STATE-BRED FINGER LAKES WARRIOR DIES
GREENFIELD CENTER, N.Y. » Racing warrior Midnight Secret was euthanized November 16 because of injuries sustained in a paddock accident.
The 20-year-old gelding was pensioned at Old Friends at Cabin Creek, the Thoroughbred Retirement Farm based in Greenfield Center, an official satellite to the Old Friends Farm in Georgetown, K.Y.
Bred in New York by Flying Z Stables, Midnight Secret (Key Contender- Flannel Sheets, Triocala) raced almost exclusively at Finger Lakes and earned $212,749. In 111 starts the game gelding had 14 wins and hit the boards and additional 51 times.
Debuting as a 2-year-old under trainer David Donk, Midnight Secret moved to Gregory Martin, then as a 4-year-old entered the barn of Oscar S. Barrera, Jr., who trained him for the rest of his career. Barrera transferred him to Finger Lakes, which was to remain his home track. There, he had a rivalry with fellow Old Friends at Cabin Creek resident Karakorum Patriot-from several square-offs, they scored about even. But few can beat Midnight Secret’s hardihood.
Barrera retired the horse at Cabin Creek in 2009.
As Barrera once noted: “You never read stories about horses like this, but they’ve got something special in their heart,” he said. “For a 12-year-old, he was like a 2-year-old. I walked him ev-
ery day and he’d be prancing.”
“He may not have been a stakes winner, but he was a champ to us” said Cabin Creek farm manager Joann Pepper. “He will be deeply missed.”
ECHL
ADIRONDACK THUNDER 3, NORFOLK ADMIRALS 2 » The Adirondack Thunder returned to winning ways with a 3-2 victory over the Norfolk Admirals on Thursday evening at the Norfolk Scope.
The victory pushed the Thunder’s record to 5-3-1 on their current marathon road trip.
After a scoreless first period, the Thunder opened the scoring just 77 seconds into the middle stanza as Kevin Lough snapped home his first goal of the season. Adirondack forward Shane Conacher set up Lough streaking through the slot, where the second-year defenseman fired his shot past Norfolk netminder Jamie Murray for the game’s first goal. Lough’s goal extended his point streak to six games while Conacher’s assist was his 10th of the season, surpassing his previous ECHL career-high of nine.
The Thunder continue their 12-game road trip on Saturday as they travel to Manchester to take on the Monarchs for the first meeting this season in New Hampshire. The Thunder are next home on Saturday, November 25 at 7 p.m., which begins a seven-game homestand at Cool Insuring Arena.
Over 50 Basketball
The following are Wednesday’s scores from the Over 50 Basketball League at the Saratoga Regional YMCA: JONES STEVES 68, NEMER CHRYSLER 62 » Jones Steves used a strong first half and Rory Wilson’s game-high 45 points to defeat Nemer Chrysler 68–62. Phil Fitzpatrick kept Nemer in the game with 32 points. Matt Truex added 14 for the winners while Tom Kelly chipped in 17 points for Nemer. WEST SIDE SPORTS GRILL 64, GENNARO’S PIZZA 49 » West Side Sports Grill used balanced scoring as four players tallied double figures. Justin Donohoe, John Mooney, Mike McMorris, and Joe Twomey scored 26, 13, 11, and 10 points respectively in their win. For Gennaro’s Mark Sohl led the way with 15 points and Kevin Reilly added 14 points. D’ANDREA’S PIZZA PARLOR 84, VILLAGE PHOTO, LLC 72 » Charlie Maurer was the night’s high scorer with 52 points as he led D’Andrea’s Pizza to an win over Village Photo. Lamont Williams and Mike Lander combined for 55 points for Village. Tim Ward’s 22 and Mike McCamy’s 10 points assisted in the D’Andrea’s victory. Dave Henahan added 13 points for Village. POST TIME WINE & SPIRITS 75, MAMA MIA’S CAFÉ 64 » Bobby Hanson’s game-high 33 points wasn’t enough for Mama Mia’s to avoid a loss to Post Time Wine & Sprits. Top scorers for Post Time were Ed Benway with 28 points and Jim Eliopulos with 27. Reggie Durden notched 13 for Mama Mia’s.