Finite's Golden Rod victory has Asmussen dreaming of Kentucky Oaks
RACE REPLAY IS NOT AVAILABLE
LOUISVILLE, Ky. - As the field for the Grade 2, $300,000 Golden Rod Stakes entered the Churchill Downs paddock, a replay of Untapable's victory in the 2014 Kentucky Oaks was playing on video screens surrounding the paddock and throughout the facility. The fortuitous timing was appreciated by some of the connections of race favorite Finite, as trainer Steve Asmussen and co-owner Winchell Thoroughbreds had also teamed up with Untapable.
“I greatly appreciated the inspirational speech they gave us,” Asmussen said. “That definitely puts you in the mood.”
The team was in an even better mood after the race, as Finite relaxed early under Ricardo Santana Jr., then gamely dug in late to hold off Motu and pass her two-turn test in the 1 1/16-mile Golden Rod. The race for 2-year-old fillies was her second stakes victory, both at Churchill. She had romped by six lengths in the one-turn Rags To Riches at a mile on Sept. 27.
Finite was bred by Winchell Thoroughbred and is owned by that outfit and Thomas Reiman, William Dickson, and Deborah Easter. The filly picked up 10 points toward a spot in the starting gate for the Kentucky Oaks on May 1, 2020, and Asmussen acknowledged her two wins beneath the twin spires have him pleased with her position at this point.
"A victory in the Golden Rod puts us exactly where we want to be with her at this time of year," said Asmussen, who was winning this race for the first time. "With her two runs at Churchill, how significant Churchill is becoming with their stakes program, the Kentucky Oaks [is] the pinnacle for any filly at this age."
Churchill Downs's fall stakes for 2-year-old fillies, particularly the Golden Rod, have had an impact on the Kentucky Oaks in the last several years. Last year, Liora took the Golden Rod and went on to finish second in this year's Oaks to Serengeti Empress - who had won the Grade 2 Pocahontas Stakes under the twin spires the previous September. Monomoy Girl won the 2017 Rags To Riches, then finished a narrow second in the Golden Rod prior to launching a win streak that included the 2018 Oaks. Daddys Lil Darling finished second in both the Golden Rod and 2017 Oaks.
When the gates opened on this year's Golden Rod field, Finite was away in good order from the inside post under Santana, who was content to let her cede the early lead to Bean. Bean was hustled away to lead through an opening quarter of 23.93 seconds on a track that was sloppy after continuous rain in the area overnight and throughout the day. Bean, with Rags To Riches runner-up Lady Glamour on her hip, proceeded to get her half in 48.53 seconds. Finite, relaxed while saving ground in third, tipped off the rail and angled into the three path to range up on the leaders around the far turn.
Lady Glamour briefly assumed the lead turning for home, but was quickly overtaken by Finite. Meanwhile, Motu, who had been making steady progress past horses, emerged the threat to the Finite. But Finite, with her head cocked outside, prevailed by three-quarters of a length, with Lady Glamour another 6 1/2 lengths back of Motu in third. Finite finished the 1 1/16 miles in 1:45.99 and paid $3.60.
“This is a filly Steve has been working so hard with, teaching her how to relax in the mornings,” Santana said.
Finite, by Munnings, is out of multiple stakes winner Remit, also a Winchell homebred. That mare, by perennial leading sire Tapit, who was campaigned by the Winchells, had already produced Group 2-placed stakes winner Reride. Remit is a full sister to multiple graded stakes-winning millionaire Tapiture and to stakes winner Retap.
