Finest City returns to training, targets Santa Monica Stakes

ARCADIA, Calif. - Finest City returned to serious training over the weekend, a month after her win in the Breeders’ Cup Filly and Mare Sprint at Santa Anita on Nov. 5.

Finest City worked a half-mile Saturday in 49.80 seconds at Santa Anita. Trainer Ian Kruljac said Finest City is scheduled to have her 2017 debut in the $200,000 Santa Monica Stakes for fillies and mares at seven furlongs. The BC Filly and Mare Sprint was run at seven furlongs.

“She worked a nice half-mile,” Kruljac said.

Kruljac said Finest City recovered quickly from her Breeders’ Cup win.

“We didn’t ship and that was a big plus,” he said. “She bounced right back.”

The long-term goal is the BC Filly and Mare Sprint at Del Mar on Nov. 4. Kruljac said details of her 2017 campaign have not been finalized.
Owned by Tyler and Wayne Seltzer, Finest City has won 4 of 14 starts and has earned $925,594. A 4-year-old filly, Finest City won the Grade 2 Great Lady M Stakes at Los Alamitos last April.