South Florida owner/breeder Carlo Vaccarezza got his first win as a trainer Feb. 9 when first-time starter Little Alexis won a $47,000 maiden special weight event at Gulfstream Park.
Vaccarezza is the breeder of Little Mike, Florida's 2012 horse of the year and winner of four grade I stakes including the Breeders' Cup Turf (gr. IT) at Santa Anita Park. The 7-year-old gelding runs in the name of Priscilla Vaccarezza, Carlo's wife, and is trained by Dale Romans.
The 3-year-old daughter of Mr. Greeley out of the Giant's Causeway mare Dream Child is owned by Little Dreams Racing, a partnership stable formed by Vaccarezza, Romans, and John Williams in April 2013. The partners retain 20% collectively in each horse in the stable and allow partners to buy in for as little as 1% of a horse's purchase price.
Little Dreams has 12 horses stabled at Gulfstream and nine horses in training at Crupi's New Castle Farm near Ocala, Fla., which is owned by Jim Crupi.
Late last year Vaccarezza assumed the training of all Little Dreams' horses and several horses other than Little Mike, who remains in Romans' barn.
"I want everyone to know that I did not have a falling out with Dale," Vaccarezza said. "Dale is one of my best friends and he encouraged me to become a trainer. I am at the track at 5 a.m. every day, anyway. I have more time now because I have sold my stakes in six restaurants."
Vaccarezza remains an owner of Frank & Dino's, a restaurant in Deerfield Beach, Fla.
Little Alexis was the highest price in the field at 23-1. She beat Todd Pletcher trainee and second choice My Miss Sophia by 1 3/4 lengths in the 5 1/2-furlong dirt race. The filly was ridden by Alex Solis and won in 1:02.85 on a track listed as fast.
