Race Date: Monday, July 14, 2025
Post Time: 3:54 PM ET
Track: Finger Lakes Gaming & Racetrack, Farmington, NY
Race Type: Stakes — $150,000 purse
Distance: 1 1/16 miles (Dirt)
Eligibility: New York-bred 3-year-olds
Field Overview & Morning Line Odds
| Post | Horse | Trainer | Jockey | Pedigree | Odds |
| 1 | Train the Trainer | Rob Atras | Irad Ortiz Jr. | Dialed In × Heavenly Vision (Forestry) | 8-5 |
| 2 | Calling Card | Michael J. Maker | Manuel Franco | Complexity × Graceful Rage (Tiznow) | 4-1 |
| 3 | King’s Leap | M. Anthony Ferraro | Luis E. Perez | King for a Day × Mine as Well (Mineshaft) | 5-1 |
| 4 | Hit the Post | Melanie Giddings | Christopher Elliott | Kantharos × Memento d’Oro (Medaglia d’Oro) | 6-1 |
| 5 | Buttah | Gary Sciacca | Lane Luzzi | Leofric × Salty Little Sis (Chief Seattle) | 5-2 |
Pedigree & Performance Insights
Train the Trainer (Favorite)
Sire: Dialed In — known for producing late-developing route runners.
Dam: Heavenly Vision by Forestry — adds speed and class.
Form: 2 wins from 3 starts, including the Mike Lee Stakes at Saratoga.
Trainer: Rob Atras — rising star with a sharp eye for stakes placement.
Jockey: Irad Ortiz Jr. — elite rider with tactical brilliance.
Buttah
Sire: Leofric — stamina-oriented, excels over two turns.
Dam: Salty Little Sis — adds durability and grit.
Form: 10 starts, 2 wins, $178K+ earnings; most experienced in the field.
Trainer: Gary Sciacca — veteran conditioner with Finger Lakes success.
Jockey: Lane Luzzi — aggressive rider, fits Buttah’s grinding style.
Calling Card
Sire: Complexity — son of Maclean’s Music, known for speed.
Dam: Graceful Rage by Tiznow — adds stamina and class.
Form: 9 starts, 1 win; ran 4th in the Mike Lee Stakes.
Trainer: Mike Maker — multiple graded stakes winner.
Jockey: Manuel Franco — consistent performer on NY circuit.
King’s Leap
Sire: King for a Day — son of Uncle Mo, known for precocious talent.
Dam: Mine as Well by Mineshaft — stamina-rich lineage.
Form: Local hopeful with 2 wins from 5 starts.
Trainer: M. Anthony Ferraro — top Finger Lakes trainer.
Jockey: Luis Perez — knows the track better than anyone.
Hit the Post
Sire: Kantharos — elite sprinter sire with speed influence.
Dam: Memento d’Oro by Medaglia d’Oro — adds class and versatility.
Form: Broke maiden impressively at Saratoga last month.
Trainer: Melanie Giddings — emerging talent with sharp placement.
Jockey: Christopher Elliott — solid hands, knows Saratoga form.
Top Contenders:
Train the Trainer Finger Lakes Derby favorite
Buttah stakes-tested Leofric colt
Calling Card Mike Maker-trained Complexity son
Value Plays:
King’s Leap local Finger Lakes hopeful
Hit the Post Saratoga maiden winner Kantharos gelding
The 2025 New York Derby sets up as a tactical battle between proven stakes winners and rising local talent. Train the Trainer is the class standout, but Buttah brings experience and stamina, while King’s Leap could surprise on home turf. With elite jockeys like Irad Ortiz Jr. and Manuel Franco shipping in, this race is a must-watch for fans of New York-bred racing.
