Finger Lakes

Finger Lakes-based trainer James Acquilano, who has been training at the Farmington, New York track since 1981, won the 2,000th race of his career Tuesday when Jersey Gregg (Uncaptured) captured the 4th race, a six-furlong maiden claimer. Acquilano not only trains, but also owns, the 4-year-old gelding, who won by five lengths. All but 39 of Acquilano's 2,000 wins have been at his home track.

Globe-trotting jockey Frankie Dettori dislocated his shoulder when he was unseated from his mount at the gate prior to the start of Thursday's ninth race at Aqueduct. While not considered a serious injury, agent Ron Anderson was not sure how long Dettori will be sidelined. "He dislocated his shoulder and they put it back in," Anderson said. "We're going to see [orthopedist] Steve O'Brien as quick as we can get him in. It's a day-to-day thing. He is sore. We will see." Anderson said the news could have been worse....

Making his first start since gallant third behind Japan's Forever Young (Jpn) (Real Steel {Jpn}) in the G2 UAE Derby Mar. 30, Pandagate (Arrogate) saved his best for last and outfought slightly favored Doc Sullivan (Solomini) to take Monday's New York Derby at Finger Lakes. The strapping gray colt, a 5 1/2-length winner of the Feb. 25 Gander Stakes that earned him a ticket to Dubai, the $130,000 Fasig-Tipton New York-Bred yearling was void of early speed and sat fifth of the six runners behind a moderate pace for the...

Every week, the TDN posts a round-up of the relevant Horseracing Integrity and Safety Act (HISA) related rulings from around the country. NEW HISA/HIWU STEWARDS RULINGS The following rulings were reported on HISA's "rulings" portal and through the HIWU "pending" and "resolved" cases portals. Resolved ADMC Violations Date: 07/09/2024 Licensee: Blake A. Kelly, trainer Penalty: A fine of $500; imposition of 1.5 Penalty Points. Final decision by HIWU. Explainer: Vets' list medication violation for the presence of Dantrolene—Controlled Medication (Class C)—in a sample taken from Karter's Baby Blue on 5/15/24....

Finger Lakes-based jockey Christian J. Navarro has been suspended 30 days and fined $1,000 for alleged violations of a New York State Gaming Commission (NYSGC) rule that prohibits jockeys from betting on races unless they wager "through the owner of and on the horse that such jockey rides." Beyond stating that Navarro's alleged offenses occurred Nov. 22, 2023, (the closing date of last year's Finger Lakes season) details were scant on the NYSGC's online rulings portal. TDN sent a Monday afternoon email to Brad Maione, the NYSGC's communications director, asking...

Wanda Polisseni, owner of My Purple Haze Stables, will become the 30th member inducted into the Finger Lakes Hall of Fame the track announced Monday. The induction ceremony, which will take place as part of the Finger Lakes HBPA annual dinner meeting, is Thursday, June 6. In her focus on aftercare, Polisseni is a founding supporting of the Finger Lakes Thoroughbred Adoption Program while also ensuring homes for more than 700 horses through the Purple Haze Center, the nation's first Thoroughbred aftercare program housed at a track. "Wanda Polisseni has...

An increase in purses, totaling $500,000, have been approved for the 2024 racing season at Fingers Lakes, according to the Finger Lakes Gaming & Racetrack and the Finger Lakes Horsemen's Benevolent and Protective Association Wednesday. Pending New York State Gaming Commission approval, the 63rd season is slated to kick off Monday, Apr. 29 Beginning with the first condition book, $5,000 claimers that are non-winners of the year or non-winners of four lifetime races will compete for $14,000, a $1,400 or 11% increase over 2023 levels. A total of 127 races...

New York Thoroughbred Breeders, Inc. (NYTB) named their nominees for the Empire State's divisional champions of 2023, the organization said in a Friday morning release. A panel of New York turf writers, broadcasters, handicappers, racing analysts and photographers will vote on each division and for the New York-bred Horse of the Year. The winners will be announced at the NYTB Awards Dinner sponsored by the New York Thoroughbred Breeding & Development Fund on Monday, May 13 from 6-9 p.m. ET. at Sacred Saratoga on the property of GMP Farm in...

On the surface, the case against trainer Jeffrey Englehart seems pretty cut and dried. He had a horse test positive for Clenbuterol, the bronchodilator that is on the Horseracing Integrity and Welfare Unit's (HIWU) list of banned substances. Trainers found using banned substances can be suspended for up to two years. But Englehart, who races at the NYRA tracks and at Finger Lakes, is adamant that he never gave the drug to the horse in question. "We don't use Clenbuterol. Period," Englehart said. So is there more to this story?...

Finger Lakes Gaming and Racetrack (FLGR) reported growth in handle at the recently concluded 2023 race meet, according to a press release. Total handle increased by 18.7 percent to $120,541,745. On-track handle also bumped up by $4,024 to $1,973,368. The 2023 numbers built off of the increases from the previous year, when total wagering was up 16.5 percent, despite racing one fewer day (88 total). The total number of races dipped 2.9 percent from 730 to 714, but field size grew to an average of 6.88 starters per race compared...

Live racing for the year wrapped up at Finger Lakes Gaming and Racetrack Wednesday with the leading jockey title for the meet coming down to the final day. Riders Keiber Coa and Emanuel De Diego were tied with 65 wins apiece going into the closing-day card. Coa won three races Wednesday to notch his first Finger Lakes jockey title, while Paul Barrow registered his first trainer title at the New York track with 61 wins. Finger Lakes will be open for simulcast wagering over the winter with live racing scheduled...

Veteran racecaller Tony Calo will be at the mic when the Kentucky racing circuit returns to Turfway Park in Florence Wednesday, Nov. 29. A California native, Calo--best known for his growling 'and there they go' at the break--began his career at Arapahoe Park in Colorado, returning to the Golden State one year later to describe the action at Bay Meadows and Golden Gate Fields. Calo has been the track announcer for the last 15 years at Finger Lakes in upstate New York. He takes over from Jimmy McNerney, who will...