Good Luck Gus draws off to victory in New York Breeders' Futurity

Good Luck Gus took command entering the stretch of the $252,098 New York Breeders’ Futurity and drew off to a 5 1/4-length victory in the richest race of the Finger Lakes season.

Trained by Rudy Rodriguez, Good Luck Gus was coming off a fourth behind the Champagne second-place finisher Upstart in the New York-bred Funny Cide Stakes at Saratoga. He added blinkers for the Breeders’ Futurity.

Good Luck Gus moved up to press the early pace of the Futurity outside locally the based Fallfire through fractions of 22.47 seconds and 45.86. He took the lead nearing the stretch and was clearly best thereafter under jockey Wilfredo Rohena, who 30 minutes earlier had won the Leon Reed Memorial Stakes.

Good Luck Gus races for Michael Dubb, Bethlehem Stables, and the Elkstone Group. He paid $5.70 to win as the favorite in the seven-horse field. He covered the six furlongs in 1:11.87.

Thank You finished second after rallying four wide into the stretch. He was to be coupled in the wagering with the Funny Cide runner-up Bustin It, who would have been a heavy favorite, but Bustin It was scratched after coming down with a cough.

Fallfire finished third, a length behind Thank You and a half-length in front of the fourth-place finisher Pierce’s Prize.

Leon Reed Memorial: I’m Stoked goes wire to wire

I’m Stoked went right to the lead and never was headed en route to a two-length win in the $50,000 Leon Reed Memorial Stakes at Finger Lakes.

Trained by Mike Hushion, I’m Stoked improved his Finger Lakes record to 2 for 2. He won the George W. Barker Stakes in May. Overall, I’m Stoked now has won 6 of 11 starts and $200,273.

I’m Stoked paid $3.50 as the favorite in the seven-horse field. He cut out quick fractions of 21.84 and 44.53 and completed six furlongs in 1:10.42. He is owned by Chester and Mary Broman and was ridden by Wilfredo Rohena.

Frisky Warrior was up for second, 1 1/4 lengths in front of Sundae On Sunday.

Arctic Queen: Capella Dancer scores 11th local win

The $50,000 Arctic Queen was the first of three New York-bred stakes at Finger Lakes. Carded as race 5, trainer Michael S. Ferraro scored his third win of the day as Capella Dancer stayed to the inner rail in the stretch while rallying from well back for a 1 1/4-length victory.

Capella Dancer improved her Finger Lakes record to 26-11-9-2 in the Arctic Queen, a six-furlong sprint for fillies and mares. She now has won 11 of 30 career starts and earned $243,176.

Atlantic’s Smile out-sprinted the 2-1 favorite Uncle Southern for the early lead and held well for the place, finishing three-quarters of a length in front of Vicki’s Dancer, the 2-1 second choice. Uncle Southern was finished early and tired to last in the eight-horse field.

Capella Dancer, ridden by Daniel Vergara, was timed in 1:12.11 and paid $14.40 to win. She is owned by the Happy Face Racing Stable.