Graded stakes winner Brave Dave broke first and never looked back en route to a brave victory in the John McSorley Stakes at Monmouth on June 9th.

The only 3-year-old in the field of 10, Brave Dave battled nearly every step of the way in the 5 1/2-furlong event, gaining a clear advantage in upper stretch then digging in gamely to prevail at the wire.

A dark bay/brown by Put It Back out of Sing That Song, by Songandaprayer, Brave Dave was bred in Florida by David Melin, Bea Oxenberg, and Eddie Plesa Jr., and races for for David Melin and Laurie Plesa. He was ridden to victory by Elvis Trujillo.

A triple stakes winner as a 2-year-old, Brave Dave has snow won four stakes, and amassed a record of 5-2-1 in 10 starts, for career earnings of nearly $300,000.

Put It Back is Florida's leading sire of stakes winner for 2013, with five.

Putitinmypocket's upset win in Saturday's $75,000 Sophomore Fillies at Tampa Bay Downs gave his sire Put It Back his 38th winner in 2013, tops among all Florida sires. The Bridlewood stallion's progeny have earned close to $1 million this year.

In the Sophomore Fillies, at seven furlongs for 3-year-olds, Putitinmypocket was sixth of seven down the backstretch in a fairly well-bunched field. The bay filly went four wide into the stretch to power to the lead inside the final furlong to upset the field by two lengths at 26-1 in 1:25.39 on a fast track.

Putitinmypocket got her first stakes win in the Sophomore Fillies and is now 2-4-1 in 12 starts. She has earned $103,252 for owners Pinnacle Racing Stables and William Kaplan, who is also the filly's trainer.

Put It Back got his second stakes winner on Saturday's card at Tampa Bay Downs when Hobbs proved a half-length best in the $75,000 Turf Classic. Earlier on the card, Putitinmypocket took the $75,000 Sophomore Fillies.

The two stakes winners gave Put It Back just shy of $1 million in progeny earnings in 2013, third-best on Florida's General Sire list.

Hobbs got a good stalking trip in the 1 1/8-mile Turf Classic, though the 4-year-old was boxed in third most of the way. Jockey Daniel Centeno found a seam in the stretch to spurt between horses for the win. The final time was 1:49.22 on the “good” turf.

Hobbs, winner of the Monseraat S. in November, is now 5-4-1 in 13 starts with earnings of $254,725 for his owner Peter Kelly.

Courtesy Michael Compton, a Blood-Horse feature

The late Arthur I. Appleton will forever be remembered for building up Bridlewood Farm near Ocala, Fla., into one of the industry's most respected and successful Thoroughbred operations. Established by Arthur and his wife, Martha, on 500 acres in 1976, Bridlewood Farm has been a perennial leading breeder in Florida and routinely ranks in the top 10 on a national basis. The farm,which grew over the years to encompass nearly 900 acres, is responsible for breeding, racing, or training more than 200 stakes winners in its illustrious history.

Among the best horses bred and/or raced by Appleton before his passing in 2008 are David Junior; Jolie's Halo; Forbidden Apple, Florida's Horse of the Year in 2001 out of that year's Florida Broodmare of the Year North Of Eden; Wild Event; and Southern Image.

Some of Florida's most influential stallions have called Bridlewood Farm home. My Gallant, Buckaroo, Skip Trial, Stormy Atlantic, and Halo's Image all made indelible marks on the breed while standing at the farm.

Today, Appleton's daughter, Linda Appleton-Potter, and longtime general manager George Isaacs are leading a hopeful period of transition. Bridlewood Farm, which operates under the auspices of the Arthur Appleton Estate, while still a stallion station, has moved into more of a commercial role in the industry in recent years. The modification of the business plan was implemented to extend the life of the farm.

"Last year we made the difficult decision to put the farm on the market," said Isaacs, Bridlewood's general manager since 1996. "We're trying to find someone to purchase the property who will embrace what Bridlewood stands for and be true to the philosophy that made the farm what it is. It needs to be someone who is truly appreciative of the facility and the historic tradition behind it. If a big housing developer came in here to buy Bridlewood, it wouldn't happen. This property was intended to be a Thoroughbred nursery, and that was Mr. Appleton's vision. It is imperative that we find the right buyer to perpetuate Mr. Appleton's dream and legacy.

"This is a turn-key operation," he added. "We have the stallions. We have the employees. This team could do it all again under the proper circumstances and with the right person."

It has been a long, challenging road for the farm since Appleton passed away.

"At the time of Mr. Appleton's passing, the economy was correcting and the horse industry was going through its difficulties at the same time," Isaacs said. "It was unfortunate timing, and it was difficult to endure. We have had to take strong measures to make it through these times, so we have changed the direction of the farm to focus more on training and sales and emphasize the commercial aspect. We have had to identify new income streams for the farm."

Most of Bridlewood's bloodstock holdings have been sold in phases in recent years while other facets continue to bring in money. Pastures are leased to an Argentine polo team, las Monjitas polo, to freshen up horses during the offseason. The farm boards 91 client horses on the property and a training barn is leased to Jonathan Thomas, Todd Pletcher's former New York assistant.

"Sadly, little by little we have sold our stock," said Isaacs. "It's been a gradual phase out. Of course, it's very bittersweet for me, but we have to carry on. Now we are effectively transitioning to a boarding and training center in addition to the stallion division. last fall we made the decision to lease a training barn to Jonathan. In my opinion, he's one of the best young trainers in the industry, and I believe he will likely have the training division full next year.

"It's been very hard on all of us," Isaacs continued. "This is a labor of love for me. I have spent 20 years of my life working at Bridlewood. When I took over the general manager position, Mr. Appleton was elderly but in reasonably good health. We had a lot of inventory and very nice stock. We had a vibrant racing stable with 30-40 horses in training. We also had an active and successful roster of stallions and 60-65 broodmares. Success wasn't rocket science. I made decisions and managed everything, but we were fortunate to have very good horses in all phases of the operation during those years."

With the challenges in perspective, Isaacs remains bullish on the future, and with plenty of reason. Today, put It Back, Florida's leading sire of 2012, is carrying on Bridlewood's tradition of excellence in the stallion ranks. Bridlewood owns the son of Honour and Glory in partnership with Julio Bozano's Haras Santa Maria de Araras.

Winner of the seven-furlong Riva Ridge Stakes (gr. II) at Belmont park as a 3-year- old in 2001, put It Back won five of seven starts in his career, amassing earnings of $232,895.

"Dr. Ignacio Leon called me about Put It Back when the colt was 3 years old," Isaacs said, "and we entered into a relationship with Haras Santa Maria de Araras on the horse. He has truly become a great stallion for Florida."

Put It Back has enjoyed success both in the U.S. and South America. He is the sire of Brazilian champions Requebra, Skypilot, and Nitido, as well as Back On Top, a champion in Trinidad and Tobago. In the U.S., Put It Back has sired the grade I stakes winner, millionaire, and 12-time winner In Summation, and grade I winner Jessica Is Back; as well as graded winners Black Bar Spin and Smokey Stover.

"Most years Put It Back shuttles to Brazil or Argentina because Mr. Bozano has farms in both countries," Isaacs said. "His runners have done very well in South America."

Isaacs attributes Put It Back's success at stud to numerous factors.

"He is a very strong physical-type stallion. He had tremendous speed on the racetrack, and he is a complete outcross for most of the mares he is being bred to," Isaacs said. "Also, his In Reality influence is serving him well (Honour and Glory is a son of Relaunch, by In Reality)."

Bridlewood stands 10 stallions. In addition to Put It Back, the roster consists of Backtalk (Smarty Jones—Apasionata Sonata, by Affirmed), Forty Grams (Distorted Humor–Belle South, by Phone Trick), Keyed Entry (Honour and Glory—Ava Knowsthecode, by Cryptoclearance), Mach Ride (Pentelicus—April Invitation, by Formal Dinner), Motovato (Proud Citizen—Buffalo Bird Woman, by Slew City Slew), Seeking the Dia (Storm Cat—Seeking the Pearl, by Seeking the Gold), Thunder Moccasin (A. P. Warrior—One Stormy Mama, by Storm Cat), Wagon Limit (Conquistador Cielo—Darlin Lindy, by Cox's Ridge), and Yesbyjimminy (Yes It's True— Sisters Creek, by Pentelicus).

Backtalk, Motovato, Seeking the Dia (who raced primarily in Japan and earned more than $5 million), and Thunder Moccasin are new to Bridlewood this season.

"I believe in the stallions we stand," said Isaacs. "You need a significant number of graded stakes winners to make it as a stallion or you get cast off pretty quickly. The young stallions we have definitely have a shot to make it.

"I'm really excited about Backtalk," he added. "He's a big, strapping horse. He is out of a high-class Affirmed mare, and I have been impressed with his first foals. Motovato was a hickory racehorse himself. He has a lot of scope, and he demonstrated a lot of class on the racetrack. With Seeking the Dia, (Hill 'n' Dale Farms') John Sikura wanted the richest son of Storm cat to stand in Florida and be an affordable buy for the state's breeders. We stand Thunder Moccasin for Starlight Stables. He was on the Derby trail last year and was undefeated when he won the Hutcheson Stakes (gr. II) by daylight. I am really excited about his potential. He flashed brilliance until his injury, and he is a beautiful horse."

Bridlewood's history of producing and standing winners is testament to Appleton's proud legacy. The accomplishments and stories live on through the farm's dedicated employees, two of whom started at Bridlewood on the day the farm opened in 1977 and still work there. Training barn foreman Eddie "Wolf" Barney and his brother-in-law Robert J. Mccord, a training barn groom, have worked at Bridlewood since day one.

"These guys are a dying breed," Isaacs said fondly. "It's a pleasure to work with them. I would venture to say that together they have had their hands on as many good horses as any good horseman could ever hope for."

Stallion manager Saul Rosas (32 years) and Mike chamblee, Bridlewood's broodmare manager for more than 20 years, are other key members of the team. Isaacs estimates chamblee has foaled more than 3,000 mares over the years.

"The people here are a big reason for the farm's success," Isaacs said. "It's rare in business to find the situation we have had where people really look forward to coming to work. Everyone at the farm has always been treated with respect, and it was Mr. A, as he was known by employees, who started it all. He treated everyone as if they were truly special. It was a rare quality, and you couldn't ask for more from an employer."

Bridlewood honors the farm's best horses that have passed on by burying them on the property in a cemetery located in a courtyard by the train depot. The location is known as Bridlewood Junction. Skip Trial is one of many accomplished Bridlewood horses buried in the cemetery. Skip Trial stood his entire stud career at Bridlewood before he was euthanized due to the infirmities of old age in 2012. pensioned in 2010, Skip Trial sired Hall of Famer and 1998 Horse of the Year Skip Away in addition to 27 other stakes winners.

Bridlewood's foundation mare North Of Eden, dam of grade I winners Forbidden Apple, paradise creek, and Wild Event, and stakes winner I'm Very Irish, is also buried on the farm. She died in 2011.

"She was a magnificent blue hen mare," Isaacs said. "She was a farm manager's dream. I planned all her matings, but she made everything so easy. I matched her up physically with the stallions we bred her to and she did the rest. She always passed along the best traits of the stallions and then tossed in her own special influence. I was blessed to be able to work with a mare like her."

Getting racehorses to run to the maximum of their ability is a cornerstone of Bridlewood Farm's training philosophy. The farm's training program has proved to be the starting ground for many top performers, including 2004 Kentucky Derby (gr. I) and Preakness Stakes (gr. I) winner Smarty Jones, multiple grade I winner Ron the Greek, and grade I winner Eden's Moon, the latter also bred by Bridlewood.

"We are proud of our training program graduates," Isaacs said. "We got Smarty Jones in here as a short yearling. We broke and trained him. That was a unique opportunity for us and very gratifying."

Despite the challenges involved in shifting gears, Bridlewood ranked as the fifth-leading Florida breeder in 2012 with earnings of $2,318,266. In addition to Eden's Moon, the farm also was represented as breeder on the track in 2012 by Turbo compressor, winner of the United Nations Stakes (gr. IT) at Monmouth park. The multiple stakes winner and earner of nearly $1 million represents Bridlewood breeding through and through. Turbo compressor is by Halo's Image out of the Wild Event mare Dixieland Event.

Looking ahead, Isaacs remains hopeful that a buyer can be secured for the farm.

"We had 60 employees when I took over as general manager," said Isaacs. "We had that same number of employees up until 2011. When Mr. Appleton passed, Linda and I had a long talk about the future. It was her heartfelt desire to try as long as we could to maintain the farm and enable all of the people here to keep their jobs until we could find a buyer. That's exactly what we've done.

"Mr. Appleton gave me the opportunity of a lifetime when I came to work for him," Isaacs said. "I will always be grateful for that. He was like a grandfather to me. We had good chemistry and he trusted me. Things worked out so well for so long. I want nothing more than to continue Mr. Appleton's legacy here at Bridlewood. My only regret is that we weren't able to carry on longer."

While the farm is on the market and the settlement of the estate is ongoing, with any luck, Isaacs and his dedicated crew will have many more chapters ahead in what is already a storied history of influence at Bridlewood Farm.

It's what Mr. A would want.

The lone offering by Put It Back at the March 12-13 OBS Selected Two-Year-Olds in Training Sale brought a winning bid of $160,000 during day 2 of the central Florida sale, more than 25 times the stud fee of Florida's leading sire of 2012.

Hip No. 221, a bay colt bred in Canada, was consigned by Wavertree Stables, Inc. and purchased by Polo Green Stable, agent. The colt is out of the Songandaprayer mare De'jade and comes from the same family as Grade 3 winner Desert Air.

Put It Back has carried last year's success into 2013, currently ranking second on Florida's General Sire list. His top earner this year is Clawback, winner of the Jimmy Winkfield S. at Aqueduct.

Clawback opened his 3-year-old campaign with a resounding five-length score in the $75,000 Jimmy Winkfield S. on Monday at Aqueduct, giving Put It Back his first stakes winner of the new year.

Put It Back has an incredibly successful 2012, finishing the year as Florida's top-ranked General Sire with $4.55 million in progeny earnings, as well as leading in the categories of sire of stakes winners, stakes wins and graded stakes winners. He was also the runaway leading Florida sire of 2-year-olds.

In the Winkfield, Clawback sat perched just off longshot Rubysandpearls who traveled a through a brisk quarter-mile in 22.67 seconds. Given his cue on the turn, Clawback promptly surged to the lead at the top of the stretch and galloped home unchallenged under a hand ride. Clawback’s winning time was 1:09.75 for six furlongs over a fast track.

“The trip today was perfect,” said Irad Ortiz, Jr., who won five races on the Martin Luther King, Jr. Day card. “He had a good post, he broke good, and I got a little pressure early on the outside. I asked him a little bit, and he picked it up pretty quick. I went a little fast, but in the end I still had a lot of horse.”

“That went super today,” said Rusty Myers, assistant to winning trainer Rick Violette. “I was a little nervous coming out of the gate – they all came together at one point – but he came out of there in good shape, sat second, and pulled the trigger when Irad asked him.”

Clawback improved his record to 2-2-0 from four starts and earning $45,000 for owners Klaravich Stables and William H. Lawrence.

Myers said no decision has been made on Clawback’s next start, although the Grade 3, $250,000 Bay Shore S. on the undercard of the April 6 Wood Memorial was a long-range possibility.

“He did everything right,” said Myers of Clawback. “I think we’re going to stay with the one turn for a while, but that’s up to Rick and the owners. He’s running great sprinting.”

Seeking the Dia, the all-time leading earner by the legendary Storm Cat, will stand the upcoming 2013 breeding season at the Appleton Family's Bridlewood Farm in Ocala, FL. The regally-bred earner of over $5 million will stand for a fee of $3,500 stands and nurses.

“Seeking the Dia has every quality I look for in a stallion: pedigree, race record and physical,” said George G. Isaacs, Bridlewood general manager. “I feel he represents a great opportunity for Florida breeders!”

Seeking the Dia was a five-time stakes winner and four-time Group winner in Japan. After breaking his maiden at two, he won his next three starts including the Arlington Cup (Jpn-G3) at a mile, and New Zealand Trophy (Jpn-G2) – a race previously won by his dam Seeking the Pearl.

As a 4-year-old, Seeking the Dia became a leading dirt horse in Japan and was rated at the co-Highweight Older Male Dirt Horse in that country. In back-to-back years he was runner-up in Japan's biggest dirt event – the Japan Cup Dirt (Jpn-G1), and won or placed in 15 Group events – 10 of which were Group 1s.

Bred in Kentucky by Richard Santulli's Jayeff “B” Stables, Seeking the Dia is by the legendary sire of sires, Storm Cat, and out of the aforementioned French and European champion Seeking the Pearl, a daughter of Seeking the Gold who earned over $4 million during her decorated racing career. He also hails from the female family of prominent North American and European champion sire Lyphard.

Seeking the Dia joins Backtalk and Motovato as three stallions that are new to Bridlewood for 2013, as well as the recently retired Thunder Moccasin who will stand his first season at stud in 2013 at Bridlewood. The roster of 10 stallions is led by 2012 Florida Leading General Sire, Put It Back.

For more information on Seeking the Dia or any of the Bridlewood stallions, or to set up a personal inspection, please contact George G. Isaacs at 352-622-5319.

Put It Back capped a stellar 2012 as Florida's leading sire, with $4,554,883 in progeny earnings, as well as topping all Sunshine State sires in stakes winners (11), stakes wins (16), and graded stakes wins (5).

Put It Back's leading earner on the year was the 3-year-old fillyYara, winner of the Grade 2 Davona Dale S. at Gulfstream Park. The Florida bred filly earned $294,470 during the 2012 campaign.

Brave Dave, winner of Monmouth Park's Grade 3 Sapling S. as well as the $125,000 Jack Price Juvenile S. at Calder, proved to be one of the most talented 2-year-olds of 2012. Also bred in Florida, Brave Dave won 4 of 6 starts and amassed $241,100 in earnings.

Put It Back also had plenty of success with a trio of Argentine-bred runners, who won a total of four Group races between them in south America.

Put It Back is also Florida's leading sire of 2-year-olds by a large margin. His 2-year-olds earned $1,267,459, nearly $600,000 more than any other Florida sire.

Put It Back will stand at Bridlewood for $6,000 LFS&N for the 2013 season.

Stallions Backtalk and Motovato have been moved to and will be standing the 2013 breeding season at Bridlewood Farm in Ocala.

Backtalk is a multiple graded stakes winner having taken the Grade 2 Sanford Stakes at Saratoga and the Grade 3 Bashford Manor Stakes at Churchill Downs at age two; and the Sportsmans Paradise Stakes at Delta Downs at age three.

Backtalk entered stud for the first time in 2012 and will have his first foals in 2013.

"We're excited about Backtalk and Motovato joining the stallion roster at Bridlewood,” Bridlewood farm manager George Isaacs said. “Backtalk was a consistently game 2-year-old and 3-year-old that proved his racing class. He's out of a stakes-winning and graded stakes-producing Affirmed mare, and we all know how important Affirmed is as a broodmare sire.”

A son of Kentucky Derby winner Smarty Jones and out of the Affirmed mare Apasionata Sonata, Backtalk will stand for a fee of $3,000 when the foal stands and nurses.

Motovato is also a graded stakes winner as the champion of the Kenny Noe Jr. Handicap (G3) at Calder Race Course at age four. That year Motovato was also second in both the Grade 3 Spend a Buck Handicap and Memorial Day Handicap (G3), both races also run at Calder.

At age five, Motovato continued to compete at the highest levels as the winner of the Sumter Stakes and placed in the Grade 2 Gulfstream Park Handicap and third in the Grade 2 Gulfstream Park Sprint Championship.

Motovato was able to show his soundness as a racehorse as he went on to race at age six, the year he won the Memorial Day Handicap at Calder.

Motovato will stand for a fee of $2,500 when the foal stands and nurses.

"Motovato hails from a hickory-tough racing family on the top and bottom of his pedigree,” Isaacs said. “As a 3-year-old, he ran a 1 1/2 Ragozin number and a 111 Beyer. Any horse that puts up those kinds of numbers has served noticed that they can clearly run.

"If it's your goal to breed a runner then you have to consider both of these stallions."

Key the Code dominated a 1 1/16-mile maiden race Dec. 20 at Hawthorne, drawing off to a nine-length win to become the eighth winner for Bridlewood first-crop sire Keyed Entry. The soon-to-be 10-year-old stallion is fourth on the Florida Freshman Sire list.

Bred in Florida by Emerald Pastures Corp., Key the Code sold for more than five times his stud fee at the 2012 OBS 2-year-olds and Horses of Racing Age sale in June. The dark bay or brown colt comes from the same family as graded stakes winners Set Play, Hello Liberty and With a Twist.

Keyed Entry will stand the 2013 season at Bridlewood for $2,500 LFS&N.

Ellerslie Park's maiden win Thursday at Gulfstream Park gave Bridewood first-crop sire Keyed Entry his sixth winner and moved him fourth on the Florida Freshman Sire list with $181,438 in progeny earnings.

Ellerslie Park was a 3 1/2-length winner after leading the entire six furlong trip. The chestnut filly was bred in Florida by Bridlewood from the Halo's Image mare Libby's Halo, winner of the Polly's Jet S. Her dam War Goddess is a sister to four stakes winners.

Ellerslie Park was the second winner in five days for Keyed Entry. Runaway Glory was a maiden special weight winner on Dec. 8. The bay colt was bred in Florida by Just for Fun Stables and is owned by his trainer Gaston Capote.

Keyed Entry will stand the 2013 season at Bridlewood for $2,500 LFS&N.

Thunder Moccasin, the undefeated winner of this year's Grade 2 Hutcheson S. at Gulfstream, has been retired and will stand stud in 2013 at the Appleton Family's Bridlewood Farm in Ocala, FL. His introductory fee will be $2,500 stands and nurses.

“Since 2001, Starlight has experienced 19 Grade 1 victories, 14 Grade 2s and 8 Grade 3s, and I think that Thunder Moccasin's galloping-6 3/4-length victory in the Grade 2 Hutcheson was probably the most brilliant win of them all,” said Jack Wolf, Starlight Racing principal. “On top of that, our bloodstock agent, Frank Brothers, believes that Thunder Moccasin is the most balanced, best physical individual that he's ever purchased for us. This colt possesses the looks and talent to be any kind.”

Thunder Moccasin burst onto the racing scene in a big way last December, winning his 2-year-old debut on Christmas Eve in one of the fastest maiden races recorded at last year's Gulfstream Park meet. The speedy colt clocked 6 ½ furlongs on dirt in 1:15.81, earning a 97 Beyer Speed Figure in just his first start.

In his second start, Thunder Moccasin validated his maiden performance with a statement win in the $150,000 Hutcheson S. (G2) at Gulfstream, romping by 6 ¾ lengths over a field of stakes winners and graded stakes performers.

“Thunder Moccasin is just the right type for what the Florida breeders are hungry for,” said George G. Isaacs, General Manager of Bridlewood. “He is a tremendous physical and showed brilliance on the racetrack. We welcome the breeders' inspection, he's a must-see individual.”

Trained by Todd Pletcher for Starlight, Thunder Moccasin retires undefeated with earnings of $114,300 and an average margin of victory of over 4 ½ lengths. The top performer by A.P. Indy's multiple graded stakes-winning son A.P. Warrior, Thunder Moccasin is out of the Storm Cat mare One Stormy Mama.

“Thunder Moccasin was as fast as anything we had in the barn last winter in Florida, and his impressive maiden and Hutcheson wins validated how extremely talented he is,” said Pletcher. “He’s an awesome-looking colt with great heart and the will to win.”

For more information, or to set up an appointment for inspection, contact George G. Isaacs at 352-622-5319.

Bridlewood Farm set stud fees for its 2013 stallion roster, featuring Put It Back, Florida's runaway leading juvenile sire of 2012 who will stand the upcoming breeding season for $6,000 stands and nurses.

Put It Back has enjoyed a stellar 2012 season. He is the leader in Florida by stakes winners with 10, graded stakes winners with 5 and stakes wins with 15. Put It Back currently stands approximately $7,000 behind Wildcat Heir in the ever-changing battle for Florida's Leading General Sire of 2012, with progeny earnings of over $4.2 million through Thursday, Nov. 29.

Put It Back's current crop of 2-year-olds has already amassed nearly $1.1 million in earnings in 2012, including 6 stakes horses and 2 stakes winners. His leading performers this year include Grade 2-winning 3-year-old filly Yara, and G3-winning 2-year-old colt Brave Dave.

“We are excited about the upcoming breeding season and continuing to offer quality stallions and service to Florida breeders, as Bridlewood has done for 35 years,” said George G. Isaacs, Bridlewood General Manager. “Put It Back is a great stallion who is enjoying the kind of year he deserves. He continues to prove that if you want to breed a quality racehorse and put some speed in your mating – then 'Put It Back'.”

New to the Bridlewood roster for 2013 is undefeated Grade 2 winner Thunder Moccasin. The brilliantly-fast colt broke his maiden impressively as a 2-year-old last winter at Gulfstream Park before romping in the Hutcheson S. (G2) at Gulfstream in his next start. Thunder Moccasin will stand for an introductory fee of $2,500 stands and nurses, and is available for inspection upon request.

With two more maiden winners within the past week, Bridlewood Farm's Keyed Entry has moved into the fourth spot on Florida's Freshman Sire list.

November 17 at Hollywood Park, Lady Rosamond led gate to wire over a full field of maiden special weight fillies going six and one-half furlongs. The bay filly, bred by Bridlewood and trained by Bob Baffert for Peachtree Stable, held on gamely in a three-way photo to prevail by a nose in 1:17.31.

John Fort, principal of Peachtree, bought Lady Rosamond for $260,000 at the OBS April 2-year-olds in training sale, one of the top-10 prices at the auction. She is out of Dixie's Image, an unraced full sister to Southern Image, winner of a trio of Grade 1 races: Santa Anita H., Pimlico Special, and Malibu S.

November 22 at Calder, All Keyed Up wore down a stubborn foe to break his maiden going one mile on the turf. The Florida bred in out of It's the Cats Meow, who has also produced the 2011 Canadian Female Champion Sprinter Atlantic Hurricane.

Put It Back's top 2-year-old colt Brave Dave sped to a one-length win in the $125,000 Jack Price Juvenile Sat. at Calder, vaulting the Bridlewood stallion over the $4 million progeny earnings mark this year and to the top spot on Florida's General Sire list. With seven stakes winners accounting for 13 black-type wins, including five graded stakes, Put It Back leads all those categories among Florida sires as well.

Trained by Eddie Plesa, Jr. and sent from the gate as the 1-5 favorite in the Jack Price, Brave Dave used his blazing speed to set :21.97- and :44.67-second opening fractions en route to his one-length victory, stopping the timer in 1:25.59 for seven furlongs.

Brave Dave is now a four-time winner from five career starts with his lone defeat coming in the Grade 2 Sanford S. at Saratoga. His previous stakes wins came in the Grade 3 Sapling S. at Monmouth Park and Calder's $100,000 Birdonthewire S. Owned by David Melin (also his breeder) and Laurie Plesa, Brave Dave has amassed $226,100 in earnings.

Hobbs, a 3-year-old Put It Back gelding, made the most of his stakes debut with come-from-behind victory in the $80,000 Montserrat S. Sunday at Aqueduct. Hobbs is the 12th stakes winner this year for Put It Back, tops among all Florida stallions. His $3.9 million in progeny earnings is second-best in the Sunshine State.

Ridden by Eddie Castro, Hobbs was last of seven early after being buffeted at the start. The bay sophomore began to edge his way forward down the backstretch and was third after six furlongs in a slow 1:14.28. Set down for the stretch drive, Hobbs outkicked another pair of closers to prevail by a neck in 1:44.63 for the 1 1/16 miles on the turf course rated “good”.

Bred in Florida by Minerva Stud, LLC, Hobbs is one of eight winners out of Minster Abbey. With the victory, Hobbs is now 3-4-0 in eight starts, racking up $167,840 in earnings for her owner Peter D. Kelly.

Put It Back's promising 2-year-old colt Brave Dave captured his second straight stake with a dominating 4 ¾-length triumph in the $100,000 Birdonthewire S. at Calder Race Course Saturday.

Brave Dave won Monmouth Park's Grade 3 Sapling S. on Sept. 2. The dark bay juvenile is one of eight stakes winners by Put It Back who have accounted for 11 victories this year, tops in both categories on the Florida General Sire list.

Brave Dave showed his customary speed right out of the gate, taking control of the race in the first 100 yards and carrying the field through early splits of :21.51 and 45:.03. He never faced any type of serious threat thereafter, expanding his lead through the stretch, crossing the wire an easy winner to stop the timer in 1:11.51.

“I know he’s a nice horse and that’s why I came to ride him,” winning jockey Paco Lopez said of his decision to travel to south Florida to retain the mount on the Eddie Plesa, Jr.-trained colt. “I like this horse a lot.

“There weren’t any horses in here that could go with him,” Lopez said. “And he got out of the gate so quick he just got to his spot by himself. At the sixteenth (pole) I asked him a little, but there really wasn’t much for him to do because no one was coming after us,” Lopez added. “And when we hit the finish line, he was still going easy.”

With his victory in the Birdonthewire, Brave Dave is now a three-time winner from four career starts with his lone defeat coming in the Grade 2 Sanford S. at Saratoga. Owned by David Melin (also his breeder) and Laurie Please, Brave Dave has amassed $151,100 in earnings.

Despite an adventurous start, Brave Dave recovered quickly to capture the $101,000 Sapling S. (G3) Sept. 2 at Monmouth Park, giving the 2-year-old Put It Back colt his first stakes win and second victory in three lifetime starts.

Put It Back, currently Florida's second-leading sire of 2012 with $2,976,391 in earnings. His four graded stakes winners is twice as many as any other stallion standing in the Sunshine State.

After stumbling out of the gate and then bumping a rival, Brave Dave made every pole a winning one,  maintaining a length-plus lead for the first half-mile than holding off Special Jo with a determined stretch drive to win by three-quarters of a length. The winner traveled six furlongs on a fast track in 1:10.44.

“He took a really bad stumble out of the gate, but I know this horse and how fast he is,” said jockey Paco Lopez. “He rebounded pretty quickly and was in front quickly. I was just sitting and waiting, and sitting and waiting, until the quarter pole when I asked my horse. I saw the other horse (Special Jo) coming with his run and my horse responded nicely.”

Brave Dave was bred in Florida by trainer Eddie Plesa, Jr., David Melin and Bea Oxenburg and the colt is owned by Melin and Laurie Plesa. The $60,000 winners' share of the Sapling purse boosted his earnings to $91,100.

Putyourdreamsaway displayed her powerful stretch kick in the final furlong of the $125,000 Susan's Girl S. Aug. 25 at Calder to run off to a 7 1/2-length win. The 2-year-old filly is the one of six stakes winners this year by Put It Back. With $2,852,695 in progeny earnings to date, Put It Back ranks second on the Florida sire list. He leads the Sunshine State with three graded stakes winners.

Putyourdreamsaway tracked pacesetter Jewel in the Sky from second through opening fractions of :22.58 and :45.85 charging to the front on the turn. With just a one-length lead a furlong from the wire, the eventual winner took off to finish well clear, getting the seven furlongs in 1:26.52 on a sloppy racetrack.

“She broke great, but she kind of got shoved into the fence by horses on the outside, and that kind of forced my hand a little because at that point I had to ask her just a bit so she could get closer,” winning rider Juan Leyva said. “But once I got out of that situation, she was really comfortable and got into a nice stride.”

“After I got her in a good spot, I just had to wait and be patient with her,” Leyva continued. “And when it was time to run, she responded. She’s a real nice filly.”

Bred by Karen and Greg Dodd, Putyourdreamsaway is now a two-time winner in three career starts with earnings of $115,975. The chestnut filly is owned by Herbert and Ione Elkins.

Eden's Moon made her grass debut a winning one with a front-running victory in the $150,000 San Clemente H. (G2) July 22 at Del Mar. The 3-year-old Bridlewood bred filly took charge leaving the gate and never looked back in winning by 1 ¼ lengths in 1:34.38 for the mile over the firm turf to give Bob Baffert his first-ever San Clemente win.

Eden's Moon was pressed while between horse early, but cleared off by a length after a half mile in 47 seconds. Well-handled by Rafael Bejarano, she drew off by two lengths in the stretch to hold her foes at bay and ultimately winning by 1 1/4-lengths.

“She surprised me today," Bejarano said. "She broke so good and went to the front easy. She was comfortable. I thought maybe we’re going a little fast, but she was doing it so well I just let her run. She’s a nice filly; there’s no doubt about that. And she likes the grass. We know that now, too.”

Bred in Florida, Eden's Moon won the Grade 1 Las Virgenes S. last winter at Santa Anita, was third in the Santa Anita Oaks (G1) this spring, and most recently beaten just a nose in the Hollywood Oaks (G2) June 12.

“I didn’t know what to do with her down here (at Del Mar), but we worked her on the turf and she liked it" said Baffert, referring to a half-mile drill in :48 2/5 July 16. “She likes a firmer surface, turf or dirt, and now we know we have options with her. We have the (Del Mar) Oaks (G1, on Aug. 18) here, so we can think about that.”

Eden’s Moon, a $390,000 purchase at the 2011 Midlantic sale of two-year-olds in training, collected a purse of $90,000 Sunday to increase her career earnings to $358,600 for her owner Kaleem Shah. 

Bridlewood Farm freshman stallion Keyed Entry sired his first winner when his 2-year-old daughter Hyena won at Hollywood Park July 13 in her career debut. The filly captured the five-furlong race by 1 1/4 lengths in :59.81 for a partnership that included Altamira Racing Stable.

Hyena is the fifth winner from five foals of racing age out of the winning Reprized mare Ms. Reprized, who is a full sister to stakes winner Reprized Dream and a half sister to stakes-placed Spinning Jolie. Hyena was $22,000 auction seller at the April OBS Spring 2-year-old sale, where she was bought by her trainer Peter Miller.

Keyed Entry set a track record in the 2006 Hutcheson Stakes (G2) and won the 2007 Deputy Minister  Handicap (G3), both at Gulfsteam Park. Standing at Bridlewood, Keyed Entry's fee for 2012 was $3,000.

Bridlewood put their stamp on this year's Grade 1, $500,000 United Nations S. at Monmouth Park as the breeder of the victorious 4-year-old Turbo Compressor, who the farm also sold at the 2010 OBS Spring 2-year-old auction in central Florida.

Sent off the 5-2 second choice in the field of seven older horses, Turbo Compressor set the pace in the United Nations and never looked back, getting the mile and three eighths over firm turf in 2:12.88.

“What a day,” said Bravo, after recording his first win in the United Nations. “I’m very fortunate. (Trainer) Todd (Pletcher )is simply the best.”

“He really flew home,” said Pletcher. “He was able to lay down the fractions and that was just what we were looking for. He still came home in 22 and change and that’s hard to do at a mile and three eighths. This horse is versatile; he’s won from one mile to a mile and three eighths, so we have a lot of options for him.”

Turbo Compressor, who won the $500,000 Colonial Turf Cup at Colonial Downs three weeks ago, earned his seventh victory in 14 starts in the U.N. The $300,000 winner’s share of the purse boosted his lifetime bankroll to $920,960 for owners P and G Stable & Off the Hook LLC.

The U.N., a Breeders’ Cup ‘Win and You’re In’ race, gave Turbo Compressor an automatic berth to the $3 million Breeders’ Cup Turf at Santa Anita Park on Nov. 3.

Out of Dixieland Event, Turbo Compressor is a half-brother to the stakes winner Stormy Dixie.

Gladding is all alone at the finish of the Alamedan H.

Gladding, a 5-year-old son of Sarava, earned his first black-type win of 2012 in the $51,800 Alamedan H. July 1 at Pleasanton H. with a dominating 6 1/2-length victory.

Gladding was virtually unchallenged for the entire 1 1/16-mile trip. Allowed to set a leisurely pace of :47.58 for the first half-mile, when he was up by 1 1/2-lengths, the dark bay Florida-bred proved too much from there, drawing away in the final half-mile to stop the timer in 1:42.21.

Owned by Lee and Susan Searing, Gladding, winner of the Grade 2 San Antonio S. at Santa Anita in 2011, has finished in the top 3 in nine of 17 lifetime starts, earning $254,160. He is out of Cannon Whirl, who raced for eight years and is a half-sister to Sir Dusty, winner of Calder's Needles S.

Foster winner Ron the Greek was raised at Bridlewood for breeder Jack T. Hammer, while Turf Cup winner Turbo Compresser was bred by Bridlewood, sired by a Bridlewood stallion, then foaled, raised, and sold by Bridlewood.

Multiple Grade 1 winner Ron the Greek became racing's newest millionaire with his hard-earned Foster victory, as he charged from far back along the rail to snare the win in the shadow of the wire. This was his second Grade 1 win of the year, following the Santa Anita H. (G1). He has compiled a record of 19-7-4-1 and $1,112,597 under Hall of Famer Bill Mott for the ownership group of Brous Stable, Wachtel Stable and Jack Hammer.

Turbo Compresser was equally impressive under different circumstances, leading the entire way then pouring it on in the final eighth to earn his third career stakes triumph. Owned by P&G Stable and Off the Hook and trained by Todd Pletcher, Turbo Compresser bolstered his record to 13-6-1-2 and $620,960.

Record-breaking speedster It’s Me Mom zipped to her seventh stakes victory on June 19th, winning the Satin and Lace Stakes at Presque Isle Downs by 3 1/2 lengths.

The chestnut daughter of Put It Back, who already has a six-furlong track record at Tampa Bay this year, once again flashed her brilliant speed, winning the 5 1/2-furlong event just 4/5 off the track record as the 7-5 favorite.

Breaking best of all from the nine-hole, It's Me Mom charged quickly to her usual position at the head of the field. Under top weight of 123 lbs., and giving up to 11 lbs. to each of her 10 rivals, It’s Me Mom set fractions of :21.2, :44.3 and :56.3 en route to a final clocking of 1:03.14 over the local Tapeta surface. This stakes victory was her 6th overall in 9 career starts at Presque Isle Downs.

Bred in Florida by Thomas and Jean Bosch, It’s Me Mom has now amassed a record of 18-11-2-1 and $538,800 for owner Thomas Bosch. She is trained by Lynne Scace, and was ridden to victory by regular rider Willie Martinez.

Put It Back is Florida's leading sire of stakes winners and stakes wins in 2012, and second leading sire by overall earnings. He stands at Bridlewood for $5,000 live foal.

A 3-year-old son of Sarava showed some of his famous sire's courage and class in back-to-back races at Calder in May. Kentucky-bred Imperador Sarava displayed a real will to win breaking his maiden at 8 1/2 furlongs over the lawn on May 6. Making just his second career start, the dark bay or brown colt ran like a veteran, contesting the pace on the outside, then coming back to nail the leader when passed in the final stages.

Three weeks later, Imperador Sarava tackled allowance horses, and emerged runner-up in the field of winners running a mile over the turf course. Imperador Sarava now shows a win and a second in three starts for owner New Phoenix Stable and trainer William White.

Bred by New Phoenix Stable and Susan Roy, Imperador Sarava is out of Coronado's Queen, by Coronado's Quest, and his second dam is a half sister to Eclipse Champion Possibly Perfect and the dam of last year's Haskell Invitational (G1) winner Coil.

Belmont S. (G1) winner Sarava (Wild Again - Rhythm of Life, by Deputy Minister) stands at Bridlewood for $1,500.

Florida's leading sire of 2012 Put It Back added to an already-stellar year on May 5 when Partyallnightlong captured the $50,000 Dan Horn S. on the Meadowlands turf. To date this year, Put It Back has nearly $1.3 million in progeny earnings, topped by the 3-year-old filly Yara.

Partyallnightlong, sent off the 3-5 favorite, tracked in third for the first half of the five furlong trip before making his move when straightening for home. A steady drive three wide put the eventual winner in front inside the final furlong as 5-year-old bay horse pulled away late to finish in :57.57.

The always-consistent Partyallnightlong is now 7-1-3 in 13 starts, with $381,100 in earnings. He is bred and owned by Richard Malouf and Edwin Broome. Broome is also the trainer. The winner is out of Party to Party, a half sister to the top-class sprinter In Summation, another son of Put It Back and winner of 11 stakes, highlighted by the Grade 1 Bing Crosby H., and earned $1.22 million.

Skip Trial, a perennial leading Florida sire and one of the last links to the Damascus sire line, was humanely destroyed on May 1st at Bridlewood Farm due to the infirmities of old age. Skip Trial stood his entire career at Bridlewood, since 1988, and will be laid to rest in the Farm cemetery. He was 30.

Best known as the sire of Hall of Fame Champion and Horse of the Year Skip Away ($9,616,360), Skip Trial sired 22 crops in a long and distinguished career. Skip Trial sired 28 stakes winners, 26 stakes-placed runners, and earners of $34,566,723 to date, and his average earnings per starter of $85,774 ranks him among the top 2% of sires. He has had 11 starters in 2012, with one winner and earnings of $28,329. Pensioned from breeding in 2010, Skip Trial has five registered foals of 2009, and one registered two-year-old of 2012.

Bred in Kentucky by Nancy Penn Morgan, the bay son of Bailjumper out of Looks Promising, by Promised Land was sold at the 2003 Keeneland September Sale for $25,000. Racing for Mrs. Zelda Cohen, he competed at the top of his generation for three consecutive years, winning nine Graded stakes, including the Haskell Invitational (G1) over Champion Spend a Buck at three, and the Gulfstream Park H. (G1) at four and at five.

“Skip Trial was a farm stalwart and favorite,” said Bridlewood General Manager George G. Isaacs.  “In my mind, he was a throwback to the Thoroughbred of yesteryear, with his rugged looks and hickory toughness.  He was a proven source of soundness and stamina, which he demonstrated on the racetrack in the mid-1980’s through his earnings of $1.8 million.  During his service at stud, he always had one of the highest national rankings for average earnings per starter.  He was a ‘special’ horse and noble equine friend, who will be sorely missed.”

A filly from the first crop of Keyed Entry sold for $260,000 at the OBS Select 2-year-old sale on April 24, the fourth-highest price after the first two days of the four-day event.

Consigned by H. J. Parra Racing Stables and cataloged as hip No. 363, the bay juvenile was bought by John Fort's Peachtree Stables. The Florida bred filly is out of the unraced mare Dixie Image, who is a full sister to Southern Image, winner of three Grade 1's and $1.8 million.

Keyed Entry, a graded stakes winner at three and four who also set a 7 1/2-furlong track record at Gulfstream Park, stands this year at Bridlewood Farm for $3,000 LFS&N.

Barisoff bounded to an 8 1/4-length win in her debut April 7 at Keeneland, with the daughter of Put It Back displaying an ultra-impressive turn of foot. Put It Back sits atop the 2012 Florida general sire list, the only stallion in the Sunshine State with more than $1 million in progeny earnings.

Touted as one of the best juveniles on the ground for the always-tough Keeneland spring meet, Barisoff was bet down to 3-5 by the public. The chestnut filly did not disappoint, breaking sharply and turning back a couple of challenges on the turn before drawing off in the stretch to get the 4 1/2-furlongs in :52.94.

Barisoff is a product of the 2011 Keeneland September yearling sale, with a winning bid of $42,000. She was bred in Florida by Donarra Thoroughbreds LLC and is owned by Ice Wine Stable. Barisoff is out of Miz Betty Grace, who has one other foal, Indian Gracey, who ran third in the 2010 Oak Leaf S. (G1).

It's Me Mom turned in arguably the best performance in her career April 7 at Tampa Bay Downs, winning the $75,000 Hilton Garden Inn Sprint S. against males and setting a six furlong track record in the process. The 5-year-old daughter of Bridlewood's stallion Put It Back scored her tenth victory in 16 lifetime starts.

Bet down to 3-5 favoritism, It's Me Mom flew out of the gate under jockey Jorge Vargas, It’s Me Mom sped to the front and never felt a breath from her six male foes. The margin was a length after a quarter mile, and only increased from there as the chestnut mare streaked home a 2 3/4-length winner in 1:08.67.

It’s Me Mom, who raised her career earnings to $475,600 for her owner/breeders Tom and Jean Bosch. It was her fifth stakes triumph since last May.

“I feel very good,” said 87-year-old Tom Bosch. “In a way, I was worried Willie (Martinez, her regular rider, who was in New York) wasn’t here to ride her, but I knew she would win when (Vargas) got her out in front. I had faith in her. She was running easy the whole way.”

Vargas was ecstatic at the assignment and handled it beautifully. “I talked about her with my buddy Willie Martinez and with the connections,” he said. “They said she would break on top but not to let her get away in the backstretch. You give her the bit, she just goes on; so my job was to get her to relax on the lead.

“I thought there might be an early challenge but we out-broke the field and we were out on our own going easily,” Vargas added. “I let her know it was time to run in the turn and she picked it up and she came away nicely. She was getting a little late in the deep stretch but all I had to do was give her a couple of taps to keep her attentive and that was enough.”

Assistant trainer Ray Stifano said It’s Me Mom may be pointed toward the Grade 2, $400,000 Presque Isle Downs Masters this summer.

“I told him (Vargas) to try to slow the pace down a little bit and that’s what he did,” Stifano said. “I said after that just slow it down and stay off the rail in the middle of the racetrack, because I watched the races today and that was the fastest spot.” Even when It’s Me Mom slows it down, it’s next-to-impossible for her foes to keep up.”

Put It Back currently sits atop the Florida general sire list, with over $1 million in progeny earnings. He stands this year at Bridlewood for $5,000.

Gladding, a 5-year-old son of Sarava, earned his first black-type of 2012 with a game second in the $72,000 Santana Mile S. at Santa Anita Park, losing by just a half-length to the post-time favorite Canonize in what turned out to be a two-horse race.

Gladding set a solid pace of :46.81 seconds for the first half-mile, with Canonize close in tow to the outside. The two stayed right together around the turn and into the stretch, with Canonize prevailing by a slim margin. It was more than eight lengths back to the third-place finisher. The final time was an excellent 1:33.89 over a track labeled “good.”

Owned by Lee and Susan Searing, Gladding, winner of the Grade 2 San Antonio S. at Santa Anita in 2011, has finished in the top 3 in eight of 16 lifetime starts, earning $219,560. He is out of Cannon Whirl, who raced for eight years and is a half-sister to Sir Dusty, winner of Calder's Needles S.

When Ron the Greek won the $750,000 Santa Anita H. (G1) by 3½ lengths on March 3, it was triple-header of sorts for Bridlewood Farm, who raised, broke and trained the now 5-year-old son of Full Mandate as he was preparing for his racing career.

Bred by Jack T. Hammer, who co-owns the bay horse along with Brous Stable and Wachtel Stable, Ron the Greek shipped in from the East Coast for trainer Bill Mott, where he was second in the Sunshine Millions Classic at Gulfstream on Jan. 28 following consecutive victories at Aqueduct.

The race set up perfectly for the winner, who was tenth down the backstretch after the leaders set a blistering half-mile in :44 seconds and change. When the speed began to wilt going into the far turn, Ron the Greek moved between horses, then came four wide into the stretch and ultimately drew off in the late stages.

"There was a lot of speed in the race," said Rudolphe Brisset, who saddled Ron the Greek in Mott's absence. "We just wanted to stalk the pace and see what happens. We were not expecting 44 on the lead. That's sprinting."

The final time for the mile and a quarter was 2:00.41, good for a lifetime best Beyer Speed Figure of 105. This was Ron the Greek's first Grade 1 win, and the second in his career. He took the 2010 LeComte S. (G3) at Fair Grounds during his 3-year-old season.

The $450,000 payday upped the Florida bred's earnings to $769,665, with a record of 6-3-1 in 17 starts.

Jumping into stakes company for the first time, Eden's Moon delivered a stellar performance in the Grade 1 Las Virgenes S. March 3 at Santa Anita, putting the Bridlewood bred 3-year-old daughter of Malibu Moon on the road to the Kentucky Oaks (G1) in early May at Churchill Downs.

The first foal out of the Giant's Causeway mare Eden's Causeway, Eden's Moon was a $390,000 2-year-old in training purchase at the Fasig-Tipton Midlantic Sale last May. Eden's Moon comes from a top-class group of siblings that include turf champion Paradise Creek, as well as Grade 1 winners Forbidden Apple and Wild Event.

Eden's Moon was sent off as the second choice in the Las Virgenes after breaking her maiden by 11 1/2-lengths in late January. Put into the race right away by Martin Garcia, the bay filly set a solid pace of :46.47 for the half mile and 1:10.44 for six furlongs, while maintaining a half-length lead. Reneesgotzip, the favorite, offered pressure the whole way, but Eden's Moon lengthened stride in the stretch to pull away with authority. The final time for the mile was 1:35.27.

Making just her third start, trainer Bob Baffert loved the effort, but says there's more talent in his filly. "I was hoping we'd be on the lead, get her out there and get her into a groove. She's getting better and better," Baffert said. "She's not a polished horse."

The $150,000 purse pushed Eden's Moon career total to $192,600 for owner Kaleem Shah. Baffert said the $1 million Kentucky Oaks is the goal this spring, with a possible start in the Grade 1 Santa Anita Oaks, on March 31, as the next step.

Doubles Partner takes Canadian Turf S. at Gulfstream Park

Bridlewood breds scored a stakes double on Saturday with Doubles Partner also scoring in the Grade 3 Canadian Turf at Gulfstream Park (VIDEO). The 5-year-old is a three-time stakes winner in his career; previous victories came in Churchill Downs' American Turf (G2) and the Tampa Bay S. (G3).

Making his first start since finishing a close third in the Turf Classic (G1) at Churchill Downs last May, Doubles Partner saved ground around the first turn and along the backstretch as Little Mike set fractions of :23.98 and :47:02 for the first half-mile after being challenged by Trend out of the gate for pacesetting honors and stalked by that rival along the backstretch.
Doubles Partner moved for the leader coming into the final quarter mile, going on to win by three-quarters of a length.

“It was a perfect trip. We were right in behind the speed. He settled nice and it was a clean trip, which made things pretty easy,” winning rider Julien Leparoux said. “I was able to move out whenever I wanted and when I asked him he came running.”

The winner ran the mile in 1:32.56.

“The horse ran super off the layoff. The guys at WinStar did a super job. He really worked well on Monday and came into this race in good shape,” trainer Todd Pletcher said.

Doubles Partner, who has won five of eight starts on turf, is likely to return to action at Keeneland in the Maker’s Mark (G1) on April 13 or the Woodford Reserve (G1) at Churchill Downs on May 5.

Bridlewood breds scored a stakes double on Saturday, as Doubles Partner joined G1 winner Eden's Moon with an impressive comeback win in the Grade 3 Canadian Turf at Gulfstream Park (VIDEO). The 5-year-old is a three-time stakes winner in his career; previous victories came in Churchill Downs' American Turf (G2) and the Tampa Bay S. (G3).

Making his first start since finishing a close third in the Turf Classic (G1) at Churchill Downs last May, Doubles Partner saved ground around the first turn and along the backstretch as Little Mike set fractions of :23.98 and :47:02 for the first half-mile after being challenged by Trend out of the gate for pacesetting honors and stalked by that rival along the backstretch. Doubles Partner moved for the leader coming into the final quarter mile, going on to win by three-quarters of a length.

“It was a perfect trip. We were right in behind the speed. He settled nice and it was a clean trip, which made things pretty easy,” winning rider Julien Leparoux said. “I was able to move out whenever I wanted and when I asked him he came running.”

The winner ran the mile in 1:32.56.

“The horse ran super off the layoff. The guys at WinStar did a super job. He really worked well on Monday and came into this race in good shape,” trainer Todd Pletcher said.

Doubles Partner, who has won five of eight starts on turf, is likely to return to action at Keeneland in the Maker’s Mark (G1) on April 13 or the Woodford Reserve (G1) at Churchill Downs on May 5.

Yara prevailed in a stretch-long duel to capture the $350,000 Davona Dale S. (G2) at Gulfstream Park (VIDEO), defeating heavy favorite Grace Hall by a neck and rewarding her backers with a handsome $131 win payoff. The win by 3-year-old daughter of Put It Back propelled her sire to the top of the 2012 Florida sire list.

Yara was sent off at generous odds in the Davona Dale after a disappointing performance last out in the  Grade 2 Forward Gal S., but that was over a sloppy track. Back on a fast surface, Yara went to the front under Jesus Castanon, with Grace Hall right on her hip. The duo stayed together the entire trip, with the favorite taking the lead after three-eighths of a mile. Yara, never more than a half-length behind, began to get to the leader in the final furlong to get to the wire first. The time for the 1 1/16 miles was a quick 1:43.41.

“I saw the ‘2’ (Grace Hall) right next to me, and when she went ahead and took the lead, my horse settled really nicely,” Castanon said. “My filly was just waiting for me to push the button, and when I did, she ran on really well. I was actually very confident coming into the race. I saw her race last time and I knew she had run some good races before that.”

“This is the biggest win of my career,” trainer Jose Garaffolo said. “I knew it was a tough field, but I was always confident that she would handle a distance. The owner (Anderson Castro) is from Venezuela and is investing in several horses over here, including some I have coming up.

“I picked this one out,” added Garaffolo, who paid $24,000 for Yara at the 2011 OBS April 2-year-old sales. “The goal is the Kentucky Oaks (G1) with maybe a race before then.”

Yara has now won three of six starts, including last November's $125,000 O'Farrell Juvenile Fillies S. at Calder Race Course. Owned by Castro's Peras International, the Florida-bred filly has now earned $363,920.

Put It Back's 4-year-old filly It' Me Mom romped to her third consecutive stakes win Jan. 28 at Gulfstream Park in the $150,000 Sunshine Millions Filly and Mare Sprint S. (VIDEO) The victory also marked the filly's sixth win in her last seven outings, going back to last May.

Making her 2012 debut, It' Me Mom bounded out of the gate full of run, going up 2 1/2-lengths in a very peppy :22.25 seconds. With Willie Martinez urging his mount on, the Florida-bred filly continued to pull away from the field to win by 6 3/4-lengths in 1:08.85 for the six furlongs, less than a second off the track record.

“We knew we’d be in front, that’s what she does,” commented her rider, Willie Martinez. “There’s a difference between fast and brilliant speed and she has brilliant speed. To go in :22 today, that’s an accomplishment from how she was earlier in her career. She’s just a freak.”

“I think the biggest difference between then (early in her career) and now is that she just grew up and matured,” trainer Lynn Scace said. “She also likes her races spaced out. We’ll take her back to Tampa (Bay Downs) now. I haven’t really thought much about what might be next.”

It's Me Mom is now an impressive 9-2-1 in 14 starts. The $90,000 payday increased her lifetime earnings to $425,200 for her owner/breeder team of Tom and Jean Bosch.

It's Me Mom was Put It Back's leading earner of 2011, and her victory Saturday put her sire in the top 3  on the Florida sire list for this year. The 14-year-old Bridlewood stallion is Florida's leading lifetime sire of graded stakes winners. He is standing the 2012 season for $5,000 LFS&N.

George Isaacs says it is the horse that fuels his fire, but he credits many mentors throughout his life for helping build the foundation for his success. Isaacs, who serves as general manager of the late Arthur I. Appleton’s Bridlewood Farm in Ocala, got his start in the Thoroughbred industry at Stanley Petter’s Hurricane Hall Stud as a 17-year-old. He subsequently worked for the late Joe Taylor at Gainesway after graduating from the University of Kentucky.

Isaacs has been in Florida since 1989, when he took over as stallion manager at Bridlewood. Three years later, Isaacs was hired as general manager of Allen Paulson’s Brookside South before returning to Bridlewood as general manager in 1996. In addition to his work, which he calls a labor of love, Isaacs enjoys spending time with his 12-year-old son, Blaine. “He’s the apple of my eye,” Isaacs said. “He was the best thing that ever happened to me and he keeps me young.”

Isaacs took time to spend five minutes with Thoroughbred Times Today editor Mike Curry.

What are your thoughts entering 2012 after a strong year of sales in 2011?

I think all the major sales were pretty much up in North America last year so I think that bodes well that slowly but surely maybe we’ve turned the corner and better days are ahead.

What aspect of your job is your favorite?

I like it all. I absolutely love when a new foal is born, but I also love seeing that foal take it full circle and end up a winner on the racetrack. I enjoy it from A to Z.

What is the best advice someone gave you?

I know John Nerud said this year’s ago, and I was mentored by Stanley Petter of Hurricane Hall and Joe Taylor at Gainesway—and obviously the father of the Taylor boys. Joe always said, ‘Don’t ever follow an empty wagon.’ That always stuck in my mind, so I’ve always tried to align myself with successful people who had the resources to do it right. And I can arguably say I’ve had the two best jobs in Florida, and it’s been a labor of love because of it.

Who would you say has had the most influence on your life?

I would have to share that with a lot of different people. I started working with horses when I was 17 at Hurricane Hall Stud with Stanley Petter, and he was certainly my original mentor. Joe Taylor was one of my mentors. Dr. Norman Umphenour, who used to be the resident vet at Gainesway, and then was the
resident vet at Ashford, he was a very profound mentor. [Allen] Paulson and [Arthur] Appleton, who I’ve obviously been working for for a long time. He passed in 2008, and he treated me like a son. Allen Paulson treated me very well and he was an extremely successful businessman but also one of the most humble men I’ve ever met. That just really left a profound influence on me. Mr. Appleton was very much the same way.

What do you consider your best accomplishment?

I just feel so blessed because literally, from the time I entered the horse business, across the board, particularly as I started to climb the ladder a little bit and worked at Gainesway Farm and then came down here and worked at Bridlewood and then for Mr. Paulson and back at Bridlewood, I’ve had my hands on some of the best horses in the world over the years. ... I guess you could argue that one of my brighter moments of my career was when Roy Chapman, the owner of Smarty Jones, called me and asked me to sell him as a yearling and assess the situation for him. I told him that he was a nice yearling and that I’d like to train the horse up and see what his abilities were as a two-year-old and sell him as a two-year-old,because I thought we could get him more money. And then, as we saw him develop and show what he had as a two-year-old, the story and the plot kind of thickened and, obviously, he ended up keeping the horse and we were able to win the [Kentucky] Derby (G1), win the Preakness [Stakes (G1)], and almost win the Triple Crown, and then we put together a very lucrative stallion deal for his family, which was just a fairy-tale type of story.

What is your favorite book?

I try to read a new book every couple of weeks. The book that I’m reading at the moment is a book called Goodbye to a River, by John Graves. He’s considered a master American author from Texas. The book I read before that was Unbroken, by Laura Hillenbrand.

What is your favorite food?

Because I live in Ocala and because we are so close to the Gulf Coast, I saltwater fish quite regularly, so any fresh fish that I’ve caught that afternoon on the grill that night.

Gladding, a 5-year-old son of Sarava, will make his next start in the Grade 1 Santa Anita H. March 3 at the southern California oval. Originally entered in the Mineshaft H. at Fair Grounds on Feb. 25, his trainer John Sadler decided to keep his charge on the west coast for the $750,000 feature of the Santa Anita meet.

Owned by Lee and Susan Searing, Gladding has not started since finishing fourth in the Grade 3 Ack Ack Handicap at Churchill Downs on Nov. 4. Sadler said a seven furlong work in 1:24.60 prompted him to try the $750,000 “Big Cap” this weekend.

Gladding, winner of the Grade 2 San Antonio S. at Santa Anita in 2011, has finished in the top 3 in seven of 14 lifetime starts, earning $205,200. 

Sadler said recently he was going to use a different strategy in this year's Big Cap. “That’s not his style,” Sadler said of Gladding’s performance last year, when he was caught up in traffic. “This year we’re going to be up close. We’re going to be running next to Game On Dude. Gladding is capable of a good race. He’s got some good Rag (Ragozin) numbers, he’s got some races that will make him highly competitive.”

3YO Sarava's Dancer in Saturday at Gulfstream Park

Sarava's Dancer could put himself on the Triple Crown Trail at Gulfstream Park on Saturday. The 3-year-old will be entered in a first-level, nine furlong allowance race as trainer Bill White sees if the bay gelding can step up against a solid group of sophomores.

Sarava's Dancer is the first foal out of Coronado's Dancer, whose dam Sandhill is a full sister to Sandpit, the Brazilian champion 3-year-old who bankrolled over $3.2 million and captured graded stakes over each of his six seasons of racing.

Eden's Moon was simply stellar in her maiden win Jan. 8 at Santa Anita Park, running away to a 11 1/2- length victory in her second lifetime start. The 3-year-old daughter of Malibu Moon, who was bred and sold by Bridlewood Farm, covered the mile in a very good 1:36.75 on a fast track.

With Martin Garcia sitting motionless at the outset, the bay filly sped to the front to get the half mile in :47.20 with a one length lead. She began to pull away from the field on the turn; Garcia gave her a nudge and tap on the shoulder in the stretch,  and the margin increased with every stride. With the outcome already decided, Garcia geared his mount down late to coast home.

Eden's Moon debuted at Hollywood Park on Dec. 18, finishing second and earning a Beyer Speed Figure of 92. The Bob Baffert trainee, owned by Kaleem Shah, has now earned $42,600 in her young career.

Baffert, as agent, bought Eden's Moon at the 2011 Fasig-Tipton Midlantic Sale of 2-year-olds, with a winning bid of $390,000. That was the second-highest figure at the event, and the highest price paid for a filly.

Florida-bred Eden's Moon is the first starter out of Eden's Causeway, who is a daughter of the great producer North of Eden. Among her foals are champion turf horse Paradise Creek, $1.4 million earner Forbidden Apple, Grade 1 winner Wild Event, and Paradise River, dam of English highweight horse David Junior.

Atlantic Hurricane's five length win in the $166,800 Bessarabian S. Nov. 20 at Woodbine marked the sixth win in the last seven starts for the Bridlewood Farm raised filly at the Toronto oval. The winner is a daughter of Halo's Image-It's the Cat's Meow and was also sold by Bridlewood at the OBS Spring 2009 2-year-old sale.

The victory in the seven furlong Bessarabian should put the chestnut among the favorites to claim the Canada's Sovereign Award for champion female sprinter. In addition to the Bessarabian, Atlantic Hurricane won the $151,000 Ontario Fashion S. on Oct. 30 and the Grade 3 Seaway S. on Sept. 3.

Atlantic Hurricane is now 8-2-1 in 15 starts, with earnings of $434,553. She is owned by the partnership of B. & R. McLellan, C. Hollick and Stuart Simon.

"I had a lot of faith in her today, she's probably better than she's been all year," said Simon, who also trains the 4-year-old filly. "You're still leery, because you have to run the race and things can happen, but I'm so confident in her right now."

Joseph and Thomas DiGrazia bred Atlantic Hurricane and board her dam at Bridlewood as well. The mare has a yearling by Keyed Entry, a weanling by Sabre d'Argent, and is in foal to Yesbyjimminy. All three stallions stand at Bridlewood.

Turbo Compressor never looked back on the way to a 10 1/2-length victory in Calder's Carl Rose Classic H. on Nov. 12. The winner held the lead the entire nine furlongs, winning eased up in a time of 1:51.92 on a fast track.

Bridlewood bred the 3-year-old bay son of Halo's Image from the Wild Event mare Dixieland Event. She has also produced Politely S. winner Stormy Dixie. Turbo Compressor, who won the Curlin S. at Saratoga earlier this year, is now 4-1-1 in nine starts, earning $246,780 for co-owners P and G Stables and Off The Hook Racing. Unraced Dixieland Event is a half-sister to Grade 1 winner Southern Image and Grade 3 winner Black Bar Spin, by Put It Back.

Turbo Compressor sold for $22,000 at the 2010 OBS Spring 2-year-olds in training sale.

The 2-year-old filly Yara looked like a seasoned veteran as the daughter of Put It Back controlled the pace the entire way in the $125,000 Joe O'Farrell Juvenile Fillies S. at Calder on Nov. 12. This marked the first stakes win in four starts for the chestnut juvenile. She is one of nine stakes horses in 2011 for her sire, who has had added money winners in the United States, Korea, Brazil and Venezuela this year.

Yara popped right out of the gate to establish the front marker while staying away from the rail. After a solid half-mile in :46.21, she began to extend her 1 1/2-length lead coming into the stretch. Kept to the task in the late stages, she completed the seven furlongs on a muddy track in 1:24.90.

Yara is now 2-0-0 in four starts, earning $103,920 for her owner Peras International.

The filly, bred in Florida by Brambly Lane Farm and Steve Dwoskin, sold earlier this year at the OBS April juvenile sale, where she was bought by her trainer Jose Garoffalo. Yara is out of Ashlee's Lady, who is a half-sister the million-dollar earner and four-time graded stakes winning mare Healthy Addiction, and also five-time stakes winner Arch Lady.

It's Me Mom sped to victory over a classy field of older fillies and mares in the $100,000 Robert O’Malley Stakes at Suffolk Downs on October 22.

The second major stakes winner in eight days for Put It Back, It's Me Mom was winning her third $100,000 stakes, to go along with the Presque Isle Debutante at two, and the PID Inaugural Stakes earlier this year.

In the Robert O’Malley, It's Me Mom was the only 3-year-old in the field of eight, which was comprised entirely of stakes mares. Despite breaking a step slowly, It's Me Mom set blazing fractions of :21 and :43 3/5, before being passed near mid-stretch by Grade 2 stakes winner Nicole H. Although in very tight quarters over the last 70 yards, It's Me Mom battled back gamely, and got her nose down first in the mad dash to the wire. Her final time was a very fast 1:09 3/5.

Bred in Florida by Thomas and Jean Bosch, It's Me Mom has compiled a remarkably consistent record of 11-6-2-1 and $286,000 for owner Thomas Bosch. Out of the Stormy Atlantic mare She Too, she is trained by Lynne Scace, and was ridden to victory by regular rider Willie Martinez.

Put It Back ranks #11 among Florida’s Leading Sires for 2011, with four stakes winners and earners of well over $1,800,000. He is Florida’s Leading lifetime sire of Graded stakes winners (20) and Grade 1 winners (7).

Luke of York, a 2-year-old Put It Back colt, battled his way to a nose victory in a three-horse photo finish in the $125,000 Keeneland 75th Anniversary S. to put himself in the picture for the upcoming $500,000 Breeders' Cup Juvenile Sprint at Churchill Downs.

Put It Back has been Florida's leading sire of stakes winners the past four years and has eight stakes horses this year.

This was also the first running of the six furlong Anniversary S. and Luke of York had to fight the length of the stretch to earn the $75,000 winner's share of the purse. After breaking a step slow, the dark bay colt settled in sixth down the backstretch. He shifted off the rail through the turn then went four wide into the stretch, when the head-to-head battle with Voodoo Daddy and Larry Zip commenced. The trio matched stride right to the wire with a nose separating the top three finishers.

"He broke terrible, so I was concerned. But he's a big horse, strong horse, got a big stride and he got up there in a hurry," said winning trainer Jimmy DiVito. "We broke his maiden, and we came here and he trained real good. He's a big horse; it was a little quick to run him back. It fit the program, so we took a shot. He's a nice horse."

DiVito said he would talk to the owners before making definite plans for the Breeders' Cup.

"He (DiVito) says he's got a lot of fight in him and he's pretty versatile, depending on how the race shapes up. He's a straightforward horse; you can do whatever you want to do with him. It makes my job a lot easier," said jockey Rajiv Maragh.

Luke of York, bred in Florida by Classic Run Farm Inc., is now two-for-two lifetime, with $96,336 in earnings. He broke his maiden, with another nose victory, September 24 at Arlington Park. He is now owned by George Michaels, who bought him at this year's June OBS horses of racing age sale.

Luke of York is out of Gion, who is a half sister to stakes winners Golden Damsel and If It's Meant to B.

Two-year-old Rose and Shine wrapped up her second stakes win of the year with a one-length victory in the $250,000 Princess Elizabeth S. at Woodbine. The daughter of Mr. Sekiguchi is the leading earner of 2011 for her sire, who ranks third on Florida's freshman sire list.

Rose and Shine, who took Woodbine's $200,000 Muskosa S. on Sept. 5, rallied from fifth at the half-way point to get the lead she wouldn't relinquish about a furlong from the wire. The final time for the 1 1/16 miles on the artificial surface was 1:45.56.

"Everytime she runs, she tries so hard," said winning trainer Ralph Biamonte. "We had a good trip today and I think it was just a matter of the trip. I'm not saying we are better than those horses, but today we were."

Rose and Shine earned $150,000 for the victory, boosting her bankroll to $322,320, while improving her record to three wins and a third from six lifetime starts. She is owned by James Sabiston, who bred in her in Canada in partnership with Jay Cochlin.

Yara made short work of a group of 2-year-old fillies as the daughter of Put It Back rolled to a 5 3/4-length win to break her maiden at Calder in her second career start. She is the fifth juvenile winner of the year for her sire, who is Florida's leading sire of stakes winners for the past four years.

Yara jumped to the front at the start, was up by a length in the first few strides, then widened her margin throughout the 5 1/2-furlongs to finish in 1:05.82 to earn a very solid 72 Beyer Speed Figure.

The filly, bred in Florida by Brambly Lane Farm and Steve Dwoskin, sold earlier this year at the OBS April juvenile sale, where she was bought by her trainer Jose Garoffalo. Yara is out of Ashlee's Lady, who is a half-sister the million-dollar earner and four-time graded stakes winning mare Healthy Addiction and five-time stakes winner Arch Lady.

Atlantic Hurricane won a stretch-long duel with Embur's Song to earn her first added-money win in Woodbine's Grade 3, $150,000 Seaway S. on Sept. 3. The winner is a daughter of Halo's Image-It's the Cat's Meow and was raised at Bridlewood Farm, who then sold the filly at the OBS Spring 2009 2-year-old sale.

Joseph and Thomas DiGrazia bred Atlantic Hurricane and board her dam at Bridlewood as well. The mare has a yearling by Keyed Entry, a weanling by Sabre d'Argent, and is in foal to Yesbyjimminy. All three stallions stand at Bridlewood.

Atlantic Hurricane is 6-2-0 in 12 starts after the Seaway win, with earnings of $245,740. She is owned by the partnership of B. & R. McLellan, C. Hollick and Stuart Simon.

Rose and Shine provided Bridlewood's freshman sire Mr. Sekiguchi with his first stakes winner on Sept. 5 in Woodbine's $203,912 Muskoka S. Already solidly in the top 10 among Florida's first-crop sires, 2-year-old Rose and Shine's big win will move her sire into second place on the list.

The 6 ½ furlong Muskoka didn't start off ideally for Rose and Shine as she settled into eighth for the backstretch run. Still some four lengths off the lead at the quarter pole, she rallied strongly in the stretch to win by three-quarters of a length in 1:17.78 on the Polytrack.

"I think she's a real nice filly," said winning trainer Ralph Biamonte. "We thought so last time too, because we were running her in open company. She just ran like we thought she might. She didn't get the best of trips, but she overcame it."

Rose and Shine, who ran third to well-regarded Judy the Beauty last out in the Shady Well S., now boasts a 2-0-1 record from four starts, with earnings of $170,502. She is owned by James Sabiston, who bred her in Ontario, Canada, in partnership with Jay Cochlin.

Indian Assault led a raid on the $100,000 Lafayette Stakes at Evangeline Downs on August 13th, and charged to a 5-length victory under wraps.

Making just his second career start in the one-mile event on the turf, the chestnut juvenile from the direct family of Mr. Prospector was well regarded by the public after running second in his career bow over the same venue and surface.

In the Lafayette, Indian Assault left the gate running, then was content to sit off the early pace-setters along the inside until the second turn. Making his move near the top of the lane, Indian Assault assumed complete command within a matter of strides, and was eased by the rider near the wire. Final time was 1:37 3/5 over the firm course.

Bred in Florida by Bridlewood Farm, Indian Assault was sold at the 2011 OBS April Sale of Two-Year-Olds in Training to current owner Adam Richey. He is trained by Keith Desormeaux, and was ridden to victory by K. D. Clark.

Indian Assault is out the Skip Trial mare See My Agent, and his second dam, the multiple stakes winner Lillian Russell, is a half-sister to Mr. Prospector. Lillian Russell is direct ancestress of 15 stakes horses, including 2010 Arkansas Derby (G1) winner Line of David.

Indian Ocean has sired the earners of well over $2,000,000 from his first three crops. By Stormy Atlantic out of Indian Halo, by Halo, he ranks among Florida’s top 15 sires of two-year-olds this year.