Trainers Baker, Breed prominent in Niagara Stakes
Charlton Baker and Debra Breed each have scored noteworthy stakes wins recently. They will try to keep their momentum going when they send out top contenders in the $50,000 Niagara Stakes at Finger Lakes on Monday.
Baker won the first graded stakes of his career when Joking, whom he owns and trains, upset the Grade 2, $250,000 True North Stakes at Belmont Park on June 10.
Breed won the first stakes of the Finger Lakes meet, the George Barker on June 6, with Breakin the Fever, whom she owns, trains, and bred. Breakin the Fever, who is now 11 for 20 with $309,000 in earnings, was the Finger Lakes Horse of the Year in 2015.
On Monday, Baker will send out Absatootly, the expected favorite in the Niagara, while Breed will start Fabulous Dream. The Niagara, a six-furlong sprint for New York-bred 3-year-old fillies, has drawn a field of eight.
Absatootly won the East View Stakes at Aqueduct last year and comes into this race off a runner-up finish in the Bouwerie at Belmont Park.
Fabulous Dream started her career in Florida before being transferred to Breed prior to the Finger Lakes meet. She has since won two allowance races and finished second by a head in another.
Wonderment, trained by Ken McPeek, also will be well supported in the Niagara. Wonderment won the Grade 3 Bourbonette Oaks at Turfway Park on Spiral Stakes Day in April. Last year at 2, she won the statebred Lynbrook Stakes at Belmont.
Absatootly and Wonderment finished second and third, separated by two lengths, in the Bouwerie on May 30. The winner of that race, Flatterywillgetyou, has now won four races in a row.
Absatootly, four wide, and Wonderment, three wide, raced next to each other during the middle stages of that seven-furlong race.
Niagara, Race 8
Key Contenders
Absatootly, by Mineshaft
Last 3 Beyers: 77-75-71
◗ She has early speed but also the ability to sit off the pace, as she did in the Bouwerie.
Wonderment, by Cosmonaut
Last 3 Beyers: 73-65-52
◗ She has good tactical speed. Although she couldn’t keep up with Absatootly nearing the stretch of the Bouwerie, she kept to her task and made up some ground in the final furlong.
◗ McPeek has given the mount to John Davila Jr., who is second in the rider standings.
Fabulous Dream, by Magna Graduate
Last 3 Beyers: 73-64-64
◗ Smart move by the Richie Rich Racing Stable to send her to Finger Lakes. She should have plenty of opportunities at the meet.
◗ Finger Lakes leading rider Jaime Rodriguez, who was aboard for her 5 3/4-length victory May 30, retains the mount.