Finger Lakes: Talk Therapy earns first stakes win in Genesee Valley Breeders' Handicap

Talk Therapy, claimed as a 6-year-old last summer for $7,500, became a stakes winner Saturday when he drew clear in the stretch and held off a bid by heavily favored Fox Rules to win the $50,000 Genesee Valley Breeders’ Handicap for New York-breds at Finger Lakes.

Since he was taken by leading trainer Chris Englehart on behalf of My Purple Haze Stables last Aug. 24, Talk Therapy has 4 wins and 4 seconds in 11 starts. He tuned up for the Genesee Valley by winning an allowance by a neck on July 22.

Ridden by John Davila Jr., Talk Therapy ($8.70) completed 1 1/16 miles on a fast track in 1:45.94. Fox Rules, the winner of last year’s New York Derby and the 3-2 favorite on Saturday, finished second, 1 1/2 lengths behind Talk Therapy. Stretch-out sprinter Dan’s Gold finished third at 5-1.