Spatz, Loco Abarrio also defeated Big Martini by nearly two lengths in a first level, $20,000 optional claiming there in June of last year going seven furlongs. Loco Abarrio and Big Marini were also second and fourth behind Florida-bred winner Comedy Town in the $96,000 Benny the Bull run over a muddy seven furlongs at Gulfstream in August.
The 4-year-old Loco Abarrio has been a reliable performer throughout his career with six wins, 10 seconds and two thirds in 22 starts. His last off-the-board finish came in July when fifth in the $100,000 Smile Sprint won by Comedy Town at Gulfstream in July.
Loco Abarrio is by Bridlewood Farm stallion Valiant Minister out of Ballyhoo Moon, by Malibu Moon and was bred in Florida by Ashley Godwin’s Rivermont Farm in Ocala. He is owned by Mad Dog Racing Stable and Joseph H. Parker for whom he has earned $393,320.
He was a $15,000 purchase by Carlos L. Perez and Clap Embroidery at the 2021 Ocala Breeders’ Sales October Yearling Sale where he was consigned by Beth Bayer.
Loco Abarrio is the 8-5 morning line favorite and Junior Alvarado will ride for the first time. They have drawn post six.
Big Martini, who races from barn of Rohan Crichton, has one start since the Campbell. He was fourth after pressing the pace in an upper level, $62,500 optional claiming won by Steal Sunshine going a mile at Gulfstream on Nov. 22. His last victory came in July when he won a first condition, $25,000 optional claiming by three-and-a-quarter lengths going a mile at Gulfstream in July prior to the Benny the Bull.
A 4-year-old gelding, Big Martini has earned $208,308 for owners Daniel L. Walters and Dennis G. Smith from three wins, six seconds and two thirds in 17 starts.
He is by The Big Beast out of Dirty Martini, by Hard Spun and was bred in Florida by Bett Usher and Elaine Daughtery.
He is a two-time graduate of OBS, first selling for $10,000 to Siria Enriquez at the 2022 Winter Mixed Sale. Crichton took him for $87,000 as a 2-year-old in training at the OBS June Sale the following year when consigned by Blue River Bloodstock.
Big Martini will be ridden from post one by Sonny Leon and they are the second choice in the program at 2-1.
Another familiar foe for Loco Abarrio is Khozeiress, a My Purple Haze homebred trained by Terri Pompay.
Khozeiress was second to Loco Abarrio in his first career start, a $50,000 maiden claiming at Gulfstream in December of 2022. He then avenged that loss three months later in a first level allowance race for Florida-breds at Gulfstream.
Khozeiress returns to Florida after spending the summer at Monmouth Park where he most recently finished fourth in the Grade 3 Philip Iselin won by Subsanador going a mile-and-a-sixteenth in August. He was also fourth in the Grade 3 Monmouth Cup won by Tapit Trice after winning a third condition, $50,000 optional claiming at nine furlongs in June.
Khozeiress is by leading Florida sire stallion Khozan, who has moved to Ocala Stud for the 2025 breeding season, out of Bridled Heiress, by Wildcat Heir.
He has five wins, two second and two thirds with earnings of $239,240 and will be ridden from post three by Samy Camacho. They are 7-2 on the morning line.
Rounding out the field are Everdoit and jockey Huber Villa-Gomez, Holiday Pay with Daniel Centeno named to ride and Marco Meneses will guide Pure Class.
