Saratoga Giro seeks first 2019 win in Reed Memorial

Reigning Finger Lakes horse of the year Saratoga Giro is still looking for his first victory of 2019. He will try to get it on Monday in the $50,000 Leon Reed Memorial Stakes for New York-breds, a prize that has eluded him the past two seasons.

Saratoga Giro, a 6-year-old Girolamo horse who is trained by Paul Barrow for owner Henry Steadman, won three of eight starts last year, capturing the George W. Barker at Finger Lakes as well as allowance events at Finger Lakes and Aqueduct. He also finished third in the Reed Memorial – a race he had been second in the year prior. The campaign earned him 2018 championship honors from Finger Lakes at the annual Horsemen’s Benevolent and Protective Association awards dinner last November.

Saratoga Giro returned from a seven-month winter break to finish second by three-quarters of a length to Barrow-owned and -trained stablemate PJ Advantage in an allowance race. He was then beaten a length by that same runner in the Barker Memorial. Saratoga Giro then shipped to his namesake track and finished sixth in the John Morrissey Stakes in August against statebreds.

Regular rider Jeremias Flores retains the mount on Saratoga Giro as he faces familiar foes in the six-furlong Reed Memorial. PJ Advantage is back in this spot, as is Winston’s Chance, the defending Reed winner. PJ Advantage is looking for his third consecutive victory, and has won five of his last seven starts. Winston’s Chance, trained by Debra Breed, comes off a victory in the Genesee Valley Breeders’ Stakes at Finger Lakes. Two starts back he finished third in the Evan Shipman Stakes for New York-breds at Saratoga.

Leap to Glory won four consecutive allowance races before finishing second to Tribecca in an optional-claiming race. The Charlton Baker trainee will be ridden by Wilfredo Rohena for owner and breeder GeeZee Stable. Tribecca, who was claimed for $25,000 out of a win at Saratoga, also returns for the Reed Memorial. He will be making his second start for Chris Englehart, second in the local trainer standings with 60 wins. Royal Asset, who has been competing on the NYRA circuit and makes his first local appearance, completes the field.

The Reed Memorial is one of two stakes remaining this season at Finger Lakes. The Farmington, N.Y., track’s stakes calendar concludes with the $50,000 Shesastonecoldfox Stakes for statebred 2-year-old fillies on Oct. 21.