Breeders' Futurity tops Finger Lakes stakes list

Finger Lakes will retain the same stakes schedule as last season when it opens for its 49th season on April 16.

The track in western New York will offer 17 stakes worth a collective $1.2 million, identical to 2009.

As usual, the highlights will be the $200,000 New York Breeders' Futurity for statebred 2-year-olds on Oct. 2 and the 38th running of the $150,000 New York Derby on July 17.

The New York Derby is the second leg of the Big Apple Triple for statebred 3-year-olds. The series begins with the Mike Lee Stakes at Belmont Park on June 20 and concludes with the Albany at Saratoga on Aug. 25.

Finger Lakes will run a 163-day meet from April 16 to Dec. 4. Live racing will be held Fridays, Saturdays, Mondays, and Tuesdays until May 13, when Thursdays will be added to the schedule. Sundays have been dropped from the live racing schedule.