Fingerpainter rallies for Arctic Queen score

Locally based Fingerpainter won her fourth race and second stakes of the Finger Lakes meet in the $50,000 Arctic Queen Stakes on Monday when she rallied past the downstate shippers She’s All Ready and Court Dancer in deep stretch to win by 1 1/2 lengths.

Court Dancer, the 6-5 favorite, was sent hard from the gate by jockey Jaime Rodriguez. She dueled with 5-1 Awesome News through an opening quarter in 21.94 seconds before disposing of that rival and drawing clear on the far turn of the six-furlong race for New York-bred fillies and mares.

She’s All Ready raced several lengths off the early leaders, while Fingerpainter lagged back in last place in the six-horse field.

Court Dancer held an open lead into the stretch after a half-mile in 45.51 as jockey Dylan Davis, aboard She’s All Ready, tried to close the gap. Gabriel Suarez, the rider of Fingerpainter, made an astute move entering the stretch, splitting horses while rallying rather than going to the outside.

Court Dancer was timed in 58.27 for five furlongs but was beginning to feel the effects of her early efforts. She’s All Ready kept coming and so did Fingerpainter, who flew by the leaders late.

She’s All Ready bested Court Dancer by a neck for second.

Fingerpainter paid $15.20 as the fourth betting choice. She completed the course over a good track in 1:11.59, meaning the final furlong went in 13.32.

Fingerpainter has now won 6 of 14 starts and $134,987. She is owned and trained by Timothy Murphy, who bought the daughter of Nobiz Like Shobiz from her breeders, Richard and Kay Zwirn. Murphy owns a farm in Shortsville, N.Y., and races exclusively at Finger Lakes.

Fingerpainter won the Niagara Stakes over statebred 3-year-olds at Finger Lakes in June. Her others wins at the meet came in an overnight handicap and an allowance, both over older rivals.