08-30-14

Greeley’s Farewell (6) wins the second for trainer Dan Conway.Tod MarksDay TripperFinger Lakes-based group teamsto win with Greeley’s FarewellThe second race Friday at SaratogaRace Course featured plenty of firsts.Finger Lakes-based trainer DanielConway Jr. and jockey Luis Perezmade their first appearances of themeet. Frank Genecco, in the midst ofhis first year as an owner, was representedby his first entry at Saratoga.With so many firsts it was also appropriatethat the 4-year-old geldingGreeley’s Farewell won in his firststart at Saratoga in the 5 1/2-furlongTrainer Dan Conway.FRIDAY RACING RECAPclaiming race on the turf.Genecco, a longtime fan of thegame whose great grandfather wasinvolved in racing, purchased Greeley’sFarewell from breeder Sam-SonFarm.“We thought he was going to havea big shot today,” Genecco said. “Hejust had a bullet work before. We hadhuge confidence in him winning it. It’sgood when you’re winning.”Conway, 10th in the Finger Lakestrainer standings through Friday, tookthe blinkers off Greeley’s Farewell forhis first start on the grass since Sam-Son and Malcolm Pierce ran him on itlast October at Woodbine.“I really liked this horse today,took the blinkers off and shortenedhim back up again,” Conway said.“He had a little problem in his lastrace. He ran out of condition in hislast to help fill a race at Finger Lakes,which I don’t like to do.”See FRIDAY page 4544 The Saratoga SpecialSaturday, August 30, 2014Tod Marks