A pair of rich races for New York-bred 2-year-olds, which lead toward an even more lucrative local prize, highlight four stakes on a strong Monday card at Finger Lakes.
The $100,000 Aspirant and its sister race, the $100,000 Lady Finger, are the local preps toward the $200,000 New York Breeders’ Futurity on Oct. 13 at Finger Lakes – not only the richest race of the track’s season, but one of the richest races for the statebred 2-year-old division this fall. Only the Sleepy Hollow and Maid of the Mist, both Oct. 25 at Aqueduct, match the $200,000 purse. The Aspirant and Lady Finger offer their respective winners free entry into the Futurity.
The Aspirant will be a step forward to establish credentials within the division, as none of the colts and geldings in this field of 10 have yet started in anything other than a maiden race. Arctic Beast is coming off a hard-fought debut win Aug. 15 at Saratoga for Mike Maker. The son of leading freshman sire Yaupon dueled early for the lead with Diamond Life and disposed of that one, who faded to last. He then held off a rally from favored Valentine Crusader to win by a nose, those two more than seven lengths clear of the rest of the field.
Arctic Beast earned a Beyer Speed Figure of 82, by far the best number in this field, and cuts back from the six furlongs of his debut to 5 1/2 for the Aspirant.
The next-highest Beyer in the field, but 20 points behind, is Party in the Army, who earned a 62 when second in his Saratoga debut on Aug. 29. The colt chased the pace, made the lead, and finished willingly despite being unable to hold off Stickupwithoutgun. He also cuts back from six furlongs.
Diamond Child, fifth on debut at Saratoga, was sharper with a front-running effort to win a Finger Lakes maiden by 3 3/4 lengths on Aug. 11. High Yield Hunk won his debut on Sept. 9 at Finger Lakes.
Chioke, Hey Pal, and Instant Success – all maidens – and the debut starters A Bit Raggity, Takahama, and The Last Delivery complete the field.
Lady Finger
The Lady Finger is intriguing in that it has a runner with some stakes form, but she does not tower above the field from a figures perspective.
Oriole Way won her debut in June at Monmouth against open company. She then was second by 6 3/4 lengths in the Seeking the Ante for statebreds on Aug. 22 at Saratoga. She earned a 65 Beyer, a number that has been matched or exceeded by three others in this field.
The top number belongs to another Maker trainee, Oh, a daughter of Honest Mischief, New York’s leading freshman sire last year. The filly earned a 71 in her debut on Aug. 28 at Saratoga, when she held a four-length lead in the stretch and ultimately held on to win by half a length. Like stablemate Arctic Beast, she is cutting back slightly from six furlongs here.
Mobelladream won her Aug. 25 debut at Finger Lakes with a 65 Beyer, a strong number for the local division, and Margarita Molly matched the figure when third on debut at Saratoga. Completing the field are Finger Lakes debut winner Lovely Pashyn; the maidens Felix’s Flower and Signal Chat, who have changed barns and are making their first starts for Rachel Sells; and the first-time starters Honest Reason and Liberty’s Advance.
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Ontario County
Monday’s card also co-features the $50,000 Ontario County and its sister race, the $50,000 Niagara, both for New York-bred 3-year-olds sprinting.
In the Ontario County, Hit the Post looks to cash in on the promise he showed earlier this year. As a first-time gelding and with first-time Lasix, he was a 6 3/4-length maiden winner against older runners in June in his first start of the year for Melanie Giddings. That race came at seven furlongs. Going two turns and not running on Lasix, he was second in the New York Derby at Finger Lakes and third in the Albany at Saratoga. He cuts back in distance here and seemingly faces softer company in this field of six.
Niagara
Mischief Lady and Idyll Gossip, both stakes winners against their fellow New York-breds, showed a preference for the local surface when second and third, respectively, in the Lady Finger on this card last year. Both are entered in the Niagara.
Idyll Gossip has continued to show a liking for this track. Her biggest win came in the Shesastonecoldfox last year, and is coming off a local allowance win.
Mischief Lady cuts back in distance after setting the pace and fading to fourth in the New York Oaks. She could get company on the front end from She’s Grand, who is making her stakes debut off three straight wins at Finger Lakes.
Zi End won five of her first six starts before finishing fourth against older runners in the Arctic Queen in her stakes debut. She can lead or be just off the pace and is well drawn outside to watch the developing duel inside her.
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