JOHNIE BYE NIGHT ATTEMPTS TO RECLAIM BARKER CROWN
Contact: David Mattice
Publicity Dept.
585-924-3232 x234
FARMINGTON, N.Y. – Finger Lakes Gaming and Racetrack will kick off the 2010 stakes seasonwith the 27th renewal of the $50,000 George W. Barker Handicap on Monday, May 31. Johnie Bye Night returns off a long layoff in an attempt to win the six furlong sprint restricted to New York-breds for the fourth time.
The 8-year-old gelding owned and trained by Charlton Baker, has not raced since January 19, 2009. His last visit to the winners circle occurred after winning the Memorial Day dash for the third consecutive time in 2008. Last season’s running of the event marked the first time in the last six years that Baker did not saddle the victor of the annual stake.
Johnie Bye Night has won a total of five stakes at Finger Lakes and has amassed a sum of $301,360 in career purse earnings. The 8-time winner prepared for the event with a five furlong bullet workout in a time of :59.40. He has not raced in 16 months since finishing last in the $65,000 Kashatreya Stakes at Aqueduct. The classy New York-bred was sidelined due to a minor injury. A jockey has not yet been named for the 2006 Finger Lakes Horse of the Year who is listed at 8-1 morning line.
Mr. Windjammer is entered for Monday’s eighth race in an effort to defend his title. He won last years running of the George Barker by one length for trainer Jonathan Buckley. The $211,612 earner was the only local horse to win multiple Finger Lakes stake races in 2009. He also scored a three-quarters of a length triumph in the $50,000 Leon Reed Handicap on August 22, 2009. Jockey Gabriel Suarez will be in the irons of the late runner owned by Stonegate Racing Stables.
Repole Stable’s Driven by Success is the 127-pound highweight for the Memorial Day feature. The Todd Pletcher-trainee achieved his most recent victory in the $125,000 Hudson Handicap at Belmont Park on October 24, 2009. He has hit the board in four different Graded stakes including a third place finish in the Grade 3 Toboggan Stakes at Aqueduct on March 6. Jockey Paul Nicol, Jr. is listed to ride the 5-2 early program choice who will break from post 11.
Memorial Day is Family Fun Day which features a $9.95 chicken barbecue from 12:00 p.m. until 4:00 p.m. Entertainment for the children will be provided as well as live music from Orient Express. Beginning at 10 a.m., the first 2,000 members to check in at Player Extras will receive a free t-shirt. First race post time is set at 1:10 p.m.
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