N.Y. Breeders' Futurity tops stakes schedule

The 2008 stakes schedule released Friday for Finger Lakes Gaming and Racetrack is nearly identical to its list from a year ago.

The same 17 stakes, all but four restricted to New York-breds, will be offered, with only one switch in the order.

The Genesee Valley Breeders' Handicap, for statebreds 3 and up going 1 1/16 miles, has been moved from mid-September to the third week in August, flip-flopping with the Jack Betta Be Rite Handicap, a 1 1/16-mile race for statebred fillies and mares.

In another minor change, the Wadsworth Memorial Handicap on July 4, bumped up to $100,000 last year to lure Kentucky Derby winner Funny Cide for what turned out to be his final career race, reverts to its usual $50,000 purse.

The two biggest events on the schedule remain the $200,000 New York Breeders' Futurity, a six-furlong race on Oct. 4, and the $150,000 New York Derby for 3-year-olds on July 12.

Finger Lakes, which has nearly 1,200 video gaming machines, will open its 47th season Saturday, April 19, and conduct 160 days of live racing through Dec. 6.

Racing will be held Mondays, Tuesdays, and Saturdays in April before expanding to a five-day week with the addition of Fridays and Sundays in early May.