Florida Cup Day proves great showcase for statebreds

OLDSMAR, Fla. – Having a day that spotlighted the strong influence of Thoroughbred racing and breeding in the Sunshine State was an ambitious and innovative idea that came to fruition some 13 years ago.

Those who worked together to make the Florida Cup a reality had to be smiling after Florida Cup 13 produced an afternoon of racing that featured a good mix of the old and the new and a healthy competition between the powerful stables from south Florida and the locally based outfits from Tampa Bay Downs and Ocala-area training centers.

It seemed somewhat fitting that two of the cornerstone breeding and racing operations in the Sunshine State saw products of their farms turn in sparkling efforts.

Pedigree students had to be salivating when they looked up the bloodlines of Live Oak Plantation’s homebred World Approval in the 1 1/16-mile Sophomore Turf Saturday. The Northern Afleet colt is a half-brother to Miesque’s Approval, winner of $2.6 million and the 2006 Breeders’ Cup Mile, the $1.5 million earner Revved Up, who won stakes from age 4 to 10, and Za Approval, a $1.2 million earner and second in the 2013 Breeders’ Cup Mile.

Of course, breeding is one thing, and producing on the track is another matter altogether, but on Saturday, World Appeal gave every indication he could follow in the footsteps of his siblings when he blew past the leaders in midstretch for an impressive victory over six solid but overmatched rivals.

Charlotte Weber, matriarch of Live Oak, has been an ardent supporter of Florida racing and breeding for many years, and it will be fun to watch the progress of her newest star.

Old Time Hockey finds a way

Leonard Lavin’s Glen Hill Farm, another long-standing Florida breeding and racing operation, has been an active and successful participant in the Florida Cup since its inception. When Old Time Hockey got clear in time to run down I’m the Lucky One in the final strides to capture the Turf Classic by a neck, it gave Glen Hill and trainer Tom Proctor their seventh Florida Cup winner.

Old Time Hockey’s rider Ronnie Allen Jr. admitted he was “somewhat concerned” that I’m the Lucky One had been able to kick away to midstretch in the Classic, but classy veterans like the 6-year-old just seem to know what has to be done to prevail. Old Time Hockey wore down the leader with just enough room to spare to make it two straight Classic victories.

Talented sophomores run one-two

Charlie’s Brother and Fast Flying Rumor finished one-two in the seven-furlong Ocala Breeders’ Sale Sophomore Stakes, and both colts look like runners with a future. Charlie’s Brother turned back Fast Flying Rumor’s bid leaving the turn, then turned on the jets through the stretch for a decisive victory. Fast Flying Rumor’s bid may have been a bit premature, but he has displayed the ability to accelerate quickly when asked. It will be interesting to see how these young stars progress.

R Sassy Lass scores professional win

R Sassy Lass gets better and better. The Richard Averill runner won her second stakes over the Tampa main track when she dispatched a stubborn Coco’s Wildcat to capture the Stonehedge Farm South Sophomore Fillies and looks more and more professional with each passing race.

O’Connell wins first Florida Cup

Trainer Kathleen O’Connell must have been wondering if she would ever win a Florida Cup stakes when Lake Drive South was trailing his field in the Hilton Garden Inn/Hampton Inn and Suites Sprint, but when the smoke cleared, Lake Drive South had roared past the leader Star Harbour in the shadow of the wire under Luis Garcia to upset that field.

The win was Lake Drive South’s third win over the Tampa strip this meeting.

Florida Cup supporter rewarded

Breeder-trainer Roy Lerman and his Lambholm Farm have been active in the Florida Cup concept as sponsors, so it was somewhat fitting that a Lambholm runner would someday win a Cup race.

Evidently hadn’t raced at Tampa since she wired a maiden field to win at 27-1 over a year ago but reaffirmed her fondness for the local course when she rallied down the stretch to take the Pleasant Acres Stallion Distaff Turf.

Include Betty shows resilience

Include Betty, who was 2 for 2 over the main track here this meeting, including a win in the Suncoast Stakes, may have earned herself a start in the Kentucky Oaks after she overcame a trip that had to be seen to be believed to upset the Grade 3 $400,000 Fantasy Stakes at Oaklawn Park.

After being squeezed back leaving the backstretch, Include Betty and jockey Rosemary Homeister Jr. were forced to loop rivals six wide through the second turn, fanned nine wide into the stretch, then drove to the lead before hanging on late to stun her field by a neck at 18-1.