If Harry T. Mangurian Jr. subscribes to the theory it's best to go out on top, he is a perfect illustration of those words in action. The leading breeder of 1999 repeated the feat in 2000. Ironically, in 2001 the last of Mangurian's breeding stock will be dispersed, a process he began in October of 1999. Mangurian, 73, put the liquidation in motion in part because he and his wife, Dottie, want to spend more time at their Ft. Lauderdale home, rather than at their Mockingbird Farm near Ocala, Fla. In 1972, Mangurian made three moves that continue to impact his life today. That year, he bought Desert Vixen, her dam Desert Trial, and Mockingbird Farm. Desert Vixen went on to win Eclipse Awards as champion 3-year-old filly in 1973 and as older female in 1974; Desert Trial later produced Valid Appeal, who has sired 85 stakes winners, many for Mangurian; and Mockingbird Farm grew to 1,100 acres. Since then, Mangurian has been represented as the breeder or owner of more than 100 stakes winners, and in 2000 alone, turned out eight winners of group or graded events and 17 other added-money winners in either his or the Mockingbird name. Topping that list is Successful Appeal, a multiple grade II winner who has eight wins in 22 starts and $654,681 in earnings. Trippi, who has only raced one year, follows closely with $620,500. The impressive thing about those two horses' statistics, when compared with Mangurian's year-end numbers, is the fact the breeder could still top the table without including the earnings of either of those horses. His success is so widespread -- this year, with statistics through Dec. 26, it included 339 starters making 3,131 starts, bringing home the winner's share of the purse 486 times for a total of $10,601,560 -- it ranges from his five 2-year-old stakes winners to 6-year-old Thatsusintheolbean. Topping the charts is nothing new to Mangurian. He was named Florida breeder of the year in 1992, 1999, and 2000; in 1998 he was honored as national breeder of the year by the Thoroughbred Owners and Breeders Association; and in 1999 was one of three finalists for the Eclipse Award as outstanding breeder. Mangurian's withdrawal from Florida's breeding industry will leave a void that will be tough to fill. In 1998, his 244 foals represented 7% of all Thoroughbreds produced in Florida. He has been a longtime supporter of the Florida Stallion Stakes program, which appropriately, has a filly division named for Desert Vixen. He has also stood some of the state's top studs. End Sweep and Valid Appeal, two of a number of stallions all but made by Mangurian, together sired 15 of the 25 stakes winners on Mangurian's 2000 résumé. End Sweep, who was represented by a record 31 juvenile winners in 1998, is the leading third-crop sire of 2000 with earnings of $4,810,882. He joined the Mockingbird roster in 1995 and stayed there until after the 1999 season, when he was sold to Australian interests. He now stands at Arrowfield Stud. Valid Appeal still resides at the farm, but was pensioned in 1997. Mangurian's numbers in the owner category certainly point to his concentration on the commercial market. Of the 24 stakes winners of 2000 bred in his name or the farm's, only three raced in his name. Although Mangurian's breeding operation is winding down -- he once owned more than 300 broodmares -- he is not ending his involvement with Thoroughbreds. He and advisor Mark Casse continue to pinhook in the Century Ventures name and he still has horses in training.
Leading 2000 BreedersLeading 2000 Breeders--Including Partnerships
