Fingal's Cave to skip Cotillion, will be pointed to New York Showcase Day
OZONE PARK, N.Y. - The undefeated Fingal’s Cave, who was being considered for Saturday’s Grade 1 Cotillion at Parx Racing, will pass that race and will now target one of two races on the Oct. 30 New York Showcase Day program, trainer David Donk said Monday.
Donk elected to bypass a workout over the weekend for Fingal’s Cave saying the 3-year-old New York-bred filly was “a little too dull” in her training.
Fingal’s Cave will be nominated to both the $250,000 Empire Distaff at 1 1/8 miles and the $150,000 Iroquois Stakes at 6 1/2 furlongs. With Fingal’s Cave having won her last two starts at 1 1/8 miles, Donk on Monday said he is “leaning in that direction today.”
Donk said he will ultimately run Fingal’s Cave in an open-company stakes.
“It’s all in front of her,” Donk said. “I’d love to have her as a 4- and 5-year-old,” he said. “Hopefully, we’ll have the opportunity to test her in a good open race.”
Meanwhile, Donk said Thin White Duke, winner of the $150,000 Lucky Coin Stakes at Saratoga, will likely target an upcoming allowance race at Aqueduct.
Friedman, Bayeh fined
The New York Gaming Commission fined trainer Mitch Friedman and agent Edgar Bayeh each $2,500 for violating a rule that prohibits the transfer of a claimed horse to another trainer within 30 days of a claim.
At Saratoga, Friedman claimed six horses for Crow’s Iron Horse Stables, for which Bayeh is the authorized agent. According to Gaming Commission steward Braulio Baeza, three of those horses were moved to a trainer at Presque Isle Downs within 30 days of the claim. At least one had been entered to run but was scratched.
For his part, Friedman said that after evaluating those horses, it was determined they would not fit on the New York circuit, which prompted the transfer.