Emmanuel Tortora      Birthdate: Feb. 10, 1936      Birthplace: West Palm Beach, Fla.      Residence: Pembroke Pines, Fla.      Family: wife, Jacqueline; daughter, Toni; sons, Rick and Steve.

2008 Gulfstream Record

 Career:

• Veteran South Florida horseman is the all-time leading trainer by races-won at Calder and is in that track’s Hall of Fame in 1988
• Trained Supah Blitz, who he also co-bred and co-owned (under the name of his Equitor Farms) to in-the-money performances in the 2003 Fountain of Youth, Florida Derby and Aventura Stakes at Gulfstream 
• Best known for his work with Mecke, the durable handicap horse who retired in 1997 after having won nice stakes and earned over $2.4 million 
• Mecke was a Grade 1 winner on both dirt and turf, his three Grade 1s coming in the 1995 Super Derby and the 1996 Arlington Million and Early Times Turf Classic
• Sent out Boots ‘n Jackie to run third in the 1992 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies at Gulfstream
• That same year won Sorority Stakes at Monmouth with Hollywood Wildcat and Alabama Derby with Always Silver
• Captured the 2002 Hutcheson with Showmeitall and the Deputy Minister Handicap Fappie’s Notebook
• Swept 1994 Florida Stallion Stakes series with two horses, Mecke and Sea Emperor
• Has also started more runners in that series than any other trainer and is second (to Frank Gomez) in wins with 10, including 2008 runner Hypocrite, who was a two-time stakes winner at Calder last year.

Other: Rode quarter-horses as youth in 1940s in West Palm Beach ... Began professional involvement working at several Marion County farms, including Florida’s first thoroughbred operation Rosemere, Dickey Stables, and Bonnie Heath Farm ... Served as general manager at latter for more than five years before taking out trainer’s license in 1970 ... Owns 60-acre Equitor Farm, managed by sons, in Ocala ... Son Rick is married to former jockey Mary Russ.