Mario Lorito Thoroughbred Training
Thoroughbred breaking and training out of Ocala, Florida — more than 30 years on Tampa Bay Downs, Gulfstream Park, and the yearling-to-2YO sale pipeline.
A Career Rooted in
Ocala
Mario's love for horses began in his teen years on a local farm in the horse capital of the world. He started as a groom, learned breaking and training on the job, and built a career around patience and the long game.
He served as an assistant trainer to JJ Pletcher — a chapter that included the breaking and early training of Scat Daddy — and later worked with Wesley Ward before running his own barn.
Breaking Thoroughbred Race Horses
Breaking lays the foundation for the rest of a racehorse's life — every later stage is built on it. When you've put five, six, or seven figures into a young horse, you need to trust it was broken properly.
Done right, breaking is also the difference between a young horse that gets pushed to the back of a yearling sale and one that returns to auction at many times the price — and between a modest pedigree that never amounts to anything and one that places in graded stakes.
Two horses from the barn tell the story.
See the full recordarrow_forwardBought as a yearling for $50K in September 2022. Broken by Mario. Sold as a 2YO in training for $700K — seven months later.
A homebred by a $2,500 stud fee. Mario broke the horse, and Top Official went on to be multiple graded stakes placed.
Career Hallmarks
Breaking & Training Scat Daddy
As assistant to JJ Pletcher, Mario was involved in the breaking and training of Scat Daddy, who went on to become a prominent racehorse and influential stallion.
Gulfstream Park
A regular circuit stop. Florida's flagship winter meet.
Tampa Bay Downs
Where Mario has run numerous horses, year after year.
Assistant Trainer Lineage
Worked under JJ Pletcher (Scat Daddy era) and alongside Wesley Ward before running his own barn — a hands-on apprenticeship in two of the most respected operations in the sport.
Read the full storyarrow_forward
Frequently Asked Questions
- What is ML Thoroughbreds?
- ML Thoroughbreds is the thoroughbred training operation of Mario Lorito, based in Ocala, Florida. It specializes in breaking thoroughbred race horses, along with conditioning and race-day management, and predominantly campaigns at Tampa Bay Downs and Gulfstream Park.
- Where is ML Thoroughbreds located?
- ML Thoroughbreds is based in Ocala, Florida — the horse capital of the world. Mario Lorito has worked out of the Ocala area since he started in the industry as a teenager.
- Who is Mario Lorito?
- Mario Lorito is a thoroughbred trainer with over 30 years in the industry. He started as a groom on an Ocala farm, learned breaking and training there, and served as an assistant trainer to JJ Pletcher — a chapter that included the breaking and early training of Scat Daddy — and later to Wesley Ward, before running his own barn.
- What does Mario Lorito specialize in?
- Breaking thoroughbred race horses. Mario also offers conditioning and race-day management, but breaking young horses — preparing yearlings for 2YO-in-training sales and getting homebreds ready for the track — is what the barn is best known for.
- What does it mean to break a thoroughbred race horse?
- Breaking is the process of introducing a young, unhandled thoroughbred to tack, the saddle, a rider, and the racetrack at the horse's own pace. Done well, it produces a calm, focused horse that moves through every later stage of training faster and sounder. A poorly broken horse can carry problems for the rest of its career.
- Has Mario Lorito broken any notable horses?
- Yes. As an assistant to JJ Pletcher he was involved with the breaking and training of Scat Daddy, who became a prominent racehorse and stallion. More recently his barn broke Wynstock — a yearling bought for $50,000 in September 2022 that sold as a 2YO in training for $700,000 seven months later — and Top Official, a homebred by a $2,500 stud fee that went on to be multiple graded stakes placed.
- What racetracks does Mario Lorito run horses at?
- Predominantly Tampa Bay Downs and Gulfstream Park in Florida. Although Mario has traveled the circuit, he chooses to stay in Florida and has run numerous horses there with a high win percentage.
- How do I send a horse to Mario Lorito or contact ML Thoroughbreds?
- Email mariolorito@gmail.com or call (352) 497-7053. You can also use the contact form on this site. The barn takes a limited number of horses, so it is best to reach out directly to discuss availability.