JOHNIE BYE NIGHT LOOKS TO CONTINUE SPRINT SUCCESS

FARMINGTON, N.Y. – Johnie Bye Night is listed as the early favorite for the $50,000 Leon Reed Memorial Handicap which is scheduled to be run on Sunday at Finger Lakes Gaming and Racetrack. The 5-year-old gelding will be running his preferred shorter distance after finishing second to Funny Cide in the $100,000 Wadsworth Memorial Handicap, which was run at a distance of one mile and one-eighth on July 4.

The 2006 Horse of the Year is a perfect three for three in Finger Lakes sprint races including avictory in the first running of the six furlong dash for New York-bred 3-year-olds and up. He has also won the $50,000 George W. Barker Handicap for two consecutive years.

The even money program choice, who finished last year’s race in a final time of 1:09.89, is the 127 pound highweight. He has been victorious in four out of five of his starts at "the thumb" with his only loss on Independence Day to a former Kentucky Derby winner. No jockey has been announced at this time to be aboard the $228,858 earner for owner and trainer Charlton Baker.

Seeking the Glory is the only shipper entered in the feature race for trainer Gregory Garafalo. The 7-year-old has amassed more purse earnings than any of his rivals with $309,911 in total career revenue. A jockey is not currently listed to be in the saddle of the 6-1 outsider for owner Naipaul Chatterpaul.

The $50,000 Leon Reed Memorial Handicap, formerly the Wine Country Handicap, was established in 1973. The name was changed in remembrance of the Finger Lakes employee who tragically lost his life on November 19, 2005.