Streaking Sculcos Folly Faces Bravaro in New York Derby

Two horses that spent the late winter and spring on the Kentucky Derby trail and another that has blown away New York-bred competition at every asking will headline a talented field for Monday's $155,000 New York Derby.

The New York Derby, one of the richest races of the season at Finger Lakes Gaming & Racetrack, is the main event on a on loaded nine-race card that also includes the $75,000 New York Oaks and $50,000 Leon Reed Memorial Stakes. First-race post time is 12:55 p.m.

A field of seven is entered in the Derby, a 1 1/16th-mile test of state-bred 3-year-olds, with Sculcos Folly, Bravaro and Talk to Me Jimmy owning the best resumes.

Sculcos Folly, the 2-1 program choice, will break from post 7 in search of his fifth consecutive victory. The last three triumphs in that streak were against state-bred stakes company in the Gander, Mind Your Biscuits and Mike Lee.

Jockey Jamie Rodriguez will ride, returning to Finger Lakes where he won five riding titles between 2012 and 2019. A winner in six of eight career starts, Sculcos Folly has earned $369,150 for owner Michael Dubb and trainer Rick Dutrow Jr. Dutrow had won the NY Derby twice (Trail Prep in 2002, Ferocious Won in 2006).

And to think Sculcos Folly could have been claimed for $25,000 when he broke his maiden at Monmouth Park on July 26 of last year.

"He didn't dazzle us in the morning," Dutrow said, "leading us to think that (the maiden claiming race) is where he belonged."

Even since, he has proven he's worthy of stakes engagements against New York-breds.

"We love the outside post, he's handled every racetrack he's ever run at well, and based on his win in the one mile Gander stakes we're confident he'll get the distance," Dutrow said.

Still, he'll face stiff competition on Monday, especially from Bravaro and Talk to Me Jimmy.

Bravaro will look to make amends for a fourth-place finish as the odds-on favorite in the Mike Lee Stakes on June 3 at Saratoga. Trainer Saffie Joseph Jr. and the ownership group opted to pay the $5,000 supplement fee to enter.

Irad Ortiz Jr. is named to ride Bravaro, whose most notable victory came as a 2-year-old in the $200,000 Sleepy Hollow Stakes at Aqueduct.

There were Kentucky Derby aspirations for the highly regarded son of Upstart. He ran second in the Holy Bull and fourth in the Fountain of Youth stakes at Gulfstream before shipping north for the Wood Memorial (finishing fourth) in April.

He returned to the races in the Mike Lee but couldn't keep up with Sculcos Folly, dueling for a half mile before fading to fourth.

Ortiz is again the nation's top rider in purse earnings (over $21 million). He rode Train the Trainer to victory in last year's New York Derby.

Talk to Me Jimmy will be back with New York-bred rivals after a runner-up finish in the $200,000 Peter Pan Stakes (Grade 3) at Aqueduct on May 9.

He, too, had Kentucky Derby aspirations after an 11-length romp in the Withers Stakes at Aqueduct but he chased fast early fractions in the Wood Memorial and finished eighth.

Manny Franco will ride the son of Modernist for trainer Rudy Rodriguez.

New York Oaks

The stakes action starts early, with the 1 1/16-mile New York Oaks for 3-year-old state-bred fillies slotted as the third race on the card.

Venetta, the 2-1 program choice, will make her fourth career (3/2-1-0) for trainer Danny Gargan. In her three starts so far, all sprints, the daughter of Yaupon has earned $169,000.

One of those victories came on June 3 in the $200,000 Bouwerie Stakes at Saratoga. Her regular jockey, Kendrick Carmouche, will be aboard.

"She got left in her first race but was very impressive," Gargan said. "She came out of her Bouwerie victory well. I look for her to settle and make a big run at the end of it."

Leon Reed Memorial Stakes

Ten Cent Town and Antonio of Venice will renew their rivalry in the $50,000 Leon Reed Stakes, which is Monday's seventh race. The two ran 1-2 in the $50,000 George Barker Stakes at FLGR on Memorial Day, with Ten Cent Town prevailing by a half-length under jockey Reylu Gutierrez.

Gutierrez will again be in the irons for trainer Brad Cox while Rodriguez has named Franco to ride Antonio of Venice.

The Leon Reed Memorial Stakes was formerly named the Wine Country Handicap which was established in 1973. The name was changed in remembrance of the Finger Lakes employee who tragically lost his life on November 19, 2005.

Notable past winners of the of the New York Derby include Fio Rito in 1978 and Tin Cup Chalice in 2008.  The event has been held for years as the second jewel of the Big Apple Triple beginning with the Mike Lee Stakes and concluding with the Albany Stakes at Saratoga. Locally stabled Tin Cup Chalice was the only horse ever to sweep all three legs.