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  • Canadian Frontier sire of Golden Frontier 1st Alw (May 24, 3rd CD). Owner, George Fister; Breeder, Brereton C. Jones...
  • Mancini sire of Ride Around Sally 1st Alw (May 23, 6th IND). Owner, Joe Uliano; Breeder, Spade Stable...
  • Chapel Royal sire of Mr Rodriguez 1st Mdn (May 24, 2nd BEL). Owner, Imperio, Michael and Loftus, Elizabeth; Breeder, Jill Imperio & Daniella Corian...
  • Proud Citizen sire of Citizen Kat 1st Alw (May 23, 7th PEN). Owner, Midwest Thoroughbreds, Inc.; Breeder, Mark Reid & Charles Zacney...
  • Bustin Stones sire of Bustinattheseams 1st Mdn (May 23, 2nd BEL). Owner, Bourque Goldstein Thoroughbreds LLC; Breeder, Eaton & Thorne, Inc....
  • Include sire of Window Boy 1st Grover (Buddy) Delp Memorial S. (May 23, 8th DEL). Owner, Luis Arenas; Breeder, Shelby Lane Farm Inc. & IncludeSyndicate...
  • Hard Spun sire of Ribbon Taffy 1st Mdn (May 23, 5th IND). Owner, Pucek, John Paul and Marcinek, Paige; Breeder, Matthew R. Herbener...
  • City Weekend sire of City Sweets 1st Mdn (May 23, 3rd IND). Owner, Mast Thoroughbreds LLC; Breeder, Robert Gorham & Mast Thoroughbreds LLC...
  • Posse sire of Parody 1st Alw (May 23, 4th PEN). Owner, Midwest Thoroughbreds, Inc.; Breeder, Don Mattox & Pam Mattox...
  • Petionville sire of Wups 1st Thoroughbred Maiden Derby (May 23, 9th BOI). Owner, Paul Treasure; Breeder, Michael Iavarone...
  • Jazil sire of Love Me Good 1st Mdn (May 23, 2nd PID). Owner, Sheltowee Farm and Blazing Meadow Farm; Breeder, Sheltowee Farm...
  • Yankee Gentleman sire of Little Dale 1st Alw (May 23, 7th BEL). Owner, Vaccarezza, Priscilla, Amante, Anthony and Garrity, Christine; Breeder, Philip Birsh...
  • Hard Spun sire of Gleaning 1st Mdn (May 23, 4th PID). Owner, Robert T. Manfuso; Breeder, Nursery Place & Robert T. Manfuso...
  • Luftikus sire of Joyful Kiss 1st Alw (May 23, 7th CT). Owner, Winfred L. Hess, Jr.; Breeder, Ann M. Casey...
  • Indian Charlie sire of Nechez Dawn 1st Alw (May 23, 7th AP). Owner, Tresner, Coby and Matsas, Alex; Breeder, B. P. Walden Jr., Hargus Sexton & SandraSexton...
  • Medaglia d'Oro sire of Dealer 1st Alw (May 23, 8th CT). Owner, Coleswood Farm, Inc.; Breeder, Family Broodmare, LLC...
  • Philanthropist sire of Rob the Cradle 1st Alw (May 23, 2nd WO). Owner, Andrews, Denny and Paradox Farms Inc.; Breeder, Gardiner Farms Limited...
  • Strut the Stage sire of Head Honcho 1st Alw (May 23, 7th WO). Owner, Annecchini and D'Alimonte Holdings Inc. and Kingfield Farm; Breeder, William D. Graham...

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LeCesse, owner of first New York-bred Grade 1 winner, dies at 88

Posted: Friday, June 10, 2011 1:08 PM

Ray LeCesse, breeder and owner of the first New York-bred Grade 1 winner, Fio Rito, died on Sunday at age 88.

Fio Rito was based at Finger Lakes, near LeCesse’s home in Rochester, and he delivered his biggest thrill in the Whitney Handicap (G1) at Saratoga Race Course. The gray horse scored a wire-to-wire victory at 10-to-1 odds, repulsing four-time Grade 1 winner Winter’s Tale by a neck. Since Fio Rito, 26 other New York-breds have succeeded at racing’s highest level.

Fio Rito collected 15 other stakes wins, and 11 of them came at Finger Lakes. He died at age 21 in 1996 and was buried in the track’s infield, near the finish line. Fio Rito was the only horse to accord that honor until Indiana Derby (G2) and Big Apple Triple winner Tin Cup Chalice died at Finger Lakes in 2009.

LeCesse’s son, Michael, bred, trained, and raced Tin Cup Chalice in a partnership.

“He had a long and fulfilling life, and sports were a huge part of it,” Michael LeCesse told the Rochester Democrat and Chronicle. “Fio Rito was my father’s pride and joy and he later got to relive that experience by enjoying my success with Tin Cup Chalice.”

LeCesse served in World War II and spent more than a year as a prisoner of war after being shot down over Germany. He and his brothers owned a Rochester construction company, and he later owned a successful bowling center and was elected to the Rochester USBC Bowling Association Hall of Fame.

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