STAKES SEASON KICKS OFF ON MONDAY

May 26, 2007

Contact: David Mattice

Publicity Dept.

585-924-3232 x234  

NEWS RELEASE

FARMINGTON, N.Y. – The 2007 stakes season at Finger Lakes Gaming and Racetrack will get underway on Monday with the 24th renewal of the $50,000 George W. Barker Handicap. The six furlong sprint that is restricted for New York-breds is set to run as the eighth of the nine-race Memorial Day card.

Last year’s Horse of the Year Johnie Bye Night will return from Aqueduct trying to keep his undefeated record at Finger Lakes intact. The 5-year-old gelding won the 2006 George Barker Handicap by five and one-quarter lengths in a stakes record time of 1:09.34. He also established the fastest times for the $50,000 Wadsworth Memorial Handicap and the $50,000 Leon Reed Memorial Handicap last season. John Davila, Jr. will be in the in the irons vying for his 27th career stakes victory.

Charlton Baker, the owner and trainer of Johnie Bye Night, will attempt to saddle the winner of the Memorial Day feature for the fourth consecutive year. Baker won the 2004 and 2005 running of the New York-bred dash with Top Shoter.

Scary Bob is listed as the 122 pound highweight for trainer Chris Englehart. The 6-year-old gelding boasts the highest lifetime purse earnings in the field with $273,780. His most recent stake appearance was at Aqueduct where he finished third by a length in the $65,000 Hollie Hughes Handicap. Paul Nicol Jr. will be aboard the 8-5 morning line favorite who is owned by Candy Stables.

You Willgo Broke will make his first start off a long layoff for owner and trainer Ralph D’Alessandro. The 5-year-old gelding has not raced since finishing third in the 2006 Leon Reed Memorial Handicap on July 15. The 2005 top Finger Lakes 3-year-old finished second behind Johnie Bye Night in last year’s George W. Barker.

Beginning at 10 a.m. on Monday, the first 2,000 guests (over 18) who visit will receive a free bucket hat. There will be an $8.95 chicken barbecue and live entertainment from 12:00 p.m. until 4:00 p.m. Post time for the first race will be at 1:10 p.m.

Below is the field for the 2007 George W. Barker Handicap: