R Adios Jersey, Shivaree Wins FTBOA Stakes At Tampa Bay Saturday

Florida's Thoroughbred breeding and racing industry put its best foot forward today at Tampa Bay Downs in Tampa, Fla., and even fans who didn't cash a ticket came away feeling like winners after a pair of breathtaking stakes races.

In the fourth race, the fifth edition of the Florida Thoroughbred Breeders' and Owners' Association City of Ocala Florida Sire Stakes for registered state-bred fillies and mares, unbeaten 3-year-old R Adios Jersey engineered a tour de force, dominating four rivals for an 11-length victory.

Two races later, in the FTBOA Marion County Florida Sire Stakes for registered state-bred males, owners, trainers, and spectators were left gasping as 4-year-old colt Shivaree defended his 2020 Marion County title with a desperate rally in the final strides that deprived 5-year-old gelding R Mercedes Boy of victory by a head.

Both winners earned $60,000 from the $100,000 purses, but it was the thrills they provided along the way that proved priceless. Shivaree's winning time of 1:22.58 for the seven-furlong distance was .02 seconds faster than R Adios Jersey, but it should also be mentioned she was geared down late while Shivaree was all-out at the finish.

Jockey Paco Lopez knew R Adios Jersey was virtually flying during the early stages of the City of Ocala. But the 3-year-old filly felt so comfortable beneath him, he decided it would be counter-productive to try to slow her down.

By the time she got to the 1/8-mile pole of the seven-furlong race, her four Florida-bred rivals were vying for second place. R Adios Jersey continued to roll, improving her record to 6 for 6.

An overwhelming favorite in the wagering, R Adios Jersey paid $2.40 to win. She probably would have set a stakes record had not Lopez throttled her back in the final yards, still posting a time of 1:22.60, .20 seconds off Surprise Wedding's 2017 stakes mark. Starship Nala finished second and Bramble Berry was third.

R Adios Jersey, who won the Grade 3 Charles Town Oaks on Aug. 27 in her previous start, is owned by Rich Averill's Averill Racing, Anthony Mattera's ATM Racing, and retired major league baseball outfielder Jayson Werth. Georgina Baxter trains the daughter of Adios Charlie-Marion Theatre, by Montbrook, who was bred in the Sunshine State by Ocala Stud and J. Michael O'Farrell, Jr.

First-place money raised R Adios Jersey's career earnings to $427,400.

“That was kind of easy, but when you have a very nice, fast filly like that, it can look easy. I wanted her to go in :22 (seconds) and :46 (for the quarter-mile and the half), but (:21.79) and (:44.35). … she's just very fast,” Lopez said. “She wanted to go so hard but I didn't fight her too much, because she was doing it very comfortable. She was really sharp today and Georgina did a great job getting her ready.”

Lopez has ridden R Adios Jersey in all but one of her starts, including the Charles Town Oaks and the Florida Cup Stonehedge Farm South Sophomore Fillies Stakes here in March.

Bradenton, Fla., resident Averill, who owns Rich Averill Masonry, has built an impressive racing resume since emerging on the scene in 2005 with Florida Oaks and G2 Delaware Oaks winner R Lady Joy. With such prominent stakes winners as Lady's Island, Pay Any Price, R Angel Katelyn, Paradise Dancer, and G2 Saratoga winner R Free Roll to his credit, Averill keeps proving he's a major player.

As is customary when he competes in a stakes race at Tampa Bay Downs, he brought close to 100 family members, co-workers, friends, and friends of friends to enjoy R Adios Jersey's sheer brilliance.

“We wanted this race for the hometown team, and it's great when the plan comes together,” Averill said. “Every race, she has done better and better and better. She's 6 for 6 and you can't ask for more than that. We're taking things one race at a time with her, and we'll figure out what's next.

“I always try to plan a party here with my friends and family and co-workers, and right now it's a feeling of stress relief because I don't have to answer all the questions of 'why didn't you win.' It's fun to get new people into the game, like Anthony, who moved down from New Jersey, and Jayson, and today is a day they will always remember in a good way.”

In the Marion County, Shivaree bettered his record to 5 for 23 the hard way, digging into a deep reserve of desire in the final strides to edge a tiring but game R Mercedes Boy. Samy Camacho rode the winner for breeder-owner Jacks or Better Farm and trainer Ralph Nicks.

Shivaree, the 2020 G1 Curlin Florida Derby runner-up, raised his lifetime bankroll to $546,294.

Camacho said the race unfolded as he expected, with Shivaree making a bold move on the turn for home, until Averill Racing and partners' R Mercedes Boy kept going inside the 1/8-mile pole under Lopez.

“I was a little worried when that horse gave another kick,” said Camacho, who surprised more than a few people by knowing he'd gotten there just in time. “But my horse kept trying. I rode this horse in two stakes at Gulfstream this year and finished second by a neck and second by a head, so I know him and he did a great job. He tries all the time.”

Nicks, who watched the race from Gulfstream Park in Hallandale Beach, Fla., was worried when Shivaree went wide on the turn for home. But the son of Awesome of Course-Garter Belt, by Anasheed, seemed to thirst for a victory that was his first in 364 days – since last year's Marion County.

“He's gritty and he's very competitive. He makes up for his size in try,” Nicks said. “I knew he would keep grinding and luckily he had room to get there. Very rarely is he not competitive.”

Shivaree paid $4.40 as the wagering favorite. His time was .90 seconds off his 2020 stakes record. Well Defined, the 2019 G3 Sam F. Davis Stakes winner, finished third, a length and a quarter behind R Mercedes Boy.

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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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