THE CLEVELAND YOU HANDICAP

The feature Stakes this past Saturday at Upstate New York was The Cleveland You Handicap. Six horses went to post in the in the mile and a half race over the main strip for a share of the $60,000 purse. At post the the favorite was One Wild Cat at 2/1.

When the gates opened Leave The Reef left the gates the fastest and quickly settled in for an uncontested lead. Lightbringer. raced with One Wild Cat into the turn taking the rail trip away in the early going.  As they headed down the backside Leave the Reef was on cruise control and looked to be running well within himself, opening up almost 4 lenght’s on a now struggling One Wild Cat who was being passed on the outside by Lightbringer. As they headed around the far turn Leave the Reef continued to look strong with Lightbringer wearing into that lead. Half way up the lane Lightbringer collared Leave the Reef and when he did, Leave the Reef just stopped running. Crypto Man(IRE) and Rock River Slew who were both content to hang back early did a fair bit of late running.  Crypto Man(IRE) had them all measured except the winner and was easily second best, a nice run for this horse who was claimed but a few short races ago for short money.  These new connections must be thrilled.  Rock River Slew who was running nicely late just held on in the tightest of pictures over the lightning fast last steps of Eglador(IRE) who came from way back to almost grab a piece.  The favorite finished last beaten 15 lenght’s.

Congratulations to trainer greenapple who takes this weeks Stakes race with his Colt LIGHTBRINGER. The 4 yo son of Touch Gold brings his bankroll to $310,000 for his 7th score in 24 attempts. This reporter commented on maybe how this horse should have been the favorite and I was shocked that the $20.00 I put on him didn’t make him that.  Next week the  feature race will be the Senorita Lea Memorial which will have 3yo fillies going 7 on the lawn.