VOLUME 6 ISSUE 21
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Interfaith High Tea… Pg B2 MAY 23 - 29, 2025
Another historic win for Bridlewood Farm
ICE arrests are ticking up in Marion, but no sweeps or raids are envisioned By Jennifer Hunt Murty jennifer@ocalagazette.com
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ederal immigration courts in Florida have experienced some of the largest backlogs of cases in the country, numbering in the hundreds of thousands. That has left many undocumented people in Florida in limbo as they wait for the courts to schedule hearings on their petitions. While sweeps of migrants and other proactive measures are being reported elsewhere in Florida and across the U.S., there is no evidence of those steps being taken in Marion County. Any person arrested in Marion County, regardless of which law enforcement agency makes the arrest, is brought to the Marion County jail, which is operated by the Marion County Sheriff ’s Office. The “Gazette” has been monitoring the number of people arrested and released to the federal Immigration and Custom Enforcement (ICE) in Marion County since Jan. 1 and noticed an increase in the number of immigration detainees has more than doubled from this time last year. It has been the practice of local law enforcement for years to detain any undocumented individual they arrest while the department contacts federal authorities to confirm immigration status. Lt. Paul Bloom of the Marion County Sheriff ’s Office confirmed the department continues this practice of screening every person who is arrested “be that for any reason.” “If it is discovered that they are illegally in the country, ICE may or may not place a detainer on them. We have always complied with ICE detainers and depending on the local charges, the inmate is transferred to ICE within the designated time set out by the federal detainer. We do not have a special unit that See Immigration courts, page A5
Jockey Umberto Rispoli, wearing the distinctive Bridlewood Farm silks, celebrates guiding Journalism, which got his early training at the farm in Ocala, to a win in the May 17 Preakness Stakes at Pimlico Race Course. [Photo by Skip Dickstein Photography]
Journalism, who got his early training at the Ocala venue, won the Preakness Stakes by half a length. By JoAnn Guidry Special to the Gazette
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arrying the distinctive big red apple racing silks of John and Leslie Malone’s Ocala-based Bridlewood Farm, Journalism won the 151st running of the Preakness Stakes on May 17 at Pimlico Race Course in Baltimore, Maryland. In an exciting deep homestretch rally, Journalism, with jockey Umberto Rispoli in the saddle, overtook Gosger to win by half a length in 1:55.47 for the 1 3/16th-mile test. The Preakness Stakes is the middle jewel of the Triple Crown races, which also includes the Kentucky Derby and the Belmont Stakes. Journalism, who received
his early training at Bridlewood Farm prior to beginning his racing career, was second in this year’s Kentucky Derby to fellow Bridlewood Farm graduate Sovereignty. There may be a rematch of the two rivals in the Belmont Stakes on June 7 at Saratoga Race Course. Purchased for $825,000 as a yearling at the 2023 Fasig-Tipton Saratoga August sale, Journalism is co-owned by the partnership of Bridlewood Farm, Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners, Don Alberto, Robert V. LaPenta, Elayne Stables 5 LLC, Mrs. John Magnier, Michael B. Tabor and Derrick Smith. Trained by Michael W. McCarthy, Journalism has to date won five races in seven starts and banked $2,838,880.
As is the case with most partnerships, each entity’s racing silks are rotated race by race. As fate would have it, it was the Bridlewood Farm silks’ turn for the Preakness Stakes. “I was beyond thrilled for the Malones to have Journalism win in their silks,” shared longtime Bridlewood Farm general manager George Isaacs, who was at Pimlico to witness the Preakness Stakes win. “And then it was very emotional to watch the Pimlico racehorse weathervane being painted in the Bridlewood Farm silks right after the race. It was all so surreal.” Bridlewood Farm has deep roots in the Ocala/Marion County thoroughbred See Bridlewood Farm, page A4
Next steps for MCPS Interim Superintendent Danielle Brewer Priorities include improving communications districtwide and building trust, a collaborative student-first environment and putting the right people in the right roles. By Lauren Morrish lauren@ocalagazette.com
Danielle Brewer, Marion County Public Schools Interim Superintendent, speaks during a Marion County School Board meeting in the auditorium at Marion Technical Institute in Ocala, Fla. on Tuesday, May 13, 2025. [Photo by Bruce Ackerman/Ocala Gazette]
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ewly named Marion County Public Schools Interim Superintendent Danielle Brewer shared her thoughts with the “Gazette” about assuming the position and the districtwide issues she plans to address.
When Brewer was selected for the job, she said, “My first thought was how excited I was for our school community and for our community, that a local leader would be at the helm, who truly knows the students, teachers, schools and community better than an outside candidate.” Although Brewer wasn’t the top-rated pick for a few of
the school district members, she said she has received an “overwhelming” positive response from school leaders and businesses that makes her feel proud to know that she, a local representative, is what they wanted. Brewer will serve in the role of interim superintendent for a year, three months of which will
be a transition period for her to shadow outgoing superintendent Diane Gullett. Gullett will retain control over district operations until the end of her term on July 11. During this time, Brewer will have the opportunity to recommend candidates for any job vacancies in the district. See Danielle Brewer, page A3
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Strong Families............................. A6 Black bear hunt OK'd................... A8 Halo Law arrest............................ A9 Free summer meals...................... B5 Calendar......................................... B6
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