Finger Lakes: Baker's entrants ones to beat in Reed Memorial

Uncoupled stablemates Al’s Deputy and Pro’s Pal, both coming off a career-best 95 Beyer Speed Figure, head a lineup of seven New York-bred sprinters in Tuesday’s $50,000 Leon Reed Memorial Stakes at Finger Lakes.

The 6-year-old Al’s Deputy and 7-year-old Pro’s Pal are both trained by Charlton Baker, but have different owners, so they will race as separate betting interests in the six-furlong Reed.

Al’s Deputy, two-length winner of the George Barker almost three months ago, has been freshened since finishing second, beaten 1 3/4 lengths, in an allowance on July 4. He owns a 4-for-9 record at Finger Lakes.

Pro’s Pal, third in the Barker, 3 3/4 lengths behind his stablemate, exits a 10 1/4-length win in a $15,000 optional claimer on July 20. Although he was relatively close to Al’s Deputy in the Barker, Pro’s Pal was drubbed by his stablemate two other times, beaten 7 1/4 lengths on July 4 and 11 1/2 lengths last September. All 15 of Pro Pal’s lifetime wins have come at Finger Lakes.

The two main threats to Baker’s pair are newly acquired Manteca and Haya’s Boy.

The 7-year-old Manteca was claimed out of each of his last two starts, most recently out of a second-place finish going a mile for $25,000 on June 20. The last time he sprinted, only May 18, Manteca produced a 94 Beyer for a win going 6 1/2 furlongs for a $30,000 tag. Leading trainer Chris Englehart is 2 for 4 first off the claim with 61-to-180-day layoff horses switching from routes to sprints.

Haya’s Boy was second as the 6-5 favorite in the Barker in his only previous appearance at Finger Lakes. He was subsequently off the board in two starts, one against open company at Belmont and the other July 30 at Saratoga.

The field also includes Dr Disco, who may have needed a race when he returned from 5 1/2 months on the sidelines to flash high speed and fade to last in the John Morrissey at Saratoga. Last season, Dr Disco won an overnight stakes at Aqueduct and was second in the $125,000 Hudson at Belmont.