The 2024 Florida-bred champions were honored at the Florida Thoroughbred Breeders' and Owners' Association (FTBOA) Awards Gala Monday night, and MGSW Mystic Lake (Mo Town) topped them all as she was crowned the Florida-bred Horse of the Year.
In addition to taking home top prize, the filly also claimed the champion 3-year-old filly and female sprinter titles after assembling a 2024 resume which included wins in the GIII Miss Preakness Stakes and the GII Charles Town Oaks as well as three Listed/Black-type races.
Mystic Lake's breeder Peggy Costanzo was presented with the 2024 Needles Award which recognizes the Small Breeder of the Year in Florida. The Florida Breeder of the Year title went to Marilyn Campbell's Stonehedge LLC for the fifth time since the operation was first honored in 1997. Stonehedge boasted 2024 earnings of over $2.9-million with 33 wins, 67 seconds, and 67 thirds from 601 starts.
Charlotte Weber's Live Oak Plantation was named leading owner of Florida-breds for the seventh time after first garnering the honor in 2011. They took home the trophy for the 2024 champion older male and male turf horse, Forever Souper (American Pharoah). Undefeated Rated by Merit (Battalion Runner), whose name had been tossed around in conversations centered around the major Spring classics at one point, took home the title for champion juvenile colt.
For a record fifth consecutive year, Khozan was named Florida Stallion of the Year with progeny earnings of over $5.6-million, surpassing Montbrook and Wildcat Heir with four each. He stood the 2024 season at Journeyman Stud and the 2025 season at Ocala Stud.
A full list of the winners is below:
Horse of the Year: Mystic Lake
Champion 2-year-old Filly: Nooni (Win Win Win)
Champion 2-year-old Colt: Rated By Merit
Champion 3-year-old Filly: Mystic Lake
Champion 3-year-old Colt: Bentornato (Valiant Minister)
Champion Older Male: Forever Souper
Champion Older Female: Spirit Wind (Bahamian Squall)
Champion Turf Male: Forever Souper
Champion Turf Female: Dancing N Dixie (Neolithic)
Champion Male Sprinter: Bentornato
Champion Female Sprinter: Mystic Lake
Stallion of the Year: Khozan
Broodmare of the Year: Points of Grace (Point of Entry)
Leading Freshman Sire/Juvenile Sire: Win Win Win
Small Breeder of the Year: Peggy Costanzo
Breeder of the Year: Stonehedge LLC
Leading Trainer: Saffie Joseph Jr.
Leading Owner: Live Oak Plantation
Joseph M. O'Farrell Memorial Award: Tom McCrocklin & Francis and Barbara Vanlangendonck's Summerfield
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