Co-Owner Restrepo to Donate Portion of Mage’s Earnings to Cancer Charity

GI Kentucky Derby winner Mage (Good Magic) is owned by OGMA Investments, LLC, Ramiro Restrepo, Sterling Racing LLC and CMNWLTH, but when he tackles a tough group of opponents in Saturday's GI Haskell S. he will be running for more than just the four ownership groups. Restrepo announced Friday that, starting with the Haskell, he will be donating a portion of Mage's earnings to the Dwoskin Children's Cancer Research Fund at the University of Miami's Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center.

The story was first reported by the Daily Racing Form's Mike Welsch.

The fund was named in honor of Steve Dwoskin, a veteran trainer on the South Florida circuit, who estimates he has donated $15 million to cancer related causes.

Though a successful trainer, much of Dwoskin's income has come from a career selling auto parts.

“What Ramiro is doing, it's unbelievable,” the 80-year-old trainer said. “It's a really beautiful gesture on his part. This is a good story. I think a lot of people will see this and they'll all be rooting for Mage.”

Dwoskin started donating to cancer-related charities 22 years ago after his father and brother died of the disease. About eight years ago, he started to focus on cancer research for children. With Dwoskin's help, the Dwoskin Children's Cancer Research Fund at the University of Miami's Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center was started.

“I met this woman whose husband was a big doctor down here,” Dwoskin said. “She lost an 8-year-old son to cancer. I saw it on TV, on channel 7, and I went to meet her. I just realized I have a calling. If somebody is 80 or 90-years-old and dies of cancer I can handle that. When someone who is 8-years-old dies, I can't handle it. I just don't understand it.”

Restrepo said he had long admired Dwoskin for his work and for his philanthropy.

“Steve has been a local, Florida horseman for many, many years and is real supportive of the South Florida racing industry,” Restrepo said. “He's also a huge benefactor to the Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center at the University of Miami. I am a Miami alumni. I have lost two family members to cancer, my grandfather and an uncle on my father's side. So I am sensitive to that disease. There's a synergy between the University of Miami, Steve Dwoskin and the disease itself which has hit close to home for me. That all came together. I met with Steve and some of the fundraisers and chair members over at the University of Miami on the pediatric cancer side. We chatted about working with each other. This opportunity came up and I was more than happy to contribute. Mage is a horse that has many followers and it's nice to be able to use his platform to create awareness for what Steve has been doing. There is such a depth to his commitment. Steve has donated so much money toward the pediatric cancer research foundation. When you sit down with him and hear it from the horse's mouth it's pretty impressive.”

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Florida HBPA Honors Dwoskin, Con Lima At Annual Awards Ceremony

The Florida HBPA held its annual General Nominating Meeting and Awards Dinner Saturday night at Gulfstream Park in Hallandale Beach, Fla., with nearly 100 owners, trainers, jockeys, grooms, and racing executives in attendance at Ten Palms. The guest speaker was the new President and CEO of the NTRA, Tom Rooney. The evening closed with the annual FHBPA Awards Ceremony. Host Ron Nicoletti announced the winners in nine categories.

“Each year, the Florida HBPA recognizes the horses that shine not just during the Championship Meet, but year-round in South Florida,” FHBPA President Stephen Screnci said. “All of our Champions competed at Gulfstream during the Royal Palm and Flamingo Festival meets that run from April through November.

“We also changed it up a little this year to honor one of our owners or trainers not just for their accomplishments on the racetrack, but also for their contributions to our community,” Screnci added. “Steve Dwoskin is our first FHBPA 'Person of Distinction,' and we couldn't have found a worthier candidate for the award.”

An owner and trainer in South Florida since 1969, Dwoskin has long been a partner with Sylvester Comprehensive Care Center, a part of the University of Miami Health System (UHealth). A generous donation to Sylvester helped to fund the Dwoskin Proton Therapy Center, which began treating patients with advanced and precise radiation therapy last September.

He is also the owner/trainer of this year's Champion Older Filly/Mare Choose Joy.

Dwoskin, who lost his father and brother to cancer, was emotional when he said, “I can handle most anything, but I couldn't handle it when my brother and my father got cancer. When I first got involved [with Sylvester], it was strictly for research, trying to find a cure for cancer. But I got pretty strong there, and I started helping people, friends, and family. If anyone from the horse industry ever needs help, I'm here for you. Helping people – that's what makes me feel really good.”

The complete list of the 2021 FHBPA Champions is:

Person of Distinction: Steve Dwoskin

Two-Year-Old Colt/Gelding: Octane (Arindel, Owner; Carlos David, Trainer)

Two-Year-Old Filly: Outfoxed (LNJ Foxwoods, Owner; Bill Mott, Trainer)

Three-Year-Old Colt: Papetu (Magic Stables LLC, Owner; Antonio Sano, Trainer)

Three-Year-Old Filly: Con Lima (Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners, Joseph F. Graffeo, Eric Nikolaus Del Toro, and Troy Johnson, Owner; Todd Pletcher, Trainer)

Older Horse/Gelding: Miles Ahead (David Melin, Leon Ellman, and Laurie Plesa, Owner; Eddie Plesa, Trainer)

Older Filly/Mare: Choose Joy (Steve Dwoskin, Owner/Trainer)

Turf Horse/Gelding: Warrior's Pride (Just for Fun Stables, Owner; Antonio Cioffi, Trainer)

Turf Filly/Mare: Shifty She (Chris Pallas and Harvey Rothenberg, Owner; Saffie Joseph Jr., Trainer)

The Dinner also featured the nominations for the 2022 FHPBA Election, which will be announced next week.

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Florida HBPA Honors 2021 Award Winners

The Florida HBPA held its annual General Nominating Meeting and Awards Dinner Saturday night at Gulfstream Park, with nearly 100 owners, trainers, jockeys, grooms and racing executives in attendance at Ten Palms. The guest speaker was the new President and CEO of the NTRA, Tom Rooney and the evening closed with the annual FHBPA Awards Ceremony.

“Each year, the Florida HBPA recognizes the horses that shine not just during the Championship Meet, but year-round in South Florida,” FHBPA President Stephen Screnci said. “All of our Champions competed at Gulfstream during the Royal Palm and Flamingo Festival meets that run from April through November. We also changed it up a little this year to honor one of our owners or trainers not just for their accomplishments on the racetrack, but also for their contributions to our community. Steve Dwoskin is our first FHBPA 'Person of Distinction,' and we couldn't have found a worthier candidate for the award.”

An owner and trainer in South Florida since 1969, Dwoskin has long been a partner with Sylvester Comprehensive Care Center, a part of the University of Miami Health System (UHealth). A generous donation to Sylvester helped to fund the Dwoskin Proton Therapy Center, which began treating patients with advanced and precise radiation therapy last September. Dwoskin is also the owner/trainer of this year's Florida Champion Older Filly/Mare Choose Joy (Munnings).

Dwoskin, who lost his father and brother to cancer, was emotional when he said, “I can handle most anything, but I couldn't handle it when my brother and my father got cancer. When I first got involved [with Sylvester], it was strictly for research, trying to find a cure for cancer. But I got pretty strong there, and I started helping people, friends and family. If anyone from the horse industry ever needs help, I'm here for you. Helping people–that's what makes me feel really good.”

The night's other winners were:

• Two-Year-Old Colt/Gelding: Octane (Brethen) Arindel, Owner; Carlos David, Trainer
• Two-Year-Old Filly: Outfoxed (Valiant Minister) LNJ Foxwoods, Owner; Bill Mott, Trainer
• Three-Year-Old Colt: Papetu (Dialed In) Magic Stables LLC, Owner; Antonio Sano, Trainer
• Three-Year-Old Filly: Con Lima (Commissioner) Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners, Joseph F. Graffeo, Eric Nikolaus Del Toro & Troy Johnson, Owner; Todd Pletcher, Trainer
• Older Horse/Gelding: Miles Ahead (Competitive Edge) David Melin, Leon Ellman and Laurie Plesa, Owner; Eddie Plesa, Trainer
• Older Filly/Mare: Choose Joy (Munnings) Steve Dwoskin, Owner/Trainer
• Turf Horse/Gelding: Warrior's Pride (Poseidon's Warrior) Just for Fun Stables, Owner; Antonio Cioffi, Trainer
• Turf Filly/Mare: Shifty She (Gone Astray) Chris Pallas and Harvey Rothenberg, Owner; Saffie Joseph, Jr., Trainer

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Starship Bonita Finds Winner’s Circle Again In Sheer Drama

Starship Stables and trainer Steve Dwoskin's Starship Bonita rallied to capture Saturday's $75,000 Sheer Drama Stakes at Gulfstream Park in Hallandale Beach, Fla., winning for the first time in 10 starts since her most recent victory in the 2018 edition of the same race.

The Sheer Drama, a seven-furlong stakes for Florida-bred fillies and mares, headlined Saturday's 12-race program that also featured the $60,000 North Bay Village, a mile overnight handicap for fillies and mares on turf.

Starship Bonita, who won two legs of the lucrative 2017 Florida Sire Stakes series, posted a 2 ¾-length victory in the 2018 Sheer Drama before her very promising career was compromised by a series of long breaks in her racing schedule the next few seasons. Sent to post at 30-1, the 6-year-old daughter of Gone Astray returned to form Saturday, stalking the early pace before taking the lead in the stretch and holding off stablemate Starship Nala by three-quarters of a length. Pacesetter Thissmytime held well to finish third, another three-quarters of a length back.

Ridden by Jesus Rios, Starship Bonita ran seven furlongs in 1:22.92.

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