Mucho Macho Man had a mucho grande year that led to him being named the 2013 Florida-bred Horse of the Year. Big in stature as well as in name, the 17-hand-plus Mucho Macho Man swept to a pair of Grade 1 victories in his championship season. He captured the Breeders’ Cup Classic (Grade 1) and Awesome Again Stakes (G1), both at Santa Anita, on his way to banking $2,984,000. Mucho Macho Man’s BC Classic win was the first Breeders’ Cup race victory for breeders John and Carole Rio of Ocala, Fla., owner Reeves Thoroughbred Racing of Atlanta, Ga., and trainer Kathy Ritvo. A 2008 bay horse by Macho Uno out of the Ponche mare Ponche de Leona, Mucho Macho Man became the only the third Florida-bred to win the BC Classic. He joined the elite company of Unbridled (1990) and Skip Away (1997).

At the 54th Annual FTBOA  Awards Gala on March 9 at the Circle Square Cultural Center, Mucho Macho Man was officially honored as the 2013 Florida-bred Horse of the Year. Also celebrated for their outstanding accomplishments on the season were all the 2013 Florida-bred champions, as well as their breeders, owners and trainers. The 2013 Florida-bred champions article was published in the February issue of The Florida Horsemagazine.

Co-headliner on the year-end honor roll was Gilbert G. Campbell, who was named the 2013 Florida Breeder of the Year. Campbell was also recognized as the breeder/owner of Scandalous Act, who garnered the 2013 Florida-bred champion 2-year-old filly title.

Reeves Thoroughbred Racing, which raced Mucho Macho Man, was the 2013 Leading Owner by Florida-bred earnings. Ponche de Leona, the dam of Mucho Macho Man, was chosen as the 2013 Florida Broodmare of the Year.

Wildcat Heir, who stands at Brent and Crystal Fernung’s Journeyman Stud in Ocala, Fla., was the 2013 Florida Stallion of the Year. With Distinction, who stands at Hartley/De Renzo Thoroughbreds, was the 2013 Leading Florida Juvenile Sire. Two Step Salsa, who stands at Get Away Farm, was the 2013 Leading Florida Freshman Sire.

Here’s a look at all the 2013 FTBOA Awards:

2013 FLORIDA STALLION OF THE YEAR: WILDCAT HEIR
2000 bay horse by Forest Wildcat – Penniless Heiress, by Pentelicus

2013 LEADING FLORIDA JUVENILE SIRE: WITH DISTINCTION
2001 bay horse by Storm Cat – Extravagant Woman, by Alydar

2013 LEADING FLORIDA FRESHMAN SIRE: TWO STEP SALSA
2005 bay horse by Petionville – Two to Waltz, by Seattle Slew

2013 LEADING OWNER BY FLORIDA-BRED EARNINGS
REEVES THOROUGHBRED RACING

2013 LEADING FLORIDA TRAINER OF FLORIDA-BREDS
By Earnings/Wins/Stakes Wins (tie)
KATHLEEN O’CONNELL

2013 LEADING FLORIDA TRAINER OF FLORIDA-BREDS
By Stakes Wins (tie)
MARTIN D. WOLFSON

2013 NEEDLES AWARD: JUVENAL DIAZ

2013 JOE O’FARRELL MEMORIAL AWARD
CONSIGNOR: OCALA STUD
HORSE: ASIA EXPRESS

2013 FLORIDA BROODMARE OF THE YEAR: PONCHE DE LEONA
1999 gr/ro, by Ponche –Perfect and Proud, by Nonparell

2013 FLORIDA BREEDER OF THE YEAR: GILBERT G. CAMPBELL

2013 FLORIDA-BRED CHAMPIONS

MUCHO MACHO MAN
Florida-Bred Horse of the Year/Champion Older Male
Breeders: John & Carole Rio
Owner: Reeves Thoroughbred Racing
Trainer: Kathy Ritvo

EGG DROP
Florida-Bred Champion Older Female/Female Turf Horse
Breeder: Centaur Farms Inc.
Owners: Little Red Feather Racing
Trainer: Mike Mitchell

RULER OF LOVE
Florida-Bred Champion 3-Year-Old Colt/Gelding
Breeder: Faye W. Little
Owner: Matthew N. Rebro Jr., Frank Coniglio, Sidney Ritman
and Richard Rendina
Trainer: Joan Scott

WILDCAT LILY
Florida-Bred Champion 3-Year-Old Filly/Female Sprinter
Breeders: Tara & Paul Helman
Owner: Rontos Racing Stable
Trainer: Manuel J. Azpurua

DANCE WITH FATE
Florida-Bred Champion 2-Year-Old Colt/Gelding
Breeder: Best A Luck Farm LLC
Owners: Sharon Alesia, Bran Jam Stable & Ciaglia Racing LLC
Trainer: Peter Eurton

SCANDALOUS ACT
Florida-Bred Champion 2-Year-Old Filly
Breeder/Owner: Gilbert G. Campbell
Trainer: Kathleen O’Connell

SAHARA SKY
Florida-Bred Champion Male Sprinter
Breeder: Martin Stabled Inc.
Owners: Jerry Hollendorfer & Sweetwater Stable (Kim Lloyd)
Trainer: Jerry Hollendorfer

JERANIMO
Florida-Bred Champion Male Turf Horse
Breeder: BryLynn Farm
Owners: B.J. Wright & Robert V. LaPenta
Trainer: Michael Pender

FTBOA