Wildcat Red Leads Florida-Bred Honorees
Image:
Description:
Multiple graded stakes winner Wildcat Red was honored as the 2014 Florida-bred Horse of the Year and champion 3-year-old colt at the Florida Thoroughbred Breeders' and Owners' Association annual awards banquet and gala March 16 in Ocala, Fla.
Trained by Jose Garoffalo for Honors Stable Corp., the son of D'Wildcat —Racene, by Miner's Mark, won the Besilu Stables Fountain of Youth Stakes (gr. II), Hutcheson Stakes (gr. III), and the Quality Road Stakes at Gulfstream Park.
"We didn't know that we were named Horse of the Year. We found out at the last minute, so it was very exciting and a very nice surprise," said Garoffalo. "The owners and I were very happy because they recognized what the horse did during the year. We couldn't describe with words how happy we were. He's an amazing horse."
Wildcat Red is currently recovering from a pulled muscle in his back that he got during his debut race of the year, the Florida Sunshine Millions Classic Stakes run Jan. 17 at Gulfstream. He has resumed walking the shedrow and the prognosis is good, according to Garoffalo.
"He's recovering very well," the trainer said. "According to the plan, we're going to check him again at the end of the month. Everything seems good. He's very happy. He's very full of himself and he wants to do something now, but we have to give him the time he needs. If everything is good at the end of the month, he could go back to the track the first week of April. Hopefully by the end of the summer he will be back in the shape that he was before."
Bred by Xavier Moreau's Moreau Bloodstock International Inc. and Wilson Winter's Winter Racing Enterprise, Wildcat Red finished second in the Besilu Stables Florida Derby (gr. I), third in the William Hill Haskell Invitational (gr. I), and third in the Oklahoma Derby (gr. III).
2014 Florida-bred Champions:
2-year-old colt or gelding: Calculator (In Summation —Back to Basics, by Alphabet Soup ); owner, Richard Pell; breeder, Ocala Stud; trainer Peter Miller.
2-year-old filly: Peace and War (War Front —More Oats Please, by Smart Strike ); owner, Qatar Racing; breeder, Sally J. Andersen; trainer, Olly Stevens.
3-year-old filly: Daring Kathy (Wildcat Heir —Dare to Mambo, by Kingmambo); owners and breeders, John Eaton and Steve Laymon; trainer, David Fawkes.
Older female/female turf horse: Parranda (2009, by English Channel —Dynamic Feature, by Rahy). Owners, Jerry Hollendorfer, Gillian Campbell, Dan Clark, Gatto Racing, and Greg Skoda; breeder, Kinsman Farm; trainer, Jerry Hollendorfer.
Older male/male sprinter: Happy My Way (2010, by Wilko —Holy Queen, by Holy Bull); owners, Sagamore Farm and Mel Paikoff; breeders, Mayo West Farm and Liam Benson; trainer, Joseph Orseno.
Female sprinter: R Free Roll (2010, by Rockport Harbor—Jewels N Gems, by Acceptable); owners, Averill Racing LLC and Silver Oak Stable LLC; breeder, Richard Averill; trainer, Kirk Ziadie.
Turf horse: Reporting Star (2010, Circular Quay—Classic Beauty, by Sword Dance); owner, Copper Water Thoroughbred Company; breeder, Gilbert Campbell; trainer, Pat Parente.
Breeder of the Year: Ocala Stud
Owner by Florida-Bred Earnings: Jacks or Better Farm
Stallion of the Year: Wildcat Heir
Broodmare of the Year: Racene
Active Stallion of the Year: With Distinction
Leading Freshman Sire and Juvenile Sire (active): Kantharos
Needles Award: Best A Luck Farm
Joe'OFarrell Memorial Award: Summerfield Sales
Trainer of Florida-Breds By Earnings: Stanley Gold
Trainer of Florida-Breds by Wins: Kathleen O'Connell