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Shivaree, Heiressall Record FTBOA Stakes Victories At Tampa Bay Downs

Shivaree has danced some mighty big dances. He was second to Tiz the Law in the Grade 1 Florida Derby in March and finished off the board in the Grade 1 Travers, also won by Tiz the Law, in August at Saratoga.

Keeping that kind of company, as well as winning a pair of Gulfstream Park stakes and finishing second in the Grade 3 Swale Stakes last winter, made Shivaree a formidable contender in Saturday's fourth edition of the $100,000, 7-furlong Florida Thoroughbred Breeders' and Owners' Association Marion County Florida Sire Stakes for FTBOA-registered Florida-breds today at Tampa Bay Downs in Oldsmar, Fla.

But trainer Ralph Nicks never expected the 3-year-old colt to have an easy time of it.

“I liked his chances, but he was going in against some established older horses,” Nicks said from his Fort Lauderdale home after Shivaree's 2 ¼-length victory from three-time Tampa Bay Downs stakes winner Jackson, a 4-year-old Grade 3 winner, in stakes-record time of 1:21.68. “(Jackson), Noble Drama, Gerald Bennett's horse (My Boy Lenny), Mr. (Fred) Brei's other horse (Old Time Revival) – it was a tough, solid group of older horses that will make a young horse run.”

Bettors agreed it was a tough task and regarded Shivaree as the third wagering choice in the seven-horse field behind Noble Drama and Jackson. Shivaree rewarded his backers by moving to the lead powerfully in the stretch under jockey Roberto Alvarado, Jr., and finishing strong to hand Jackson his first Tampa Bay Downs setback. Noble Drama, the 6-5 favorite, finished third.

The FTBOA Marion County Florida Sire Stakes for colts and geldings was one of two FTBOA-sponsored stakes races on Saturday designed to showcase the Sunshine State's rich breeding and racing industry. In the other, the $100,000 FTBOA City of Ocala Florida Sire Stakes for registered Florida-bred fillies and mares, 5-year-old mare Heiressall moved smartly to the lead on the turn for home under jockey Antonio Gallardo and withstood a late rally by Independent Miss for a 3 ¼-length victory. Pace-setter The Goddess Lyssa finished third.

Heiressall posted a time of 1:23.35 for the seven furlongs. She is a homebred racing for Wanda Polisseni's My Purple Haze Stables and trained by Terri Pompay. She paid $5.80 as the betting favorite in the seven-horse field.

Back, for now, to Shivaree and the boys. Shivaree paid $13.60 to win the Marion County. Bred and owned by Fred Brei's Jacks or Better Farm in Reddick, Fla., near Ocala, he boosted his career bankroll to $433,475 by earning $60,000 with his fourth victory in 15 starts. Shivaree is by the sire Awesome of Course, out of the Anasheed broodmare Garter Belt.

He was saddled here by Nicks assistant Sonny Righter.

“It's a nice feeling,” Nicks said. “With him turning 4 (on January 1), hopefully he can be one of the better Florida-bred 4-year-olds. We gave him a break after the Travers, which he needed, and he wasn't quite all the way back for his last race (a fourth-place finish Nov. 14 in the Millions Sprint Preview at Gulfstream Park West).

“He stalked the pace today the way we wanted, he didn't have to be sent and we knew he'd stay steady and try hard down the lane. I knew he had a big chance at the sixteenth pole,” Nicks said. “Roberto gave him a patient ride, got through traffic well and was aggressive when he needed to be.”

Alvarado was riding a horse for Nicks for the first time, and he made a good impression, just as Shivaree did on him.

“When I asked him around the three-eighths-mile pole, he took a little while to get going, but as soon as I got him into the clear and we got going he just took off,” Alvarado said. “I knew I had a chance to get (Jackson), and my horse finished great.”

Heiressall and Antonio Gallardo winning the FTBOA City of Ocala Sire Stakes

Four races later, FTBOA City of Ocala FSS winner Heiressall improved to 7-for-20, and the winner's check of $60,000 boosted her lifetime earnings to $358,038. She is a daughter of Wildcat Heir out of Polisseni's Unbridled Song's mare, All Bridled.

Heiressall, who won the Sheer Drama Stakes at Gulfstream Park two races back, benefited from an early speed duel between The Goddess Lyssa and Tiz Possible Dear, allowing Gallardo to track them smoothly from third place. Heiressall took over from a game The Goddess Lyssa at the 1/8-mile pole and was home free from there.

“Everything came out how I wanted, really,” Gallardo said. “(Pompay) and the assistant trainer (Gerardo Perez) told me to let the speed go but keep her fairly close, and it worked out perfect. She looked beautiful in the paddock and she was ready. She was very relaxed in the race and when I asked her, she did everything right.”

Pompay enjoyed the show from her south Florida home, taking pride in Heiressall's continuing development as a 5-year-old. “She is a professional girl. She is all business on the racetrack,” Pompay said. “She loves what she does; you just have to put her in the right spots and she does her job.

“(Gallardo) rode a great race. He got her in good position and got her to run relaxed and forwardly, and when he asked for her best, she responded.”

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Matthews To Head FTBOA As President; New Board Members Announced

After absences as members on the board due to term limits, Fred Brei of Reddick and Milan Kosanovich of Ocala will return to the Florida Thoroughbred Breeders' and Owners' Association board of directors while Bobby Jones of Reddick, Francis Vanlangendonck of Morriston and Dr. Fred Yutani of Ocala all remain on the board for second terms. Each will serve a three-year term that will run until October 2023.

Leaving the board because of term limits as outlined in the FTBOA by-laws were Barry Berkelhammer and Greg Wheeler, both from Ocala. Wheeler will, however, remain on the board ex officio as a past president of the Association. Both were commended for their strong commitment and service to the Association and industry.

Phil Matthews, DVM, was elected as the president of the Association at the board meeting that followed the Oct. 23 annual member meeting. He said he was grateful to be elected president by his fellow board members and welcomed the new board members.

“I am pleased that the board has entrusted me once again with the office of president of the FTBOA,” Matthews said. “We are in the midst of challenging times with the closure of Calder and obviously the uncertainty created for sales and racing by the pandemic. To take on these challenges we have an engaged board, a very capable executive committee, a terrific CEO in Lonny Powell and a wonderful staff at our FTBOA offices.”

The board also named the executive committee for 2020-21 with Matthews as president while Valerie Dailey was named first vice president. Brent Fernung was named second vice president and George Russell will serve as treasurer. Joseph O'Farrell III has been elected as secretary.

Also an FTBOA board past president, Matthews came to Ocala in 1981 as an associate veterinarian at Peterson and Smith Equine Hospital. He became a partner in that practice in 1984 and his veterinary affiliations include the American Veterinary Medical Association and the American Association of Equine Practitioners. He has served on several committees for the AAEP and is a past member of the board of directors.

Dr. Matthews has been a speaker and instructor at various veterinary venues around the country and internationally and with his wife Karen own Cedar Grove Farm in Ocala.

Brei established Reddick-based Jacks or Better Farm in 1997 with his wife Jane. He bought his first broodmare in 1972 and was actively involved in the Illinois breeding and racing industries before moving to Marion County. The Breis primarily breed to race on the 88-acre Jacks or Better Farm and enjoyed quick success. Midas Eyes, the Florida-bred champion sprinter of 2004, marked the first Florida-bred champion for the Breis. The Breis have also swept the Florida Sire Stakes three times with Jackson Bend, Awesome Feather and Fort Loudon. Awesome Feather also won the 2010 Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies (G1) and an Eclipse Award as the champion 2-year-old filly that year.

Jones has been a mainstay in the thoroughbred community in Ocala for more than 30 years and has served some 25 years with the Florida Farm Managers. He served as president for more than a decade and has served as chairman of the board for the last nine years. Jones is currently the owner and manager of Bobby Jones Equine, LLC, a 36-acre thoroughbred farm where he keeps broodmares for breeding in the thoroughbred commercial market. He also conducts sales preparation and consigns thoroughbreds of all ages at public auction. He offers boarding, foaling, breeding, breaking, training, and rehabilitations, which are enhanced by the swimming facilities located on the farm.

A retired Pennsylvania steel executive, Kosanovich got involved with thoroughbreds more than 30 years ago while purchasing his first broodmare as a graduate school business project. Kosanovich owns a 40-acre farm in Ocala and eight mares. A highlight came in 2009 when broodmare, Go Donna Go produced Grade 1 performers, Macho Again, winner of more than $1.8 million, and Be Fair.

That year, his Florida-breds won more than $1.6 million, comprised of 16 starters with 18 wins, 27 seconds and 21 thirds (four stakes winners). His success led him to be honored with the FTBOA Needles Award, bestowed annually to an outstanding small breeding operation in Florida.

Francis and Barbara Vanlangendonck, along with their sons Arthur and Andrew, base their Summerfield Sales Agency in Morriston, Fla. Summerfield is located on 80 acres where the Vanlangendoncks offer boarding, sales prep, bloodstock consulting, pedigree analysis, mating recommendations, evaluations, appraisals, sales recommendations and pinhooking partnerships.

Francis and his team annually attend all major yearling and mixed auctions, conducted at Ocala Breeders' Sales, Fasig-Tipton and Keeneland in Florida, Kentucky and New York. They are habitually among the leading consignors in North America with nearly $12.6 million in sales in 2018 and among leading overall consignors with more than $15.1 million in sales.

Among the sale highlights of 2018 was a colt by Curlin that sold for $1.8 million at the Keeneland September Sale.

Dr. Yutani was born in California, raised in Detroit and attended high school in California. He received his undergraduate degree in chemistry at the University of Southern California and graduated from the George Washington University Medical School. He did his post graduate training at the Cleveland Clinic and served two years as a doctor in the United States Army. He is married to Sara Lynn whom he met in Washington DC.

Yutani and his wife came to Ocala and Marion County in 1972 drawn by the climate and horses. They have been breeders or co-breeders of stakes horses such as My Nichole, who won the Desert Vixen Stakes and was the dam of Three Ring, multiple stakes-winning Daisies and Nites, stakes-winner Right This Way, Group 3-placed Oh Mambo Girl and Stoneyer, the 2-year-old and 3-year-old imported horse of the year in Puerto Rico. Horses trained and resold include Imawildandcrazyguy, who was fourth in the 2007 Kentucky Derby (G1) and Able Buck, who was second in the Withers (G2).

Other FTBOA board members include T. Paul Bulmahn, Marilyn Campbell, Nick de Meric, Laurine Fuller-Vargas and Richard Kent.

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Brei, Kosanovich Return to FTBOA Board, Matthews Named President

Fred Brei and Milan Kosanovich will return to the Florida Thoroughbred Breeders’ and Owners’ Association board of directors while Bobby Jones, Francis Vanlangendonck and Dr. Fred Yutani all remain on the board for second terms. Each will serve a three-year term that will run until October 2023.

Leaving the board because of term limits as outlined in the FTBOA by-laws were Barry Berkelhammer and Greg Wheeler. Wheeler will, however, remain on the board ex officio as a past president of the Association.

Phil Matthews, DVM, was elected as the president of the Association at the board meeting that followed the Oct. 23 annual member meeting.

“I am pleased that the board has entrusted me once again with the office of president of the FTBOA,” Matthews said. “We are in the midst of challenging times with the closure of [Gulfstream West] and obviously the uncertainty created for sales and racing by the pandemic. To take on these challenges we have an engaged board, a very capable executive committee, a terrific CEO in Lonny Powell and a wonderful staff at our FTBOA offices.”

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‘Ornery’ Shivaree Will Be Tested Over Travers’ Mile And A Quarter

Jacks or Better Farm has made far more than its fair share of noise on the Florida circuit over the past 20 years, but on Saturday the Ocala-based operation seeks its first graded stakes triumph at Saratoga when Shivaree competes in the Grade 1, $1 million Runhappy Travers.

Trained by Ralph Nicks, Shivaree is the most seasoned horse in the “Mid-Summer Derby” field with a dozen starts under his belt, including a runner-up finish behind Runhappy Travers favorite Tiz the Law in the Grade 1 Florida Derby in March. The son of Awesome of Course has maintained consistent form throughout his 12 starts with a 3-3-2 record, but arrives at the Runhappy Travers a distant 11th in the Grade 1 Blue Grass at Keeneland.

Fred Brei, proprietor of Jacks or Better Farm, said the Blue Grass effort was puzzling and he is hoping for a return to form with Shivaree charting a course toward the Grade 1 Kentucky Derby.

“We have no idea what happened in his last race. That was the first time he hadn't shown up for us in a long time,” said Brei. “At this point, he'll let us know whether he likes a mile and a quarter. That's one of the reasons we're here.”

Shivaree was foaled and raised at Jacks or Better Farm, and Brei said Shivaree was a bit of a handful as a 2-year-old.

“As a yearling he was rather normal for a colt. No more energetic and no less energetic than the others,” Brei said. “But as a 2-year-old he was ornery. He did whatever he pleased, whether you liked it or not. It wasn't until our fifth start before he broke his maiden. Not because he didn't have the ability, he just wouldn't center his brain on running was all. That's just the way he was for basically most of his 2-year-old year.”

Shivaree graduated by besting fellow Florida-breds by 9 ½ lengths at Gulfstream Park West. His full brother Garter and Tie, who ran ninth in last year's Grade 2 Amsterdam at the Spa, didn't break his maiden until his fourth start but subsequently became a three-time stakes winner. Both are out of two-time stakes winner Garter Belt.

“I would say they're all hardheaded,” Brei said of the family which includes three other six-digit earners. “Garter Belt was the same way. The mare gives you those horses that have to get racing in their brain, and you get it there from running not from training. Shivaree just took a fairly long time. We race 2-year-olds and we have for 20 years. For us to have a 2-year-old take four times to show you they can win a race is uncommon.”

With 40 qualifying points from a runner-up effort in the Florida Derby, Shivaree is 14th on the Kentucky Derby Leaderboard. His upcoming effort in the Runhappy Travers, which offers 100-40-20-10 qualifying points to the top four finishers, will be telling for his connections.

A win in the Travers would be a first Grade 1 victory for the farm since Awesome Feather won the 2010 Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies at Churchill Downs.

“The Travers would be a fantastic race for us to win,” Brei said. “It would show us that we belong in the Derby. Also, it would be the first big race winner since Feather.”

Shivaree has had some time to get acclimated to the Saratoga main track, having breezed five furlongs in 1:03.20 on August 1.

“He's been up there for a week and he seems to be taking to it well. Ralph sent me pictures Wednesday morning and Shivaree seems to be enjoying himself,” Brei said.

Shivaree is from the same family as many of Jacks or Better's most notable runners including millionaire Jackson Bend, who was third in the 2010 Preakness, and multiple graded stakes winner Fort Loudon.

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