NY Horse Racing

CHARLTON BAKER LOOKS TO CONTINUE MEMORIAL DAY SUCCESS

5.24.2008 - Finger Lakes stakes season begins on Monday with George W. Barker Handicap

Contact: David Mattice
Publicity Dept.
585-924-3232 x234

NEWS RELEASE

 

FARMINGTON, N.Y. – The 2008 stakes season at Finger Lakes Gaming and Racetrack is set to begin with the 25th renewal of the $50,000 George W. Barker Handicap on Monday, May 26. In the last four years, the six furlong sprint that is restricted for New York-bred 3-year-olds and up has been won by a horse saddled by Charlton Baker.

Two uncoupled horses from Baker’s stable are entered for the Memorial Day feature. Johnie Bye Night is the 122 pound highweight for the event and his stablemate Mr. Bourbon Street will carry 120 pounds.

Johnie Bye Night won the last two runnings of the annual handicap by an average of six lengths. The 6-year-old gelding’s most recent start was in the Alpha Handicap on April 19 in preparation for the Memorial Day event. He finished second in the opening day feature in his first start since placing second behind Funny Cide in the $100,000 Wadsworth Memorial Handicap on July 4, 2007. The 2006 Finger Lakes Horse of the Year has won four stakes at his home track and has amassed a total of $238,688 in career purse earnings. John Davila, Jr. will be in the saddle of the even money morning line favorite.

Sugar Maple Farm’s Mr. Bourbon Street returns to Finger Lakes where he has not lost since being defeated by six and one-half lengths by Johnie Bye Night in the 2006 George Barker. The $179,005 earner finished off the board in his last two starts at New York City tracks while encountering different surfaces. The 5-year-old gelding ran a distant fourth over a sloppy track at Aqueduct on March 19 before finishing eighth on the turf at Belmont Park on May 3. Dennis Carr will be aboard the seven time winner, who is vying for his fourth consecutive victory at "The Thumb".

The remainder of the field trying to end Charlton Baker’s consecutive George W. Barker streak includes Goldispretty, What a Tale, Zipperoo, and American Senor.

Beginning at 10 a.m. on Monday, the first 2,500 guests (over 18) who visit will receive a free sun visor. 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 2008 George W. Barker Handicap:
          $50,000 George W. Barker Handicap               
No.   Horse                   Odds     Jockey                Wt.
1 Goldispretty                 12-1       Rohena, J            113
2 What a Tale                  8-5        Rodriguez, P        115
3 Johnie Bye Night          1-1         Davila, Jr., J        122
4 Zipperoo                      9-2        Grabowski, J       118
5 Mr. Bourbon Street      6-1        Carr, D                120
6 American Senor           8-1         Messina, R          117