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Speed Boat Beach is Florida Horse of the Year

In a vote by the Florida Thoroughbred Breeders' and Owners' Association board of directors, Speed Boat Beach (Bayern) has been crowned the 2023 Florida-bred Horse of the Year. The result was announced Monday night at the FTBOA Awards Gala.

Bred by Richard Heysek's Caperlane Farm, who was also presented with the Needles Award recognizing the Small Thoroughbred Breeder of the Year in Florida, the Bob Baffert runner also took home the awards for champion 3-year-old colt and champion male sprinter. In 2023, Speed Boat Beach won the GI Malibu S. at Santa Anita Park and finished second in the GII Santa Anita Sprint Championship H.

Marilyn Campbell's Stonehedge LLC took home Florida Breeder of the Year and leading breeder by Florida-bred earnings awards after Stonehedge-bred runners earned over $3.3-million with 103 wins during the year. Arindel was crowned leading owner by state-bred earnings with over $1.69-million to their credit.

Florida stalwart Khozan took home honors as the 2023 Florida Stallion of the Year, a fourth consecutive title, and tied Montbrook and Wildcat Heir by title count. He's the only Florida stallion to be honored four years in a row going back to 1991.

Florida-based Jena Antonucci was presented the 2023 Bruce Campbell Award for outstanding achievement as the first woman to train the winner of a Triple Crown race. Stuart Morris and Ruben M. Sanchez' Really and Truly Thoroughbreds were awarded the 2023 Joseph M. O'Farrell Memorial Award, presented by Ocala Breeders' Sales Company to the consignors of Speed Boat Beach, the top Florida-bred of the year who graduated from an OBS auction. Saffie Joseph Jr. was recognized as the leading Florida trainer by state-bred earnings and tied with Kathleen O'Connell and Jose D'Angelo as leading trainer by state-bred wins. Joseph and D'Angelo tied for leading trainer by black-type wins.

Other Florida-bred champions on the night were:

2-Year-Old Fillies: Honey Dijon (Girvin) and R Harper Rose (Khozan), who tied for the award
2-Year-Old Colt: Bentornato (Valiant Minister)
3-Year-Old Filly: Dorth Vader (Girvin)
Older Female and Female Sprinter: Maryquitecontrary (First Dude)
Older Horse: Isolate (Mark Valeksi)
Male Turf Horse: Me and Mr. C (Khozan)
Female Turf Horse: Sweet Dani Girl.(Jess's Dream)

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NAEAA Announces Reciprocal Organization Membership

To facilitate a greater reach and membership growth for both the National Association of Equine Affiliated Academics (NAEAA) and reciprocal organizations, the NAEAA has created a Reciprocal Organization Membership, the group stated Monday.

The mission of the NAEAA is to strengthen post-secondary equine academic programs, provide networking opportunities, and facilitate increased cooperation and information sharing among their members from public and private institutions.

To further it, the group invites collaboration with other non-profit equine organizations centered around post-secondary education.

For more information and to see upcoming events, please visit their website.

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Derby Day at Woodbine Tickets On Sale

Woodbine's 5th annual Derby Day Party will take place Saturday, May 4 and tickets are now on sale, the track announced via release Monday.

The event will feature a livestream from Churchill Downs, food, fashion, and live racing on site highlighted by the GIII Whimsical S. Included with a ticket purchase are complimentary food and dessert stations as well as a mint julep in a solid copper cup. Derby-style attire is highly encouraged and there will be a “best dressed' contest, photo booth, and various other activities on the day.

A viewing party will take place in Woodbine's Turf Lounge, a newly renovated space on the second floor, formerly Favourites, showcasing a panoramic view of the racetrack.

Tickets are $110 per person and are available for purchase here.

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Reports: Judge Could Rule on Zedan Derby Lawsuit by End of Week

The lawsuit filed by Amr Zedan's incorporated racing stable to try and get Bob Baffert-trained horses un-barred from the GI Kentucky Derby could get decided by the end of this week according to several published news reports in the wake of a Monday hearing in Kentucky's Jefferson Circuit Court.

Ron Flatter of Horse Racing Nation reported that the judge in Zedan's lawsuit against Churchill Downs, Inc. (CDI) was “prepared to rule” on Zedan's motion for an injunction and/or on CDI's motion to dismiss the case entirely, but wanted to wait until the Kentucky attorney general weighed in on the constitutionality of a law that CDI is citing that is designed to prevent the filing of allegedly frivolous lawsuits.

Jason Frakes of the Louisville Courier Journal reported that John Quinn, an attorney representing Zedan, argued Apr. 15 that the decision to extend Baffert's previous two-year suspension was based on the “subjective opinion” of CDI's chief executive, Bill Carstanjen.

Matt Hegarty of Daily Racing Form wrote that judge Mitchell Perry “spent much of Monday's hearing drilling attorneys for Zedan on why the owner waited to file his request for a temporary injunction until April when it was known that Baffert had been banned through the 2024 Derby in July of the previous year.” Perry told Zedan's legal team that much of the relief they were seeking could have been issued at any point in the last 10 months after stating that the late hour of their request was putting 'an incredible time crunch on everyone involved, including this court.'”

Hegarty also quoted a lawyer for CDI, Thomas Dupree, as stating to the judge that Zedan was well aware his horses would not earn Derby qualifying points if they were under Baffert's care.

“He knew back in July of last year that if he kept Mr. Baffert as his trainer then his horses would not be eligible,” Hegarty's DRF story quoted Dupree. “Each time, he decided to stick with Mr. Baffert, knowing the consequences of his decision, and he now regrets that decision.”

After the Zedan-owned and Baffert-trained Medina Spirit tested positive for betamethasone in the 2021 Derby, Baffert was banned from CDI's properties for two years. A federal judge in February 2023 denied Baffert a preliminary injunction that the Hall-of-Fame trainer had sought to be eligible to race in the Derby. Last July CDI extended the ban at least through 2024. Baffert is not a party to this latest lawsuit.

Zedan owns the GI Arkansas Derby winner Muth (Good Magic), who would be among the Derby favorites if allowed to race.

It is unclear if a ruling in favor of Zedan would allow other Baffert trainees owned by different entities to also participate in the Derby, or if any lifting of the ban would also permit Baffert's trainees to enter the GI Kentucky Oaks.

After the hearing, a spokesperson for Zedan issued the following statement to TDN: “We appreciate the attention the Judge has paid to this case and we share the court's interest in definitively resolving these issues for the 150th Derby and beyond. We look forward to his rulings on our case.”

TDN also requested comment from CDI, but a spokesperson for the corporation did not respond prior to deadline for this story.

Next up is an Apr. 17 hearing.

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