NY Horse Racing

MALIBU MOONSHINE HEADS FIELD FOR WADSWORTH

7.01.2008 - Seven-time stakes winner is highweight for Independence Day Handicap

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


FARMINGTON, N.Y. – Malibu Moonshine will be gunning for his eighth career stakes victory in the 32nd renewal of the $50,000 Wadsworth Memorial Handicap at Finger Lakes Gaming and Racetrack on Friday. The Gary Contessa-trainee is the 125-pound highweight for the one mile and one eighth route for 3-year-olds and up.

The 6-year-old Florida-bred will visit Finger Lakes for the first time with a resume that includes ten victories in 42 career starts and a total of $515,001 in lifetime purse earnings. His most recent stakes win was the $75,000 Stymie Handicap at Aqueduct on March 1. He scored a four and one-half length victory in the one mile and one-eighth event in a final time of 1:50.19. Jockey John Grabowski is listed to ride the 5-2 morning line favorite who will break from post four.

Powerful Touch enters Finger Lakes’ longest stake after winning the $50,000 Jim McKay Stakes at Pimlico in his last start on April 19. The 8-year-old gelding owned by Stronach Stables hit the board in two graded stakes races during his career. He finished second in the Grade 3 Holy Bull Stakes at Gulfstream Park in 2003 and third in the Grade 3 Woodbine Slots Cup Handicap in 2005. A jockey has not yet been listed to ride the Justin Nixon-trainee who has amassed a total of $418,778 in career purse earnings.

Johnie Bye Night won the 2006 running of the Wadsworth Memorial Handicap by six and one-quarter lengths for his owner and trainer Charlton Baker. He finished second behind Funny Cide in last year’s running of the Independence Day feature. John Davila, Jr. will be aboard the 2006 Finger Lakes Horse of the Year who won the George W. Barker Handicap in his most recent start on May 26.

The Wadsworth Memorial Handicap is part of the festivities planned for ‘Family Day at the Races’ on July 4 at Finger Lakes. There will be live music, an outdoor chicken barbecue, and activities for the kids. Beach towels will be handed out to the first 2,500 guests (18 and over) through the doors. Jockeys will be available for autographs between 12:30 p.m. and 1:30 p.m. and will participate in a footrace between the sixth and seventh race. The ‘All-Star Buglers’ will perform the call to the post and other anthems throughout the day.