Finger Lakes Season Begins April 28

Opening Day at Finger Lakes Gaming & Racetrack (FLGR), a rite of spring in the Finger Lakes Region since 1962, is set for Monday, April 28.

The 64th season of Thoroughbred action at "The Thumb" features 91 racing days through Nov. 26. The first two weeks feature Monday-Tuesday racing, with Wednesdays added to the weekly schedule starting on May 14.

Eight races are scheduled for the Opening Day card, with first race post time set for 1:00 p.m. The highlight of the program is race seven, the Opening Day Dash, an $26,500 Allowance race with nine runners set to sprint 4 ½ furlongs.

The 2025 season will ring in a new wagering menu, including the addition of a second Pick 5. The new Pick 5 begins in the first race, with a mandatory daily payoff required. The late Pick 5 is offered on the day's final five races and will continue to feature a carryover provision if there are no winning tickets.

The early Pick 4, which had kicked off in race one, has been moved to race three. The late Pick 4 will continue to span the final four races on the card. There will no longer be a Pick 6 wager.

Among the days to mark on the calendar:

• New York Derby Day on July 14, headlined by the $150,000 New York Derby for 3-yearold state-breds and also featuring the $75,000 New York Oaks for 3-year-old state-bred fillies and the $50,000 Leon Reed Memorial.
• Stars of the future will be display on Sept. 22 with four sprint stakes for New York-breds: the $100,000 (est.) Aspirant for 2-year-olds, the Lady Fingers for 2-year-old fillies, plus the $50,000 Ontario County for 3-year-olds and $50,000 Niagara for 3-year-old fillies.
• Oct. 13, the richest race of the season, the $200,000 (est.) New York Breeders' Futurity for New York-bred 2-year-olds, as well as a pair of $50,000 stakes, the Jack Betta Be Rite and Genesee Valley Breeders.

Also returning for 2025 are the lucrative Finger Lakes Claiming Series races: the North Warning, Unhinged Iron, Mt. Rushmore and Wise Awake.

The North Warning finals will be run for $35,000 and its counterpart for fillies and mares, the Unhinged Iron, has a $30,000 purse for the finals. Both will be run around two turns, with the finals carded as starter allowance races.

The sprint series has Mt. Rushmore for colts and geldings and Wise Awake for fillies and mares. The finals go for $30,000.

All series feature three claiming legs prior to the finals, which will be run on Oct. 13 as part of the New York Breeders' Futurity Day program.

On Monday, last year's top performers will be presented with an award after the running of the fifth race. Keiber Coa finished the 2024 meet with 105 victories to lead all local jockeys. The 32-year-old from Venezuela claimed his second consecutive jockey title in his third season riding at FLGR. His most notable win was the $98,000 Lady Finger Stakes in September. He guided Stone Smuggler to a three and one-half length victory in the rich 2-year-old event.

M. Anthony Ferraro recorded his third career FLGR trainer title, and first since 2000. Ferraro finished the season with 74 wins to achieve the top ranking, Ferraro has a lifetime total of 2,316 victories in 12,592 starts including 37 career stakes. 1,971 of his 2,316 winning horses were saddled at FLGR.

Two trainers reached milestones during the 2024 FLGR meet. Michael S. Ferraro notched his 3,500th victory on October 21. He earned the milestone in the sixth race with Lifetime Guarantee. James Acquilano registered his 2000th lifetime win on October 29. He reached the mark when Jersey Gregg scored a five-length victory in the fourth race.

Sofia Vives is listed ride in two races on the Opening Day card. The 22-year-old from Ocala, Florida won the Sovereign Award for outstanding Apprentice jockey in Canada in 2023. She is also up for the same honor for 2024.

Vives began riding at Woodbine in October of 2022. She will continue to ride at Woodbine, but will also compete at FLGR during the 2025 season.

Opening day includes free Finger Lakes programs for all on-track patrons. Additionally, there is a $10 Bet and Get promotion. Any patron that places a $10 wager on any Finger Lakes race will receive their $10 back in Gaming free play. No points are required to redeem offer.

Food specials served at The Wire concession stand from 12:00 pm until 4:30 pm, include $1 Zweigles Hot Dogs, $1 Sodas and $3 Drafts.

Complimentary Equibase programs for Monday's program and all live racing cards can be found at https://www.fingerlakesgaming.com/racing.