Sharp runners square off at Finger Lakes

Persian Honey, who dominated in her first start locally, faces sharp newcomer Openedforbusiness in Tuesday's featured eighth race at Finger Lakes.

The first-level optional $10,000 claimer drew a field of seven fillies and mares going 5 1/2 furlongs.

The 6-year-old Persian Honey, from the high-percentage barn of Charlton Baker, fits well at this level after scoring a four-length victory over $8,000 claimers on April 23. She has been first or second in three of her last four races, including a win for $10,000 at Aqueduct.

Her chief competition figures to come from Openedforbusiness, a 4-year-old who was claimed out of a winning effort for $7,500 at Aqueduct by trainer Michael Lecesse. She is 6 for 12 lifetime, with 4 wins in her last 6 starts while running for claiming prices between $5,000 and $12,500. In all four of those wins, Openedforbusiness exceeded the Beyer Speed Figure par of 63 for Tuesday's class level at Finger Lakes.

On the down side, Lecesse is only 2 for 33 first time off the claim the last five years, according to DRF's Formulator.

Heart of Cold, beaten six lengths by Persian Honey in her first start off a 2 1/2-month layoff, also changes hands. A synthetic-track specialist who has raced just three times on dirt in her 25-race career, Heart of Cold is now owned and trained by M. Anthony Ferraro, a two-time leading trainer at Finger Lakes. A four-furlong bullet workout in 47.40 seconds from the gate on April 5 hints that Heart of Cold may have more speed than she displayed in her comeback race.

Reversible Error returns to Finger Lakes, where she has been first or second in 7 of 10 starts, for her second start off a long layoff. Although 8 of her 10 starts last year were in routes, Reversible Error did run second against similar company to what she faces Tuesday going six furlongs last fall.

The 7-year-old mare Rockin Sarah, a nine-time winner locally, makes the third start of her current form cycle. The 64 Beyer she earned two starts ago against tougher fillies and mares would be good enough to make her a serious contender in this spot.