ONTARIO COUNTY STAKES TO BE RUN SATURDAY AT FINGER LAKES
Contact: David Mattice
Publicity Dept.
585-924-3232 x234
FARMINGTON, N.Y. – The 26th renewal of the $50,000 Ontario County Stakes is scheduled to be run on Saturday at Finger Lakes Gaming and Racetrack. A competitive field of 3-year-old New York-breds will compete in the eighth race at a distance of six furlongs.
Trinity Magic has never lost in a race restricted for New York-breds but has not made a start since finishing ninth in the $750,000 Grade 3 Delta Jackpot Stakes at Delta Downs in Vinton, Louisiana. The Steve Asmussen-trainee won both the $100,000 B.F. Bongard Stakes on September 21, 2008 and the $100,000 Sleepy Hollow Stakes on October 18, 2008. The victories were achieved at Belmont Park at longer distances. The $158,040 earner won three of his four starts as a 2-year-old before being put on the shelf. John Grabowski will be vying for his ninth career win of the Ontario County Stakes aboard the lone stakes winner in the field of five.
Two horses from the Chris Englehart stable were supplemented into the annual sprint with nomination fees of $1,000 each. Both Smokin Hero and Early Response were multiple length winners in their most recent starts. The two geldings will run uncoupled in Saturday’s feature. Smokin Hero, the 6-5 morning line favorite for the feature event, will be ridden by John Davila, Jr. A jockey has not been announced for Early Response.
The $50,000 Ontario County Stakes is scheduled as the eighth of Saturday’s nine race card. First race post time will be at 1:10 p.m. Gaming doors open at 10:00 a.m. and racing gates open at 11:30 a.m.
