Christine Jones

Running a breeding shed efficiently and effectively takes a certain level of teamwork. Really, it takes a lot of the same characteristics found in any strong relationship. So it's no surprise, then, that the husband-and-wife duo of Roberto and Leticia Vera manages the shed at Pleasant Acres Stallions with such ease, proving that both professionally and personally, the best teams are built on mutual trust, understanding and sometimes, a whole lot of patience. For the past two years, Roberto and Leticia have made up the two-person team behind a roster...

Pleasant Acres Stallions has introduced a Florida-Bred Excellence Program with three financial options designed to give Florida breeders flexibility and support for the 2025 breeding season. The program's three options are: DOUBLE PLAY, LIFETIME STAY: Allows breeders to choose a preferred stallion from a selection of five standing at Pleasant Acres and then breed one or more mares in consecutive years (2025-2026) to that stallion, pay stud fees within 30 days of foals standing and nursing, register the foals with The Jockey Club, and then receive a lifetime breeding right...

The first mares have been reported in foal to multiple graded stakes winner Mr Fisk (Arrogate--Plein Air {Ire}, by Manduro {Ger}) and to graded winner Champions Dream (Justify--Dancinginherdreams, by Tapit). Both stallions are standing their first season at stud at Pleasant Acres Stallions in Morriston, Florida. Mr Fisk, who won the 2024 GII Hollywood Gold Cup, as well as last year's GIII Californian Stakes and the 2023 GIII Native Diver Stakes, stands for $8,500, live foal. Champions Dream, winner of the 2022 GIII Nashua Stakes, stands for $5,000, live foal....

Verifying (Justify), who stands at Florida's Pleasant Acres Stallions, was represented by his first foal when a filly was born Jan. 25. The filly is out of the Malibu Moon mare Selective Memory and owned by Belvedere Farm. "There is so much to say about Verifying and the potential for his progeny to take the racing industry by storm," said Director of Stallion Services Christine Jones. "A half-brother to 6x Grade I winner Midnight Bisou, Verifying is a dual hemisphere stallion who had a very successful breeding debut in Florida...

Graded stakes winner Simplification (Not This Time--Simply Confection, by Candy Ride {Arg}) was represented by his first foal when Calidad (Quality Road) produced a colt Jan. 17. The foal is owned by First Finds Farm and Brittany Updike. "Simplification is a good-looking, classy stallion. His first foal is exactly what we expected--strong, healthy, good bone, and great conformation," said Pleasant Acres Stallions' director of stallion services Christine Jones. "What a brilliant way to start his career as a stallion. We expect big things for his future." Simplification won the 2022...

This spring's GII Hollywood Gold Cup Stakes winner Mr Fisk (Arrogate--Plein Air {Ire}, by Manduro {Ger}) has officially been retired from racing and will stand the 2025 season at Pleasant Acres Stallions near Morriston, Florida. The Bob Baffert trainee was on a two-race graded win streak after victories in the Gold Cup in late May and the GIII Californian Stakes in April when it was discovered he'd suffered a condylar fracture and subsequently had surgery. The decision was eventually made to retire him rather than bring him back to the...

The four first-year stallions at Pleasant Acres Stallions in Florida--Verifying, Doppelganger, Simplification, and Chess Chief--as well as Bodexpress, who is new to Florida after standing three years in California, all have had multiple mares confirmed in foal to kick off their stud careers. "Since the breeding shed opened this season, we have had a very active stallion barn," said Christine Jones, the farm's director of stallion services. "We have recently received confirmation that all five of our exciting new stallions have mares in foal, so we are off to a...

Pleasant Acres Farm outside of Morriston, Florida launched its stallion division in 2013 with the vision of bringing top-class sires to the Sunshine State. Over a decade later, the operation founded by Joe and Helen Barbazon is still working toward that same goal. This year they've provided a major boost to the Florida stallion ranks with the addition of five newcomers for 2024, bringing their stallion roster up to a total count of 13 members. With his first-crop of 2-year-olds hitting the track this year, Bodexpress (Bodemeister) has relocated from...

GSW Magic on Tap (Tapit) is celebrating his first foal--a filly out Sea Gazer (Tiznow)--who arrived just after midnight Jan. 17 for breeder Scott Miller, Pleasant Acres Stallions said in a Thursday release. Sea Gazer's dam Seafree (Chief Seattle) collected four wins including the GII La Canada S. and was third in the GI Santa Margarita Invitational H. She produced MSW Interest Free (Exchange Rate) who is responsible for SW Market Analysis (Honor Code). Seafree is a half-sister to GI Belmont S. and GI Travers S. runner-up Fly Down (Mineshaft)....

Pleasant Acres Stallions welcomed to its roster GISP Simplification (Not This Time), who will stand the 2024 season for $6,500, the Florida farm said in a release Thursday. "We are pleased to bring a talented son of Not this Time into our stallion barn at Pleasant Acres Stallions," said Director of Stallion Services Christine Jones. "Simplification is a hometown hero for all of us in Florida and we are certain breeders will benefit from breeding to this Champion Horse-of-the-Year, Florida-bred, graded stakes winner." Bred by France and Irwin Weiner and...

Graded stakes winner Mutasaabeq (Into Mischief--Downside Scenario, by Scat Daddy) has arrived at Pleasant Acres Stallions in Morriston, Florida where he will stand his first season at stud for a fee of $6,500. Tabbed a 'TDN Rising Star' following his debut win at Saratoga in 2020, Mutasaabeq was third in the GI Runhappy Hopeful S. in his second career outing before winning the GII Bourbon S. over the turf at Keeneland for Shadwell Stable and trainer Todd Pletcher. He added a win in the Mucho Macho Man S. in his...