Fincher starts week with a bang, and he ain't done yet
This weekend, New Mexico-based trainer Todd Fincher can be found in several places, such as airports throughout the Southwest, the paddock at Del Mar and Ruidoso Downs, and driving the highways leading to and from Ruidoso Downs in New Mexico.
Fincher’s racing week began in the best place possible, the winner’s circle at Del Mar on Thursday after an impressive win by Slammed in an allowance race for fillies and mares.
A five-time stakes winner against New Mexico-breds, Slammed ($11.40) led throughout the six-furlong race under jockey Drayden Van Dyke to win by 5 1/4 lengths in 1:08.55 in her first start outside of New Mexico.
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“She’s probably the best mare I’ve ever trained,” Fincher said on Friday. “She can run five furlongs or a mile and a sixteenth.
“I think she’s that good. I was hoping she’d win the race.”
Fincher had many financial reason to root for Slammed, whom he bred with Brad King and owns with King and Suzanne Kirby. Fincher also singled Smalled in the 50-cent early pick five, which paid $3,846. He said he bought a $540 ticket.
“It paid pretty good,” Fincher said. “I didn’t catch a price.”
Slammed, a 4-year-old filly by the Bernardini stallion Marking, easily beat Grace Adler, the winner of the Grade 1 Del Mar Debutante last September who had her first start of the year on Thursday; and the previously unbeaten Midnight Memories, who had her third start.
Slammed has won 8 of 10 starts and earned $348,005.
The allowance race was Slammed’s first start since a win in the La Coneja Stakes at six furlongs for New Mexico-bred fillies and mares at Sunland Park in February. The layoff was longer than the 50-year-old Fincher would have preferred because of foot issues, he said.
“She’s had some nagging issues that have bothered her,” he said.
“I wouldn’t have taken her out there if I didn’t think she’d run well,” he said on Friday morning from Ruidoso Downs. “I think she’s that good.
“I’ve been doing this a long time. I’m not going to bring a New Mexico-bred out there and embarrass myself.”
Slammed earned a career-best Beyer Speed Figure of 98, and will be considered for the Grade 3 Rancho Bernardo Stakes for fillies and mares at 6 1/2 furlongs on Aug. 28.
“That’s a logical spot,” Fincher said.
Not long after Slammed’s win, Fincher was at San Diego’s airport. After a connection in Phoenix, Fincher landed in Albuquerque at 1 a.m. He drove to Ruidoso, arriving at 3:30 a.m. On Friday, Fincher had a staggering 20 New Mexico-bred 2-year-old Thoroughbreds entered in five qualifying trials for the Rio Grande Senorita Futurity for fillies and Rio Grande Senor Futurity for colts and geldings.
He is scheduled to return to Del Mar on Saturday morning in time to watch Senor Buscador start in a brutally tough running of the Grade 2 San Diego Stakes at 1 1/16 miles that afternoon.
The entries include Country Grammer, the winner of the $12 million Dubai World Cup in the United Arab Emirates in March; There Goes Harvard, who won the Grade 1 Hollywood Gold Cup at Santa Anita in May 30; and Tripoli, who won the Grade 1 Pacific Classic at Del Mar last August.
Senor Buscador has won 3 of 4 starts in a career limited by injury. A stakes winner at Remington Park in 2020, Senor Buscador won his only start this year, an allowance race at 6 1/2 furlongs at Lone Star Park on July 3.
“It will be interesting to see how he does,” Fincher said. “He is a totally awesome horse. He’s had some bad luck. He got hurt in a stall and silly stuff like that has kept him off the track.
“He’s a monster. But he’s in against some monsters. I hope he runs a big race.”