Trainer Giddings has two solid juveniles set to run in Finger Lakes stakes

Trainer Melanie Giddings has prioritized stakes races for juveniles late in the year at Finger Lakes. She will bring a pair of 2-year-olds with strong chances into two $45,000 stakes on Monday, with the gelding Silver Knight running in the Tin Cup Chalice and the filly My Bestie going in the Shesastonecoldfox.

“Finger Lakes has always been a really good spot to me for some horses, and I really like that track,” Giddings said. “It’s just so late in the year that we end up missing our chance to run there, but we've specifically aimed for it this year.”

Silver Knight has more experience after finishing second in the $175,000 New York Breeders’ Futurity last month. That effort behind the Kelly Breen trainee D I Wire came after the gelding earned his maiden victory at Finger Lakes by 15 1/4 lengths with a 68 Beyer. He had previously finished well back in two starts at Saratoga.

“We actually have always thought the world of him,” Giddings said. “It's just been a little bit figuring him out, like all the 2-year-olds. He ran against some pretty tough horses at Saratoga, so he’s come by it honestly.”

Silver Knight, the 2-1 morning-line favorite in the field of six juveniles, could receive stiff competition from Playinmindgames, a second-time starter trained by Michael Ferraro. In his debut at Finger Lakes last month, the gelding pulled clear to win by 6 3/4 lengths with a 68 Beyer Speed Figure. He will stretch out slightly for a new test at six furlongs.

In the Shesastonecoldfox, a six-furlong race for juvenile fillies, My Bestie has been listed as the 5-2 morning-line favorite coming off a 7 3/4-length maiden victory in September. She had previously run gamely for third in her debut at Saratoga, but she made better use of her early speed against softer company at Finger Lakes.

“I purposely picked an easy spot for her,” Giddings said. “We tried to take our time getting her there. She was a May foal and she was actually a really big filly. She just was going through some growing stuff and I didn't want to stress her out too much.”

My Bestie is one of six fillies in the field of eight coming out of maiden competition, along with commanding last-out winners Redzone Gal and Cozzy Trickstress.

Good Vintage, a second-time starter trained by Amelia Green, will ship from Belmont after finishing 12 1/2 lengths back in her debut against much tougher maidens last month. She earned a 61 Beyer for that distant defeat.

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