Florida stallions put on display

The first of three stallion shows this weekend in Florida will take place Saturday between 2 and 5 p.m. at Hartley DeRenzo Thoroughbreds in Ocala.

Hartley DeRenzo has added Simon Pure, a stakes-winning son of Silver Deputy out of the champion older mare Life's Magic, to its eclectic group of eight stallions.

The farm's stallions will be shown informally from 2 to 3, followed by a buffet and a formal showing of the stallions at 4. Those interested in breeding bookings for 2008 will be able to bid on the farm's stallions.

There also will be raffles for stallion seasons, farm equipment, and other goods and services.

Martin Stables South in Reddick will hold its stallion show at its new site, formerly Marablue Farm, between 11 a.m. and 2 p.m. Sunday. Free stallion seasons will be drawn.

Farm owner Eddie Martin has five stallions in residence, including the newcomer El Nino. Those who have stood a season or more at stud include Conscience Clear, a 10-year-old son of Relaunch and sire of two stakes-placed horses.

Spanish Steps, an unraced 6-year-old full brother to Unbridled's Song, will have his first crop racing in 2008. Spanish Steps has been well received in the marketplace. His seven yearlings averaged $80,000 at the Ocala Breeders' Sales August sales, while his four Keeneland September yearlings averaged $104,750. He stands for $10,000.

Sarava, the 2002 Belmont Stakes winner, also stands at Martin Stables. He is an unusual sire prospect for this state because his accomplishments came going long. This is ordinarily a hard sell in Florida, where breeders mostly opt for the 2-year-olds in training market. Still, Sarava, a son of Wild Again, attracted 101 mares in 2006 and 88 for the 2007 season. Breeders are being offered a discounted fee of $2,000 and an additional discount of $1,500 for multiple bookings. Sarava's first crop races next year.

The Daddy, a 5-year-old son of Valid Expectations, won 3 of 4 starts, including the Grade 2 Super Derby. The Daddy is a robust horse standing more than 16 hands. His pedigree has Florida elements top and bottom, and includes black-type earners going short and long. His 2008 fee is $5,000.

The multiple-stakes-placed 4-year-old El Nino, by El Prado, is Martin's newest sire. El Nino's family includes the champion 2-year-old Boston Harbor and the champion sprinter Groovy. El Nino will stand for $5,000.

Ups and Downs Farm, located in Citra, has seven stallions to be paraded between 1 and 3 p.m. Sunday. Newcomers to the farm for 2008 are the stallions Mister Fotis, a Grade 2 stakes winner by Diligence, and Successful Ways, a son of Successful Appeal.

"Come on out and have some fun and see our stallions," said Cathy Thomas, who with her husband, Monte, operates Ups and Downs Farm. By fun, she includes games that award the winners with free stallion seasons.

"We're standing Successful Ways for $5,000," she said. "He won his only two starts for Nick Zito and got hurt prepping for the Florida Derby. Zito told us that he could have been any kind of horse."

* The Florida Thoroughbred Farm Managers will hold a fundraising cocktail party, beginning at 6 p.m. Sunday, at the Ocala Hilton Hotel. In addition to a silent auction, hundreds of stallion seasons for 2008 will be auctioned off.