Mark Giordano, Joe Pesci and Wesley Ward's Pesci heads a list of 21 nominees for the fifteenth running of the $40,000 Florida Breeders' Distaff Stakes. The 1 1/16-th-mile race for fillies and mares three and up will be run at the Ocala Breeders' Sales Company grounds on Monday, March 15, as part of the OBS annual Day of Champions race card.

The 4-year-old Florida-bred daughter of Stormy Atlantic  , named for her Academy Award winning co-owner, won her first two starts in impressive fashion before a sub-par effort in the Sunshine Millions Distaff at Gulfstream on Jan. 24 due to eye injury sustained during the race.

J.D. Farms' Secret Request, winner of the Sunshine Millions Distaff, has also been nominated to the Florida Breeders' Distaff by trainer David Brownlee. Centaur Farms' multiple stakes winner Redoubled Miss, fourth in the same race for trainer Ron Spatz, is also on the list of nominees.

Carolyn Chapman & Theresa McArthur's millionaire graded stakes winner Western Pride (by Way West ) heads 23 nominees to the ninth running of the $40,000 Florida Thoroughbred Charities Stakes, run on the same afternoon. The five-furlong race for horses three and up is restricted to the progeny of 124 different stallions whose seasons were offered at the 2000 Florida Thoroughbred Charities Live Auction at OBS and the Silent Auction at the Ramada Inn.

Entries for both races will be taken Monday, March 8 from 8 a.m. until 2 p.m. along with entries for the two $50,000 divisions of the OBS Sprint and two $100,000 divisions of the OBS Championship Stakes. Entries may be made either at the OBS office or at racing secretary Richard Coyne's office adjoining the paddock at the OBS racetrack. The racing secretary's office may be reached by phone at (352) 237-7119 or (352) 237-8149.

Condition books, nominations lists ofeligible horses are available at the OBS office or in the OBS web site at http://www.obssales.com.

The complete list of nominees for both races:

Florida Breeders' Distaff Stakes
Purse: 40,000 Sponsored By The Florida Breeders' And Owners Association (Registered Florida Breds Preferred)
Monday, March 15, 2004, 8 1/2 furlongs
Entries Close Monday March 8, 2004 at 2:00 pm

Horse, Owner, Trainer, Florida Bred
Angela's Love, Vicki & Bill Poston, Dale Romans, N
Baiser D'Amour, Bruno Schickedanz, Henry Collazo, Y
Bonus Extra, Town & Country Stable, William Cesare, Y
Dakota Light, J.D. Farms, David Brownlee, Y
Doc's Doll, James & Virginia Gamble, Phil Gleaves, N
Duchess Of Cocoa, M375 Thoroughbreds, Joseph Waunsch, N
Fidget, Sullivan Lane Stable, Richard Dutrow, N
Groom's Kiss, Joseph Arango, Walter Rosas-Canessa, Y
I Match Too, Volar Corp., Ronald Allen, N
Joyful Ballad, Glen Hill Farm, Thomas Proctor, Y
Kiss Me Twice, Franks Farm, Terri Pompay, Y
Mecke's Princess, John J. Pompay, Terri Pompay, Y
Pesci, Giordano, Pesci & Ward, Wesley Ward, Y
Proud American, Donald Dizney, Kathleen O'Connell, Y
Redoubled Miss, Centaur Farm, Ronald Spatz, Y
Romancin Dixie, Dorothy Leonard, Dorothy Leonard, Y
Secret Request, J.D. Farms, David Brownlee, Y
Sniffles, Darren Jablow, Greg Griffith, Y
Tutti Fratelli, Donald Dizney, Kathleen O'Connell, Y
Whatever I Want, Michael Mc Quade, Gerald Bennett, N
Willa Cather, River Oaks Farm & Hicklin Farms, Judy Hicklin, N

Florida Thoroughbred Charities Stakes, Purse: $40,000
Monday, March 15, 2004, five furlongs
Entries Close Monday, March 8, 2004 By 2:00 pm