BY BROCK SHERIDAN
Like American General Benedict Arnold, who led his army to defeat the British at the Battle of Saratoga in 1777, several Florida-born horses invaded northern New York State this summer and emerged victorious.
Through Sunday, August 18, Florida-bred horses have claimed 15 victories at the Spa, five in stakes and three in graded races. And like American soldiers three centuries ago, Florida-bred horses have been crucial in defeating their opponents. Four have won as favorites, and the average margin has been nearly three and a half lengths. More than half of the winners are descendants of current or former Florida stallions.
Trainer Bill Mott has led the Florida invasion at Saratoga this summer with four of the 14 winners, the most prominent of which came from Arthur’s Ride. The Helen and Joseph and Tapit-bred horse syndicate gave the Hall of Fame trainer his first victory in the Grade 1 Whitney on August 3, crushing his rivals by 12 ¾ lengths while leading from start to finish. (The full story can be found on page 20)
Arthur’s Ride posted a Beyer Speed Figure of 110 in winning the Whitney, covering nine furlongs in 1:48.54 – for those more interested in times than analysis.
The three-digit Beyer number is the second best value among North American runners over one mile according to Daily Race Formonly behind the 111th Beyer – yes, that’s right – reached by Arthur’s Ride on June 7 at Saratoga.
While this was Mott’s first win in the Whitney, Arthur’s Ride became the eighth Florida-bred winner of this notable event. Joining the winners of this notable event are Sultry Song (1992), Island Whirl (1983), Nearly On Time (1977), Dancing Gun (1976), Tri Jet (1974), Dr. Fager (1968) and Carry Back (1962).
Mott also saddled Florida-born Baby Yoda to victory in the Grade 2 True North on June 8 and won an allowance race with Florida-born Nick’s Style on August 17.
Baby Yoda added to the recent success of Florida-bred horses in the True North, joining Floridian winners Imperial Hint in 2018 and Firenze Fire in 2020-21. Florida-bred horses Benny the Bull (2008), Shake You Down (2003), Gold Beauty (1993) and Moleolus (1979) also won the True North.
Miller Racing’s Spirit Wind won her second straight race by three-quarters of a turn in the Grade 2 Honorable Miss at Saratoga on July 24. Spirit Wind is trained by Saffie Joseph Jr. and ridden by Hall of Fame jockey Mike Smith, who traveled from his base in Southern California to ride the Jacks or Better-bred mare.
The Honorable Miss is another Saratoga competition with a long list of Florida-bred winners, including R Free Roll in 2014, CC’s Pal (1012), Debby d’Or (2000), Nanneri (1993) and Funistrado (1987).
Trainer Jena Antonucci, a resident of Ocala where she and business partner Katie Miranda operate their horseOlogy company at GoldMark Farm, fired the first shot of the Sunshine State invasion with Florida-bred Whatintheliteral on June 6. The 2-year-old mare, bred by Bella Inizio Farm LLC, impressed with a determined performance in her stakes debut, winning the $150,000 Astoria by a head after a long battle.
It was the second Florida-bred winner of the Astoria in three years after John C. Oxley’s Devious Dame won the 2022 edition.
On August 10, Rigney Racing’s Halina’s Forte won the $139,500 Galway Race for three-year-old fillies over five and a half furlongs. The Galway Race was Halina’s Forte’s second additional-money win in New York, after she won the $100,000 Ruthless at Aqueduct in February. Halina’s Forte, bred in Florida by Bill and Corinne Heiligbrodt and Francis and Barbara Vanlangendonck, capped the six-year history of the Galway Race when Florida-bred Eyeinthesky won the inaugural race in 2019.
Unlike the Battle of Saratoga during the Revolutionary War, breeders and riders in Florida are grateful for the opportunity to compete against some of the best thoroughbreds in the world in one of the most prestigious arenas in North America.
As long as the Saratoga Racetrack exists, Florida horses will continue to race. Hurrah!
