Breakin the Fever repeats in Leon Reed Memorial

Breakin the Fever won the $50,000 Leon Reed Memorial for the second straight year on Wednesday. He is now 11 for 13 at Finger Lakes and has a career record of 13 wins from 23 starts and earnings of $355,721.

A fast son of Roaring Fever, Breakin the Fever defeated older horses in the Reed Memorial last year as a 3-year-old. On Wednesday, he outsprinted Baime for the early lead in the six-furlong race for New York-breds, then held on by a neck to defeat 16-1 Sundae On Sunday, who closed from far back.

Last year, Breakin the Fever went wire to wire to beat Bigshotinthenews by a neck. Bigshotinthenews finished last of six Wednesday.

Owned, bred, and trained by Debra Breed, Breakin the Fever paid $3.20. He cut out fractions of 21.84, 44.79, and 57.32 en route to a final time of 1:10.46.

Baime, the 2-1 second choice, vied for the early lead inside the winner, eased back nearing the far turn, then could not come on again. He finished third, 1 3/4 lengths behind Sundae On Sunday.

Breakin the Fever was named the horse of the meet last year at Finger Lakes and is again in the running for that honor. He is 4 for 4 at Finger Lakes this season and won the George W. Barker Stakes in June. His only loss as a 4-year-old came in the Karl Boyes Memorial over Tapeta at Presque Isle Downs..

The Leon Reeed is named after the assistant starter who was killed on the job at Finger Lakes in November 2005. Reed was 47. He worked at Finger Lakes for 21 years.