Fincher takes big advantage in numbers on stakes-filled card
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Sunland Park leading trainer Todd Fincher has a chance to win two derbies and two oaks at the New Mexico track on Sunday.
He’s attacking the meet’s richest card with starters in the Grade 3, $600,000 Sunland Derby, $300,000 Sunland Oaks, $250,000 New Mexico Breeders’ Derby, and $250,000 New Mexico Breeders’ Oaks.
The races are among seven stakes on an 11-race card that starts at 12:25 p.m. Mountain. Fincher has 14 horses entered on the program, with 12 representatives in six of the stakes.
“Sunland Park has had, for several years, just a great stakes program – and not just today,” Fincher said. “But all the stakes leading up to today. And the culmination of all these races is a chance to go to the [Kentucky] Derby and [Kentucky] Oaks.”
Fincher trainee Flying Connection comes into the Sunland Oaks looking for points for the Kentucky Oaks. The 1 1/16-mile race offers them on a scale of 50-20-15-10-5. Flying Connection is part of a field of seven that includes fellow stakes winners Don’t Get Pickled and Una Palabra, as well as Southern California maiden winner Doinitthehardway.
Flying Connection comes off a 9 1/4-length win in the local prep, the $75,000 Island Fashion on Feb. 28. The mile race was her first start at two turns, and she equaled her best Beyer Speed Figure, an 83.
“She wants the distance,” Fincher said. “Distance isn’t going to bother her. She’s a little aggressive-type horse, but she has plenty of stamina.”
Flying Connection set the pace in the Island Fashion after breaking from the rail. She again drew the one-hole and will be ridden by Alfredo Juarez Jr.
“Obviously, I don’t like the post position,” Fincher said, “but she’s unbeaten from the one-hole, is 2 for 2 from the one-hole.
“I expect a good effort from her. She does try hard. I think she’s one of those types that gives you what she’s got.”
Flying Connection, who is by Nyquist, faces a new pace rival in Doinitthehardway. The filly is coming off a maiden special weight win at a mile at Santa Anita on March 4. Doinitthehardway set a quick pace en route to a nine-length win, earning a Beyer of 86.
“She likes going two turns,” said trainer Bob Baffert. “She has a lot of speed. It looks like it’s one of those races where there’s a lot of speed in the race – everybody has like the same style.”
Possible pacesetters in the Sunland Oaks include Love Tank, the runner-up in the Island Fashion who won a maiden special weight sprint on the front end in January at Sunland; Una Palabra, who was prominent throughout when she won the Arizona Oaks on March 11 at Turf Paradise; and Foolish Delight, who is stretching out to two turns after winning a Sunland maiden race at six furlongs in a quick 1:10.87.
Doinitthehardway will break from post 4 under Flavien Prat. Earlier in her career, she was fourth in the Grade 1 Starlet at Los Alamitos. Doinitthehardway is a daughter of Street Sense and from the female family of Tiznow. “The filly, she tries hard,” said Baffert.
The stakes action Sunday starts with the New Mexico Breeders’ Oaks, and Fincher will saddle Doer Not a Faker and Pandora Who in the 1 1/16-mile race for 3-year-old fillies bred in New Mexico.
Doer Not a Faker could go favored off her win in the $100,000 Enchantress at Sunland.
“She ran really game,” Fincher said. “She drew the one-hole, was pressured the whole way, fought all the way to the end. Unfortunately, she drew the one-hole again. We’ll see what happens, but she’s doing really good.”
Fincher has five entrants in the New Mexico Breeders’ Derby, a 1 1/16-mile race for 3-year-olds bred in New Mexico. The race drew 12.
They include Thruthestorm and Still in the Trap, who finished first and second – separated by a neck – in the $100,000 Red Hedeman Mile on Feb. 28 at Sunland.
“Thruthestorm had a little bit of a wide trip last time, got it done,” Fincher said. “Still in the Trap stumbled pretty good last time. He drew the 12-hole [for Sunday]. Hopefully, he’ll do better, get away from there clean. He ran a big race after stumbling.”
Fincher has a capable pair in the $100,000 Bill Thomas Memorial, which is for 3-year-olds and up over 6 1/2 furlongs. The race drew seven, led by Truth Seeker, who won his third straight race last out in the Phoenix Gold Cup at Turf Paradise.
Fincher trainee Bye Bye Bobby, who was second in last year’s Sunland Derby, won by Slow Down Andy, comes off a local allowance win March 14. He had been entered in a February allowance, but the card was canceled due to extreme weather conditions and the next option was in March. Bye Bye Bobby dominated by 7 1/4 lengths in his first start since January.
“He’s coming back in 12 days, and you always understand there’s a bounce effect that could possibly happen,” Fincher said. “I don’t like that part of it. But the draw, he has a better draw. He had a horrible draw last time, had the one-hole.”
Bye Bye Bobby will break from post 2 under Luis Fuentes.
Fincher trainee Goddard is cutting back to one turn after finishing third to Senor Buscador in the Curribot Handicap over 1 1/16 miles March 5 at Sunland.
“I think he really doesn’t want to run the mile and a sixteenth,” Fincher said. “About a mile is all he wants. Seven-eighths is really his number, so six and a half [is okay]. He’s really happy right now.”
Goddard will start from post 6 under Felipe Valdez.
Fincher’s other stakes starters include Cheese Tray in the $120,000 New Mexico State University for 4-year-olds and up bred in New Mexico. The field of 11 includes multiple stakes winner Thunder Dome.
Cheese Tray will be looking for his fourth straight win and breaks from post 3. He’s coming off his second straight stakes win.
“Cheese Tray is just one of those whose gotten a little better with time,” Fincher said. “He likes to win. He’s been pretty awesome to have.”
The $100,000 Harry Henson Handicap lost its 126-pound highweight Thursday when trainer Bob Baffert said Grade 1 winner Eda did not make the trip from Southern California. The defection makes for a field of eight fillies and mares. Miss Hard Knocks and Clockstrikestwelve are now the 121-pound co-highweights.
Miss Hard Knocks comes off a win in the Queen of Green Stakes at Turf Paradise and Clockstrikestwelve won an allowance route at Golden Gate in her last start Feb. 25.
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