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Finger Lakes Gaming & Racetrack presents Wednesday afternoon racing on August 27, 2025, featuring a mixed card of allowance, claiming, and maiden events across distances ranging from six furlongs to one mile and 70 yards on the main dirt surface. The track continues its regular summer racing schedule with competitive fields throughout the eight-race program.
Located in western New York’s scenic Finger Lakes region, the facility has been hosting thoroughbred racing since 1962 and maintains approximately 160 race days each season. The one-mile dirt oval provides consistent racing conditions for the day’s competition.
Weather Forecast and Track Conditions
Current weather conditions for the Finger Lakes region show cooler temperatures with the possibility of scattered rain showers throughout the day. Southwest winds are expected around 10 mph, with stronger gusts possible in areas toward Rochester. Morning temperatures started in the cool range with afternoon highs expected to remain moderate for late August conditions.
Track officials have listed the main dirt surface as fast in recent workout reports. The consistent track maintenance and recent favorable weather patterns have provided good racing conditions leading into today’s card.
Race-by-Race Analysis
Race 1 – Allowance (6 Furlongs, Dirt)
This opening allowance event features a competitive field of geldings with a purse of $26,500. The race includes several key contenders with varying running styles and recent form patterns.
Price Is Truth enters as the morning line favorite at 3-2 odds, showing strong recent efforts and solid earnings of $179,625. The gelding demonstrates tactical speed and versatility in his racing style. Diego Emanuel De takes the mount for trainer Ralph D’Alessandro, a combination showing consistent results.
Painting Stones represents excellent value at even money morning line odds with recent strong performances. The gelding has shown improvement in recent starts and benefits from the services of jockey Jeremias Flores. His front-running style could prove effective in this allowance company.
Montauk Surf brings experience with $58,252 in career earnings and draws the rail position. Kevin Navarro takes the assignment for trainer Paul W. Barrow, and the gelding’s tactical speed could position him well in the early pace scenario.
Race 3 – Claiming (1 Mile 70 Yards, Dirt)
This claiming race for fillies and mares features a $13,700 purse over the extended distance. The longer trip will test stamina and tactical speed among the seven-horse field.
Floraloats appears prominently positioned at 5-2 morning line odds following a strong second-place finish in recent competition. The filly showed solid pace positioning and finishing ability in her last start, making her a key contender at the distance.
Our First Lady enters at 3-1 morning line odds with recent form showing competitive efforts. Her connections and recent race patterns suggest she can be competitive in this claiming level.
Race 7 – Claiming 6 Furlongs Dirt $17,500
Race 7 at Finger Lakes on August 27, 2025, is a six-furlong claiming event on the dirt, open to fillies and mares ages three and up. The purse is $17,500, drawing a field of nine with varying profiles, recent form, and tactical angles.
Pace analysis for this contest shows a mix of early speed and stalking types, suggesting a fair pace with potential for a late closer if speed horses battle early. Morning line favorite Adjustable Rate is handled by leading rider Kevin Navarro, known to excel with stretch-out sprinters and as a strong partner with trainer Jonathan Buckley. Adjustable Rate owns a versatile running style, making her a prime contender especially if she can secure a stalking position behind weaker speed.
World Bank offers a value play, showing effective stalk-and-pounce tendencies. With Keiber Coa aboard, World Bank’s chances improve if the pace heats up, allowing her to make a late run down the lane.
Just Words is another that could be overlooked on the board. With Joel Cruz in the irons, Just Words has shown consistency sprinting at this distance and may find herself forwardly placed if she breaks well.
For longshots, Moontown has flashed enough ability to be considered, especially if a speed duel develops up front. Though lightly raced, her ability to pick up pieces late at a big price should not be ignored.
In terms of key angles, focus on horses with experience at this track and distance, and give an edge to those recently dropping in class or showing tactical speed in recent starts. Pairing Navarro and Buckley has proven historically profitable, making Adjustable Rate the clear horse to beat.
Wagering approaches that emphasize Adjustable Rate in vertical exotics—including exactas and trifectas over World Bank and Just Words—could be most effective. Adding Moontown for a longshot share might be a savvy move for those targeting big payouts.
Race 8 – Claiming (1 Mile 70 Yards, Dirt)
The evening’s featured claiming race offers a $14,000 purse with 10 runners competing over the extended distance. This represents one of the more competitive events on the card.
Seattle Causeway enters as the 3-1 morning line favorite with solid recent form. Love Thyself follows at 7-2 odds, while Alicia’s Way rounds out the top contenders at 4-1. The large field and competitive odds suggest multiple horses have legitimate winning chances.
Wagering Strategies and Value Plays
Given the competitive nature of several races, horizontal wagers such as daily doubles and pick-3 sequences may provide value opportunities. The maiden races present particular challenges but often reward handicappers who identify improving connections and workout patterns.
The claiming races offer opportunities to identify horses moving up or down in class appropriately. Pace analysis becomes crucial in the longer distance events, particularly the mile and 70-yard contests.
Finger Lakes Jockeys and Trainers: Angles That Consistently Deliver
Jockey angles
Andre Worry A fixture at Finger Lakes the past three seasons, Worry moves the win needle when he lands on a speed-type in claiming company. His mounts show a high win clip in races up to 6 furlongs when allowed to control the tempo early. Keep him on tickets whenever he draws an inside post aboard a front-runner.
Kevin Navarro Navarro excels on stretch-out sprinters moving to a mile or 1 mile 70 yards, coaxing late speed from horses that were closing in shorter spots. When he teams with trainer Paul Barrow, the pair’s win percentage rises sharply and usually offers fair value.
Jeremias Flores Flores’ best angle is the fresh horse—runners returning from 45-to-90-day layoffs. His patient timing suits closers who need a well-timed rail run; watch for him in full fields where pace melts down late.
J. M. Rohena An underrated gate rider who converts a surprising share of short-priced favorites. Rohena is most dangerous in allowance sprints where tactical speed owns the day.
Trainer angles
Chris Englehart Year-in, year-out leader here. His prime angle is the class drop: horses sliding from allowance or optional claiming into straight claiming ranks. They fire first off the drop more often than the crowd prices them.
Paul Barrow Barrow shines with second-off-the-layoff starters. Expect a fitness pop, especially when he sticks with Navarro. Barrow’s barn also thrives when sprinting on the cut-back after a route try.
Jonathan Buckley Buckley spots veteran claimers flawlessly, cycling them through the non-winners-of-X lifetime conditions. His horses rarely regress third start in the form cycle, making them reliable key legs in horizontal wagers.
Michael Ferraro Ferraro’s runners post gaudy stats in two-turn claiming races. He excels with horses making their first start after a private purchase or drop into his barn—the “first-Ferraro” angle that produces both win percentage and return on investment.
How to use the angles
Pair the listed jockey tendencies with compatible trainer strengths. For example, a Buckley starter cutting back from a route to a sprint with Navarro in the irons checks multiple boxes and deserves extra support in multi-race wagers. Likewise, an Englehart class-dropper ridden by Worry becomes a must-use on the front end of exotic tickets.
Deploy these angles selectively—only when race shape and post draw match the strengths noted above—and they can provide a consistent edge throughout the Finger Lakes meet.
