Leon Reed Memorial rematches top two from last year

A big field of 12 for the $35,000 Leon Reed Memorial for New York-bred sprinters on Monday at Finger Lakes features a rematch between My Boy Tate, who crossed the line first in this event last year, and Lady’s Golden Guy, who is the recognized winner of the race.

My Boy Tate crossed the line six lengths in front of Lady’s Golden Guy in the 2021 Leon Reed, and it was another 2 3/4 lengths to Winston’s Chance in third. But My Boy Tate was found to have an overage of the therapeutic medication prednisolone, a corticosteroid that is a Class 4 drug, the second-lowest on the classification system used by the Association of Racing Commissioners International. He was disqualified from purse money, and trainer Michelle Nevin served a seven-day suspension this year.

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Even with that disqualification and his disqualification from first to fourth for interference in this January’s Say Florida Sandy at Aqueduct, My Boy Tate is a five-time stakes winner and the most accomplished runner in the Leon Reed Memorial field.

My Boy Tate comes off a fifth-place finish in the John Morrissey Handicap at Saratoga, like the Leon Reed Memorial a six-furlong sprint for statebreds. The 82 Beyer Figure he earned in that race is the best last-race Beyer in the field, and the low- to mid-90s Beyers he consistently earned last year and early this year tower above the competition.

The Leon Reed was the first stakes win for the consistent Lady’s Golden Guy, who has been on the board in 21 of 26 career starts. Owned and trained by Debra Breed, Lady’s Golden Guy is coming off a front-running allowance win at Finger Lakes and figures to use his speed from the inside post on Monday.

Wow Brown also last raced in the John Morrissey – in July 2021. The Leon Reed Memorial will be his first start in more than 14 months. Wow Brown is usually on or near the pace and could give Lady’s Golden Guy company on the front end.

Flying Emperor won the six-furlong George Barker Stakes in May at Finger Lakes and has been worse than second only once in seven starts this season. Nueva York is a last-out winner of an allowance/optional-claiming race at this track, while Your Awesome Boss is coming off a local $5,000 claiming win in July. The field is completed by Acalteque, Disco Deano, Number One Dillon, Tommy the Torch, Tra Lad, and the maiden Sea Urchin.

The Leon Reed Memorial is named for an assistant starter at Finger Lakes who died in November 2005 due to injuries suffered when he was kicked in the chest by a horse he was loading in the gate. Reed, 47, had worked at Finger Lakes for more than two decades.

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