Lady’s Golden Guy secures second straight Leon Reed Memorial Stakes Monday at Finger Lakes. SV Photography.
Different year, similar outcome with a twist in Monday’s $35,000 Leon Reed Memorial Stakes at Finger Lakes.
Lady’s Golden Guy, winner of last year’s Leon Reed via the disqualification of My Boy Tate for a medication positive, didn’t need a ruling this year and topped that same rival on the square to highlight the holiday card in Western New York. Lady’s Golden Guy defeated My Boy Tate by a length in the 6-furlong Leon Reed for his third win in six starts this season and first stakes since last year’s Leon Reed.
My Boy Tate finished 6 lengths clear of Lady’s Golden Guy in last year’s Leon Reed but was subsequently disqualified for an overage of a Class 4 therapeutic medication. My Boy Tate, a 10-time winner and $722,788-earner, returned from Michelle Nevin’s Belmont Park base for the 2022 renewal and went to the post as the 3-5 favorite. Lady’s Golden Guy went off as the 3-1 second choice in the field of six under Nazario Alvarado for owner and trainer Debra Breed.
Disco Deano came away fastest from the gate before Wow Brown slipped through to his inside to take control. Wow Brown led Acalteque by a half-length through the opening quarter-mile in :22.45 with Lady’s Golden Guy and Disco Deano side-by-side and chasing, ahead of the tandem of My Boy Tate and Nueva York.
Wow Brown shook off Acalteque and opened up a 1 1/2-length lead to the half in :46.67 with Lady’s Golden Guy the closest pursuer. Nazario guided Lady’s Golden Guy alongside the leader into the lane, just as Jose Gomez angled My Boy Tate off the inside to make their run. Lady’s Golden Guy opened up past the eighth pole and 5 furlongs in :58.67 and held off My Boy Tate’s late run. Wow Brown finished 2 1/4 lengths back in third, 2 lengths ahead of Nueva York with Disco Deano and Acalteque completing the field. Lady’s Golden Guy won in 1:11.43 over the fast track.
Lady’s Golden Guy earned $21,000 for the victory, the Golden Ticket gelding’s 10th in 27 starts, to boost his earnings to $219,825.
Bred by Ronald Breed, the 5-year-old Lady’s Golden Guy is out of the winning Value Plus mare Valuable Lady.
The Breeds claimed Valuable Lady for $7,500 when she finished second in late January 2012 at Aqueduct. She won three times for her new connections before being retired after the 2013 season.
Lady’s Golden Guy is Valuable Lady’s second foal. Her first foal, the New York-bred Willcox Inn gelding Invaluable Will, went 3-9-5 in 33 starts and earned $128,906 for the Breeds. Valuable Lady’s other two foals to race are winners – Lady’s Golden Guy’s 4-year-old full sister One Ticked Lady, and the 3-year-old Bellamy Road filly Road to Royalty.
Valuable Lady did not produce a foal in 2020 or 2021 but is the dam of a New York-bred colt by War Dancer born in late February 2022.
