Breakin the Fever extends reign at Finger Lakes

For the third consecutive year, Breakin the Fever has been named horse of the meet at Finger Lakes, which concluded its 2017 season Nov. 28.

Breakin the Fever went 5 for 7 this year for Ronnie and Debra Breed, who bred, own, and train the 5-year-old Roaring Fever gelding. Breakin the Fever’s victories included his third consecutive edition of the Leon Reed Memorial and his second straight running of the George W. Baker.

Twenty for 32 in his career, with earnings of $564,000, Breakin the Fever is being given the winter off.

“We’ll bring him back next year at 6 and see if we can win four years in a row,” said Ronnie Breed, who worked for trainers Eddie Neloy and Johnny Campo before relocating to Finger Lakes in the early 1980s. “The only thing is a lot of people don’t want to run against him at Finger Lakes, so we might have to take him to other tracks.”

Breakin the Fever is out of the mare Breakers West. His 3-year-old full sister, Clara’s Gone West, went 3 for 4 this year and was voted the best of her division at the meet, according to Breed.

“She got hurt, and I had to take her to Cornell for surgery, but she’ll be fine for next year,” Breed said.

Jeremiah Englehart led the trainer standings for the second straight year with 142 wins. His father, Chris Englehart, was second with 112 victories.

John Davilia Jr. won his 14th career Finger Lakes riding title with 183 wins.