A victory or two at this year's Breeders' Cup World Thoroughbred Championships at Santa Anita Oct. 25 would provide a storybook ending to what has been a highlight reel of a season for Florida-breds. It's an ideal day to shine in the spotlight with the eyes of the racing world watching. As of this writing, the Sunshine State may be represented by as many as six starters on racing's biggest day.

	Shake You Down and jockey Mike Luzzi go wire to wire in the Bold Ruler.

Florida's best opportunity for a victory may rest squarely on the shoulders of Shake You Down and Valid Video who are pointing to the Breeders' Cup Sprint (G1). Both runners have proved themselves repeatedly in 2003 and with graded stakes scores to their credit, respectively, have legitimate credentials to pull off a win.

Shake You Down, bred by Michael O'Farrell's Ocala Stud Farm, races for Robert Cole Jr. and is conditioned by Scott Lake. The son of Montbrook, claimed by Lake for $65,000 in April, rattled off five consecutive wins earlier this year before finishing fourth in the sloppy going in the Alfred G. Vanderbilt Handicap (G2) at Saratoga in August.

Since being claimed, Shake You Down has captured the Bold Ruler Handicap (G2), the True North Breeders' Cup Handicap (G2) and the Smile Sprint Handicap (G3) at Calder. All told, Shake You Down has won 13 of 33 starts and earned $743,360.

Valid Video, the first grade-one winner for Florida breeder Casey Seaman, is also headed to the Sprint for owner Mack Fehsenfeld and Ocala-based conditioner Dennis Manning. Winner this year of the King's Bishop Stakes (G1) at Saratoga, as well as the Carry Back Stakes (G3), the Ocala Stud Dash on the Sunshine Millions card, and the OBS Sprint Stakes, the son of Valid Wager boasts earnings of $565,700. He has won six of his nine career starts, including the Sapling Stakes (G3) at two.

Peace Rules has enjoyed a dynamite season in 2003. The chestnut son of deceased stallion Jules captured the Blue Grass Stakes (G1) and the Haskell Invitational (G1) this year. He also finished second to Funny Cide and edged stablemate Empire Maker in the Kentucky Derby (G1). It appears as of this writing that Peace Rules is under consideration for the Breeders' Cup Mile (G1) on the turf. Peace Rules was bred in Florida by Newchance Farm and carries the colors of Edmund A. Gann.

Florida-bred Lady Tak, pointing to the Distaff, has won half of her eight starts this year and racked up earnings of $675,350 on the season thus far. All told, the John Franks-bred daughter of Mutakddim—Star of My Eye, by Lucky North, has bankrolled $716,270, having earned $40,920 going unbeaten in two starts last year at two.

This season, the chestnut filly owns wins in the Test Stakes (G1), the Fair Grounds Oaks (G2), the Tiffany Lass Stakes and the Thelma Stakes. In addition, she finished second in the Ashland Stakes (G1), Acorn Stakes (G1) and the Gazelle Handicap (G1). Owned by Heiligbrodt Racing Stable, Lady Tak is conditioned by Steve Asmussen.

Also possible for the Distaff is Spoken Fur. Bred by George A. Smith and Dr. W.E. Johnston, the gray daughter of Notebook—Siberian Fur, by Siberian Express was one victory shy of sweeping New York's Triple Tiara this year for owner Amerman Racing Stables. After impressive wins in the Coaching Club American Oaks (G1) and the Mother Goose Stakes (G1), Spoken Fur finished third to Island Fashion in the Alabama Stakes (G1) at Saratoga. The Bobby Frankel trainee returned a few weeks later, however, with a much improved effort to finish a close third to Buy the Sport and Lady Tak in the Gazelle Handicap (G1) at Belmont Park. Spoken Fur has captured five of 11 career starts and earned $675,880.

Puzzlement, winner of the Saratoga Breeders' Cup Handicap (G2) earlier this year, may show up in the Classic. The Joseph Shields homebred is consistently in the hunt against some of the top runners in training and the son of Pine Bluff should be able to get a piece of the Classic with the right trip.

Florida-breds Silver Wagon and Chapel Royal are among the top juveniles of this year's crop, although a trip to California seems out for Silver Wagon. His connections—Trainer Ralph Ziadie and owner Mahmoud Fustok of Buckram Oak Farm—have said the Breeders' Cup is not on the agenda for their gray son of Florida-bred Wagon Limit. Chapel Royal, a son of Florida's leading stallion Montbrook, was undefeated through his first three career starts, before falling to Silver Wagon in Saratoga's Hopeful Stakes (G1). The $1.2 million OBS Calder two-year-old, bred by Ocala Stud Farm, races in the colors of Michael Tabor and Derrick Smith and is trained by Todd Pletcher.

Oscar Novo's Sir Oscar, has claimed two of the three legs in this year's Florida Stallion Stakes, also ranks among some of the top juveniles based on his Calder success. The son of Halo's Image is trained by Manny Azpurura. French Village, also in line for a sweep of the fillies division of the Florida Stallion Stakes, has proven unbeatable in South Florida. The daughter of Jules, bred by Arthur Appleton, races for Eugene and Laura Melnyk and is an OBS graduate. While both appear to be top runners, the final leg of the FSS is Oct. 11, only 14 days prior to the Breeders' Cup. Wacky Patty, a daughter of Formal Dinner bred by Dr. D.W. Frazier and Suzanne Sharra Maxwell, may also resurface in the Juvenile Fillies (G1).