Photo Caption: Little Mike ©Laura Battles

2012 Breeders’ Cup Turf and Arlington Million winner Little Mike was 2nd ranked by eanings in North America that year, out-earning even Wise Dan. Bred in Florida by Carlo Vaccarezza, owned by Priscilla Vaccarezza, and trained for most of his career by Dale Romans, he won the 2011 Ft. Lauderdale Stakes (G3), Canadian Turf Stakes (G3)—in which future Old Friends retiree Yankee Fourtune ran third—and the Emirates Airlines Appleton Stakes (G3) at Gulfstream Park with Joe Bravo in the saddle. He opened 2012 by taking the Florida Sunshine Millions Turf and repeating his Canadian Turf Stakes wins. On Derby Day Little Mike won the Grade 1 Woodford Reserve at Churchill Downs under Joe Bravo, and that summer captured the Arlington Million (G1) wire to wire with Ramon Dominguez up. He crowned a spectacular year with the Breeders’ Cup Turf (G1), again with Ramon Dominguez. The 2013 Joe Hirsch Turf Classic (G1) at Belmont belonged to a partnership of two of the greatest Mikes in racing, Little Mike and Mike Smith. In 2014, conditioned by Carlo Vaccarezza, Little Mike won a race dear to Old Friends hearts, the Flying Pidgeon Stakes, with Elvis Trujilo up. A 2016 comeback was mooted, but when the Vaccarezzas determined that his best interests were served by retirement, they generously donated Little Mike to Old Friends. With a whopping 14 wins out of 30 starts and earnings of $3,543,392, Little Mike showed not only talent but gameness and remarkable strategic versatility. In retirement he shows an admirable level-headedness and lovable kindness. Share sheet info – click here. Donate to sponsor Little Mike. Receive a certificate and 8×10 photo