Fincher, DiVito, Wilkes plan Del Mar stables

ARCADIA, Calif. – Todd Fincher, a leading trainer in New Mexico, and James DiVito and Ian Wilkes, who are based in Kentucky, will have stables at Del Mar for the first time this summer, Del Mar track officials said earlier this week.

Fincher said Thursday that he plans to send approximately 10 horses to Del Mar, the first time he will race in California.

“I’ve always trained mostly New Mexico-breds, but we’ve started to branch out in the open market,” Fincher said.

Earlier this year, Fincher won the Sunland Derby with Runaway Ghost, who is recovering from injury and is expected to return to training late this summer, Fincher said.

DiVito, who has horses at Arlington Park and Churchill Downs, said he plans to send eight to 10 horses to Del Mar and plans to emphasize turf racing. Wilkes is expected to have approximately eight horses at Del Mar, track officials said.

Trainers Tom Proctor, Phil Oliver, and Wesley Ward are expected to participate at the summer meeting, which begins on July 18. All have raced at Del Mar with success. Proctor won two graded stakes on turf at Del Mar last year with Cambodia. He is expected to have 12 horses at Del Mar this summer.

– additional reporting by Brad Free