FTBOA Awards announced

The Florida Thoroughbred Breeders' and Owners' Association (FTBOA) announced the eight divisional

Florida-bred champions for 2004 on Wednesday. The honors will be presented at the

45th Annual FTBOA Awards Dinner at the Hilton Ocala in Ocala, Florida, on March 20.

The Florida Horse, Breeder, Stallion and Broodmare of the Year will be announced

at the awards ceremony.

SOUTHERN IMAGE (Halo's Image) was named champion older male after a

remarkable four-year-old campaign in which the dark bay won two prestigious

events, the Santa Anita H. (G1) and the Pimlico Special H (G1). The

Michael Machowsky charge finished the season with a record of 4-3-1-0 and earnings

of $1,612,150. The second-place finish occurred in the Stephen Foster H. (G1) at

Churchill Downs.

Champion older female honors went to LADY TAK (Mutakddim), who won the

Ballerina H. (G1) and Gallant Bloom H. (G2). She was bred by the late John

Franks, one of Florida's most well-known breeders.

AFLEET ALEX (Northern Afleet) and SPLENDID BLENDED

(Unbridled's Song) were named Florida-bred champions for their juvenile

campaigns, while LIMEHOUSE (Grand Slam) and HOPELESSLY DEVOTED (Storm

Creek) were named champion three-year-old male and female, respectively.

MIDAS EYES (Touch Gold) garnered champion sprinter honors

and the nearly-white STAR OVER THE BAY (Cozzene) was named champion turf horse.