BY BROCK SHERIDAN

The 22nd running of Florida Cup Day at Tampa Bay Downs Sunday saw several new records established including two stakes records and a new water mark for total handle at $7,306,097. The previous record handle on a Florida Cup card was $7,205,342 bet on the 2021 Florida Cup program.

The 2025 Florida Cup featured six stakes for registered Florida-breds, each with a purse of $110,000 including $10,000 in bonus money for winners eligible for the Florida Sire Stakes program. Florida Cup Day is additionally celebrated annually as Florida Thoroughbred Breeders’ and Owners’ Association Member Day with free admission and a buffet lunch for the Association’s members.  

Established in 2003 and run each year at Tampa Bay Downs, except 2020 when cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Florida Cup has a rich history of producing nationally acclaimed Florida-bred stars. Fifteen alumni have become millionaires and more than 50 Florida Cup graduates have graded stakes credentials.

Several track records at Tampa Bay Downs were established on Florida Cup cards. Florida-bred Munny’s Gold holds the seven-furlong track record of 1:20.09 set in the 2023 Stonehedge Farm South Sophomore Fillies and Florida-bred It’s Me Mom set the standard for six furlongs in the 2012 Hilton Garden Inn Sprint, stopping the timer in 1:08.67. The previous six-furlong track record was 1:08.69 set by Sneaking Uponyou in the 2011 Hilton Garden Inn Sprint. 

 

Macho Music Rocks Tampa With Record-Setting Sophomore

Mark Fletcher Taylor, Daniel L. Walters and trainer Rohan Critchton’s Macho Music got the stakes action started with a breathtaking 11 ¼-length score in the $100,000 Ocala Breeders’ Sales Sophomore, covering seven furlongs in stakes-record 1:21.30, eclipsing the 15-year-old mark of 1:22.13 set by Manicero in the 2011 Sophomore. Macho Music’s winning margin is also a record for the Sophomore, besting the six-and-a-three-quarter lengths victory produced by Imperial Hint in 2016.

Sent postward at 2-5, Macho Music and jockey Javier Castellano broke on top from post six and quickly put a length margin on his five rivals through a quarter mile in :22.22. Longshot Cajun Venom tried to apply pressure in the turn after a :44.70 half mile but Macho Music excelled in the stretch to put away his rivals in the final furlong to win with ease. P Four was second, a neck faster than Cajun Venom in third. Mad House, Rip Riding Away and Centerfold Guy completed the order of finish. Just Relax was scratched.

“Those are the type of horses we chase all year round,” Castellano said of Macho Music. “Nobody can keep up with that speed. I really liked the way he finished and he galloped out good. He just raced so beautiful. He’s a nice, straightforward horse, a free-run horse. And he likes to get involved with speed and enjoy the ride.”

Macho Music paid $2.80 to win.

 

“It was a pretty good performance,” Critchon added. “He broke well and Javier guided him around. I think he is going to be a one-turn mile horse and this race certainly brings him along in his development.”

Taylor added that a trip to Churchill Downs is possible.

“We really are excited,” Taylor said. “Maybe excited enough to go to Kentucky the first Saturday in May and find something on the card for him. Rohan does a great job picking these horses out and training them up.”

Unsuccessful in three previous tries against stakes horses, Macho Music was last seen finishing second to Gate to Wire in the $155,000 Swale going seven furlongs at Gulfstream Park on Feb. 1. A winner of two of his first three career starts including a first level, $100,000 optional claiming at Keeneland in October, Macho Music was then fourth in both the $197,000 Bowman Mill won by Long Neck Paul at Keeneland in October and behind Guns Loaded after an awkward start in the $150,000 Mucho Macho Man at Gulfstream on Jan. 4.

Macho Music has now won three of seven starts with two seconds while earning $204,257. Crichton purchased him for $60,000 out of the Pick View consignment at last year’s OBS March Sale of 2-year-olds in training.
(Macho Music’s Under Tack Video / Walking Video)

By Maclean’s Music out of Southern Girl, by Tapit, Macho Music was bred in Florida by Bridlewood Farm. Southern Girl has three winners from four starters with Macho Music being her only stakes winner. She has a unraced 2-year-old full sister to Macho Music, Tremont Tammy, who sold for $180,000 at the last year’s Keeneland September Yearling Sale and an unnamed yearling colt by Epicenter. She was bred to Girvin in 2024.

Stakes-winner Southern Girl is a half-sister to multiple graded stakes winning Florida-bred millionaire and Breeders’ Cup Classic (G1)-winner Mucho Macho Man. She was purchased by Bridlewood Farm for $820,000 at the 2016 Fasig-Tipon Kentucky Fall Mixed Sale.

 

Stakes Record for Crystal Quest ESMARK Turf Classic

For the second consecutive year, a Live Oak Plantation homebred set a stakes record in the $100,000 ESMARK Turf Classic after Crystal Quest covered the nine furlongs in 1:46.50 to win against 11 other 4-year-olds and older bred in Florida. Crystal Quest and jockey Samuel Marin topped a Live Oak exacta, winning by three-quarters of a length ahead of stablemate Forever Souper, who established the stakes record in last year’s Turf Classic in 1:46.87. Both Crystal Quest and Forever Souper are trained by Michael Trombetta.

Crystal Quest was the sixth Live Oak Plantation homebred to win the Turf Classic, following Revved Up in 2005, Slews Answer (2011), World Approval (2017), March to the Arch (2018) and Forever Souper. Revved Up and World Approval retired as multiple graded stakes-winning millionaires with the latter named the 2017 Eclipse Award Champion Turf Horse after taking that year’s Breeders’ Cup Mile (G1) at Del Mar.

Forever Souper looked to be on his way to defending his title in the Turf Classic after splitting rivals out of the far turn to take a clear lead at the top of the stretch. However, he was met by Crystal Quest inside the final sixteenth and could not hold off his hard charging stablemate. Echo Lane was a length-and-three-quarters back in third followed by Street Earnings, Ninja Star, Themanupfront, Lord Eddard Stark, Happyisashappydoes, Otago, Boppy O and Drama Chorus. Treasure King stumbled at the start and lost rider Javier Castellano.

“That was a pretty wild outcome,” Tombetta said. “I’m obviously fond of both horses and I’m surprised Crystal Quest was up for this task like this. But I’m tickled to death with this.

“Today things just really jelled for him and he got a beautiful trip.”

Crystal Quest paid $30 to win and the $1 Live Oak exacta returned $32.30.

 

“I knew the one to beat was [Forever Souper] because he had won this same race last year,” Marin said. “I was a little worried about [Forever Souper], but when [Crystal Quest] hit the three-eighths pole, I knew I had a lot of horse. At the quarter pole, I knew I was the winner.”

It was the first start of the year for Crystal Quest after ending last year with a fifth-place finish in the $150,000 Hawthorne Derby in October. The Turf Classic was his second triumph on Florida Cup Day and first victory since taking last year’s $100,000 Equistaff Sophomore Turf.

Crystal Quest has now won four of 11 lifetime starts with two seconds and earnings of $269,730. He is by Uncle Mo out of Giant Crystal, by Giant’s Causeway.

Purchased by Live Oak for $450,000 out of the 2012 Keeneland November Breeding Stock Sale, Giant Crystal has produced three winners from three starters and six foals including multiple stakes-winner American Giant, by More Than Ready. She has an unraced 3-year-old colt, Uncle’s Gold, by Uncle Mo; an unraced 2-year-old filly, Covered in Crystal, by Quality Road; and was bred to Twirling Candy in 2024. 

 

Jockey Luis Saez Wins First of Three Florida Cup Races on Win N Your In

After starting the year finishing third in the $82,000 Gasparilla at Tampa Bay Downs on Jan. 11 then fifth in the $121,000 Ruthless at Aqueduct on Feb. 1, Win N Your In returned to her winning form with authority in the $110,000 Stonehedge Farm South Sophomore Fillies. The bay daughter of Ocala Stud’s Win Win Win led from start to finish to win the seven-furlongs test for six 3-year-old fillies, giving jockey Luis Saez his first of three Florida Cup victories on the day. 

Win N Your In led by a half-length after two furlongs in a quick :21.89 then stretched her advantage to a length-and-a-half ahead of 8-5 favorite Bella Cleopatra while finishing the half-mile in :44.24. She entered the stretch three-and-a-half lengths in front at the top of the stretch before winning by seven lengths in 1:23.23 on the fast track. Bella Cleopatra was second, nearly two lengths faster than La Gioconda in third. Hey Cookie, R Morning Brew and Frida completed the order of finish. Spirited Boss, who won the $158,000 Sanibel Island at Gulfstream Park the day before, was scratched along with Vuela Paloma.

“This is a pretty nice filly,” Saez said. “She likes to be in the clear so the key with her today was try to break sharp and keep her clear. When she got to the top of the stretch, I had plenty of horse and she gave me a good turn of foot.”

David affirmed that he wanted Win N Your In to be near the lead early.

“I think it was a great performance,” he said. “The idea was to get out running. She has some tactical speed so I wanted to try to get early position close to the rail. I knew [Bella Cleopatra] on the outside was the other speed in the race, so I told Luis, ‘if [Bella Cleopatra] goes, to let her go and sit second. But if [Win N Your In] got in front, just go with her.’ So it worked out great.”  

Win N Your In paid $8 to win.

 

Trained by Carlos David, Win N Your In won for the first time since taking the $200,000 Susan’s Girl, the seven-furlong, second leg of the FTBOA Florida Sire Stakes at Gulfstream Park in October. Last year she also won the $95,000 Sharp Susan going six furlongs at Gulfstream.

In addition to taking the $60,000 winner’s share of the purse, Win N Your In earned a $10,000 Florida Sire Stakes bonus presented by the FTBOA. She improved her career ledger to four wins with three thirds in nine starts while pushing her career bankroll to $308,950 for owners Troy Johnson and Maritza Weston.

Johnson purchased her for $12,000 on the advice of Weston’s husband, bloodstock agent Charles Weston, at the 2023 OBS Winter Mixed Sale Francis and Barbara Vanlangendonck’s Summerfield consignment.

Out of Hello Rosie, by Yes It’s True, she was bred in Florida by Marion G. Montanari. Hello Rosie has six winners from seven starters including multiple stakes-winner Miss Auramet, by Uncaptured. Hello Rosie was bred to Girvin in 2024.

 

Mohawk Trail Rallies to Win Distaff Turf

NBS Stables’ Mohawk Trail came from ninth in the field of 10 fillies and mares to win the Pleasant Acres Stallions Distaff Turf by three-quarters of a length as the 2-1 favorite. Ridden by Adam Beschizza, Mohawk Trail finished a mile-and-a-sixteenth on the firm turf in 1:41.73.

More than 14 lengths behind frontrunning longshot Princess Britni through a half-mile in :45.97, Mohawk Trail advanced four-wide on the turn before Beschizza steered into the six path to get a clear run in the lane. Edgard Zayas and Lady Cha Cha took over at the top of the stretch but could not hold off Mohawk Trail, who won by three-quarters of a length for her second straight win. Lady Cha Cha was second with Dreaming of Abba a neck farther back in third. Chick’s Shadow, Seat At the Table, Amata, Lets Go Koko, Vibrant Lady, Princess Britni and Lady Lala completed the order of finish. Bedrock Birdie and Dancing N Dixie were scratched.

Mohawk Trail paid $6.40 to win. 

 

“I broke ordinary, the pace was strong going into the first turn and I found myself completely off the pace,” Beschizza said. “[Mohawk Trail] was kinda giving me a bit of a possum run back there. I thought, ‘is she enjoying it or is she kind of waiting to pounce?’ [Waiting to pounce] was what she was doing.

“This filly is in great order. [Trainer] Kelsey [Danner] has her in cracking form.”

A two-time stakes winner on the Woodbine turf last summer including a length-and-a-half score in the Grade 3 Ontario Colleen, Mohawk Trail had one win in three starts this year. In her previous race, the 5-year-old mare took an upper level, $62,500 optional claiming after racing on the lead going a mile over the Turfway Park synthetic on Feb. 14.

Mohawk Trail has now won six of 18 career races with two seconds and two thirds while earning $344,733. John Ballantyne and NBS Stable bought her for $180,000 out of the 2021 Keeneland September Yearling Sale.

She is by Pioneerof the Nile out of Iroquois Girl, by Indian Charlie and was bred in Florida by Westbury Stables LLC. Mohawk Trail is the only winner for Iroquois Girl, who has one other starter from three foals.

 

Hurricane Nelson Wires Sprint for First Stakes Victory

Pressed by recent Turf Dash-winner Rouki through a rapid quarter-mile fractions of :21.62 and :43.88, Hurricane Nelson repelled that rival under right-handed urging from jockey Luis Saez to win the NYRABets Sprint by two-and-a-half lengths. The 4-year-old son of Ocala Stud’s perennial leading Florida sire Khozan defeated seven other 4-year-olds and older while finishing six furlongs in 1:09.11 on the fast track.

“I knew the pace was pretty hot,” Saez said, “But I also know [Hurricane Nelson] is a fighter. When he got to the top of the stretch, he just kept going. It was an impressive effort.”

Chrome Ghost was second by a neck ahead of 5-2 favorite Comedy Town third. They were followed in order by Classify, Rouki, Big Effect, Mattingly and Fortysixcounts. Cajun Gem did not finish and Pure Class was scratched.

Owned by Dean and Patti Reeves’ Reeves Thoroughbred Racing, Hurricane Nelson is trained by Christophe Clemente as jockey Luis Saez picked up his second win on the day.

“I thought he ran a very nice race,” Clemente said. “I am thrilled for Mr. Reeves who always believed in that horse and has been very patient with him.

“This was a very fast pace. This was his first stakes win and he ran great.”

 

Never worse than third in 10 career starts, Hurricane Nelson did not win his first race until has seventh start, a maiden special weight taken off the turf and run at six-and-half furlongs on a sloppy track at Aqueduct in September. He was then second against fellow Florida-breds going five-and-a-half furlongs on the Gulfstream Park synthetic in a first level, $20,000 optional claiming on Nov. 26, the won under those conditions going six furlongs in his last race on Feb. 8.

Hurricane Nelson earned $60,000 plus $10,000 in Florida Sire Stakes bonus money presented by the FTBOA, to increase his career earnings to $273,930. He has three wins, five seconds and two thirds.

He is out of stakes-place mare French Politics, by Political Force and was bred in Florida by GDS Racing. He is the first stakes-winner for French Politics, who has four winners from seven starters and eight foals including stakes-placed runners Toddchero, by Bucherro; and La Gioconda, by Caracaro. She has a unraced 2-year-old filly, Rawayana, by Caracaro; and was bred to Mage in 2024.

 

Saez Finished Riding Triple with Patient Trip on Tank

After Tank set the pace then faded in the stretch in his two previous races, jockey Luis Saez used a more patient tactic on the son of Ocala Stud’s Adios Charlie to win the $110,000 Sophomore Turf by two lengths. Tank and Saez raced in second behind Koctel War through a leisurely half-mile in :47.76 and six furlongs in 1:12.07 then went to the front with a quarter mile to run. They cruised under the wire to complete a mile-and-a-sixteenth on the firm turf in 1:41.45, just .25 off the stakes record set by Star Channel in 2012.

It was the third stakes win on the day for Saez and second for trainer Carlos David.

 

Win With Faith rallied from second to last in the field of nine 3-year-olds to finish second, a length-and-three-quarters ahead of Good Long Cry in third. Koctel War held on for fourth followed by Emmett, Bold N Breezy, Latch the Hatch, Blue Casanova and Nothingsubtle. Makoa was scratched.

Tank’s only other career win came going a mile-and-seventy yards on synthetic against $50,000 maiden claimers bred in Florida in October at Gulfstream. In one other race on the Gulfstream synthetic, Tank was fourth behind winner Scarecrow in a $94,000 allowance in his previous start on Feb. 6.

“I rode him in his last race and I was confident in him today,” Saez said. “He’s a fighter.”

David said moving Tank to grass and Saez keeping him near the lead were important.

“He runs well on Tapeta at Gulfstream, but I think he is better on grass,” David said. “I told Luis to take advantage of the outside post [nine] and try to get a good position early in the top three and I think that was the key to the race.”

Tank now has two wins in eight career starts with two seconds and a third. The $60,000 first-place check and $10,000 Florida Sire Stakes bonus increased his career earnings to $149,460.

A homebred for Arindel, Tank is the only foal out of the unraced Brethren mare, Vegas.

Return to the April 1 issue of Wire to Wire