TIGER SPEECH NAMED TOP HORSE OF 2007

FARMINGTON, N.Y. – Carmen Seguin’s Tiger Speech was named 2007 Finger Lakes "Horse of the Year" at the annual Finger Lakes Horsemen's Benevolent and Protective Association awards dinner on Saturday. The 5-year-old gelding won three handicap races at Finger Lakes this season for trainer Michael S. Ferraro.

Tiger Speech took the Father’s Day Handicap on June 17 in a one mile and seventy yard time of 1:41.83 after being on the shelf since November 3, 2006. He then finished a respectable third behind 2003 Kentucky Derby and Preakness winner Funny Cide in the $100,000 Wadsworth Memorial Handicap on July 4. The bay Kentucky-bred won two of his next three Finger Lakes starts including an eight and one-half length victory in the Raymond Royston Memorial Handicap on July 22.

The $124,749 earner had humble beginnings with his first two career starts in $4,000 maiden claiming races in 2005. His eight career wins have all been accomplished at Finger Lakes Gaming and Racetrack.

Langpap Stables’ Fly to Me was voted best Filly or Mare (4-years-old and up) after scoring four victories in 2007, including a three and three-quarter length win in the $50,000 Jack Betta Be Rite Handicap on August 25 for trainer Michael Lecesse. She received the award for top 3-year-old filly in 2006 while in the stable of M. Anthony Ferraro.

Say I Do received the award for top bottom claimer (colt, horse, or gelding) for the second year in a row. The Ludwig Lamm-trainee won four of his first six starts of the 2007 meet.

Below is a complete listing of this year’s award recipients.

Best $4,000 Claimer (Colt, Horse or Gelding) - Say I Do

Best $4,000 Claimer (Filly or Mare) - Friendship Circle

Best $6,250-$8,000 Claimer (Colt, Horse or Gelding) - Wendlar

Best $6,250-$8,000 Claimer (Filly or Mare) - Past Post

Best $9,000 and up Claimer (Colt, Horse or Gelding) - Farno

Best 3-Year-Old Colt or Gelding - Buckridge Bailey

Best 3-Year-Old Filly - Sweet Lorena

Best Condition Allowance (Colt, Horse or Gelding) - Sly Diamond Jim

Best Condition Allowance (Filly or Mare) - Snows Gone

Best Colt, Horse or Gelding (4-year-old and up) - Tiger Speech

Best Filly or Mare (4-year-old and up) - Fly to Me

Horse of the Year - Tiger Speech