Fingal's Cave returns in a big way, romps in Bay Ridge

OZONE PARK, N.Y. – David Donk obviously knew Fingal’s Cave hadn’t run in a while, but when he heard someone actually say it had been 432 days since her last race, he got a little nervous.

“I try not to dwell on it because as a trainer [you think] ‘Boy could I have worked her a couple of more times?’” Donk mused.

The five published works she had leading to her return Thursday had Fingal’s Cave plenty fit to record a front-running, 4 3/4-length victory over Venti Valentine in the $100,000 Bay Ridge Stakes for New York-bred fillies and mares at Aqueduct.

The win was the fifth in six career starts for Fingal’s Cave, her second stakes wins. She was running for the first time since finishing second to Wicked Halo in the Grade 2 Raven Run Stakes at Keeneland on Oct. 22, 2022.

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“She’s got a lot of class and the class prevailed,” Donk said.

Fingal’s Cave had some bone remodeling shortly after the Raven Run and then, when she was just starting back, was further delayed by a foot issue.

While late December over sealed, muddy track may not be the ideal time/setting for a comeback, the Bay Ridge, a one-mile race versus New York-breds, proved a perfect spot to return.

Breaking from post 2, Jose Lezcano let Fingal’s Cave work her way into the race. With no one eager for the lead, Fingal’s Cave put herself in front after an opening quarter in 23.30 seconds. She had Venti Valentine off her flank through a half-mile in 46.52 seconds.

But approaching the top of the lane, Lezcano asked his filly to go, Fingal’s Cave quickly gained a clear advantage and though she drifted some in the stretch, she was very much in command to the wire.

Fingal’s Cave, a 4-year-old daughter of Carpe Diem owned by Alistair Fyfe, covered the mile in 1:37.45 and returned $6.20 as the slight favorite.

Venti Valentine, the second choice, finished 1 1/2 lengths clear of Cairo Sugar, as the second- and third-place finishers were trained by Jorge Abreu. Bustin Bay was fourth followed by Know It All Audrey and Sweetie. Sweet Mystery scratched.

Both Donk and Lezcano were expecting there to be more speed in the race, but when Fingal’s Cave found herself in front, Lezcano was okay with it.

“She broke pretty good, put herself there, I didn’t ask her for nothing,” he said. “When I asked her at the quarter pole, she went on and won the race.”

Added Donk: “When he asked her and she kicked away, it was really lovely to see.”

Donk said Fingal’s Cave would likely target an open company stakes race next though when and where that will be is yet to be decided.

“We needed to get today first and see where we’re at and what we want to do, but the idea is to put her in open company and graded races,” Donk said.

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