Florida-Breds Surpass Last Year's Graded Stakes Tally

Florida-bred Thoroughbreds have won 15 graded stakes in 2025, exceeding last year's yearly total of 13, according to an Aug. 5 release from the Florida Thoroughbred Breeders' and Owners' Association. Those bred in the Sunshine State have further accounted for 49 wins in unrestricted black-type stakes races, with last year's tally of 64 within reach over the next five months. Florida is the leading regional breeding program in North America outside Kentucky. Florida-bred Dorth Vader, a 5-year-old mare who races for breeder John Ropes of Fort Lauderdale, Fla., is among the most accomplished Florida-breds this year with her nearly five-length win in the $485,000 Ogden Phipps Stakes (G1) at Saratoga Race Course June 6. With $918,218 in career earnings, Dorth Vader is on the verge of becoming the 187th Florida-bred millionaire. Dorth Vader is one of six Florida-breds to win stakes so far this year at the prestigious Saratoga meet. Others include the undefeated 2-year-old Arindel homebred Mythical, the first filly since 1995 to defeat her male counterparts in the $145,500 Tremont Stakes and winner of the Aug. 3 Adirondack stakes (G3); Live Oak Plantation homebred Bring Theband Home, winner of the $150,000 Harvey Pack Stakes in swift time and Sunday's Troy Stakes (G2T); and Halina's Forte, who topped a Florida-bred exacta with R Disaster in the $200,000 Honorable Miss Stakes (G2). Halina's Forte races for Rigney Racing and was bred in Florida by Bill and Corinne Heiligbrodt and Francis and Barbara Vanlangendonck. Another Florida-bred of note is Queen Maxima, a three-time stakes winner this year who set a course record when winning the $329,500 Unbridled Sidney Stakes (G3T) at Churchill Downs, covering 5 1/2 furlongs on a "good" turf course in 1:01.29. Queen Maxima races in the colors of Dutch Girl Holdings and Irving Ventures and was bred by Saul Rosas. Florida-breds have won stakes at 17 tracks in 14 different states and Canada to date in 2025, FTOBA added.