Medina Spirit the seventh Florida-bred to win Kentucky Derby

Almost a quarter-century ago, Bob Baffert began his run into the Kentucky Derby record book with a modestly priced Florida-bred. The Hall of Fame trainer recorded his record seventh Derby victory with another one.

Medina Spirit, a $1,000 yearling who was later purchased for $35,000 on behalf of Amr Zedan as a juvenile, became the seventh Florida-bred to win the Kentucky Derby. Baffert’s seventh Derby win allowed him to break a tie for most wins in the race with the legendary Ben Jones.

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Medina Spirit is the first Florida-bred to wear the roses since Baffert’s first Derby winner, 1997 hero Silver Charm. That colt was a $16,500 yearling and $100,000 juvenile.

More memories of Silver Charm, who fended off Captain Bodgit and Free House down the lane of the Derby, were evoked by Medina Spirit, who refused to let Mandaloun pass for the length of the stretch for a half-length victory.

Needles in 1956 was the first Florida-bred to win the Kentucky Derby. He was followed by Carry Back in 1961, Foolish Pleasure in 1975, and Triple Crown winner Affirmed in 1978. Florida-born Unbridled in 1990 was followed by Silver Charm. Outside of Kentucky, the birthplace of 112 Derby winners, Florida has been represented by the most statebreds to wear the roses, followed by California and Virginia, with four each. Not only is there a sense of state pride as Medina Spirit added to that record, the colt also is twice a graduate of Florida’s Ocala Breeders’ Sales Co.’s auctions.

“When you have a competition in sports, there’s nothing sweeter than rooting for the hometown team,” said Lonny Powell, CEO and executive vice president of the Florida Thoroughbred Breeders’ and Owners’ Association. “The amount of pride here that this horse was raised here, was conditioned here, was sold here, that’s a lot of pride, and a lot of people whose jobs it touches and different aspects of the business. I think it makes it really special.”

Medina Spirit, who was bred in the Sunshine State by Gail Rice, is from the first crop of Kentucky sire Protonico and out of the winning mare Mongolian Changa, who also has strong Florida ties. Her sire, classic-placed Grade 1 winner Brilliant Speed, and her broodmare sire, Unbridled, were both Florida-breds.

“It’s pretty incredible, isn’t it, if you really stop and think and look at it from a genetic or scientific or biological standpoint,” Powell said. “It’s incredible how these bloodlines continue to work their way through these future generations of foals. . . . It’s just amazing, and in Florida, they’re so easy to trace, and it does show so much merging in the bloodlines between the states of Kentucky and Florida.”

Rice sold Medina Spirit as a short yearling via Francis and Barbara Vanlangendonck’s Summerfield Sales consignment at the Ocala Breeders’ Sales Co.’s winter mixed sale to Christy Whitman. Whitman pinhooked him to the OBS open sale of 2-year-olds in training and horses of racing age, last year held in July, where Zedan picked him up.

“We figured we’d have to go to 50,” said bloodstock agent Gary Young, who bid over the phone for Zedan. “We bid 35, and no one answered back. Did I think anything like this was going to happen when they said we got the horse for $35,000? No. But I think it’s really a tribute to the horse.”

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Powell said that Medina Spirit provides one more example of how breeding or buying Thoroughbreds in Florida can provide a major return on investment.

“We and OBS have long tried to tell the world – you can show the general marketplace you don’t have to be a millionaire to get a yearling . . . and see them go on to greatness,” he said. “It’s great for the game, it’s great. I think it gives more people a reason to get in partnerships or ownerships, and it speaks volumes for Florida-breds’ potential to really show that serious return on investment.”