Finley'sluckycharm brings her speed to Honorable Miss

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – Finley’sluckycharm has won in Louisiana, Arkansas, and Kentucky. She brings her talent and speed Wednesday to New York, where she’ll take on Grade 1 winners Paulassilverlining and By the Moon in the Grade 2, $200,000 Honorable Miss Handicap at Saratoga.

Her dazzling speed has carried Finley’sluckycharm to eight wins from 10 starts. Her only loss sprinting came by a half-length to Constellation in last December’s Grade 1 La Brea at Santa Anita. Her only other defeat came in February 2016, when she stretched out to 1 1/16 miles in the Rachel Alexandra Stakes.

While she’s won all three of her starts this year emphatically, trainer Bret Calhoun said this is “definitely the best field she’s ever faced.”

Finley’sluckycharm looks to have the most early speed among the five fillies and mares in the Honorable Miss, but Calhoun likes that his filly has drawn the outside post in the event that someone – perhaps Disco Chick – outfoots Finley’sluckycharm early. Brian Hernandez Jr. is in from Kentucky to ride.

“Drawing the outside post gives Brian some options in case somebody decides they want to be aggressive early,” Calhoun said. “I don’t think she’s one that will have a problem sitting off horses at this point in her career.”

Paulassilverlining went 8 for 18 with six stakes victories for Michelle Nevin. Purchased privately this year by Juddmonte Farms and transferred to trainer Chad Brown, Paulassilverlining has won the Madison at Keeneland and the Humana Distaff at Churchill Downs, both Grade 1 races at seven furlongs.

Brown believes that at seven furlongs, Paulassilverlining “is very, very good but looking for the wire,” he said. ”Six and 6 1/2, who knows? With a little pace in front of her, she may be even better.”

By the Moon has not raced this short since she won her debut here at 5 1/2 furlongs at 2. Later that year, By the Moon won the Grade 1 Frizette going a mile. After losing the Grade 2 Barbara Fritchie to begin this year, By the Moon has won the Vagrancy and Bed o’ Roses, both Grade 3 races at 6 1/2 and seven furlongs.

Clothes Fall Off likely will try to pick up the pieces from last.

KEY CONTENDERS

Finley’sluckycharm, by Twirling Candy
Last 3 Beyers: 92-98-95

◗ Perfect in three starts this year, breaking sharply from the gate and playing “catch me if you can” in three stakes at Churchill Downs.

◗ Had an easy breeze over the Saratoga main track that Calhoun was happy with, especially in light of how deep the main track has been.

Paulassilverlining, by Ghostzapper
Last 3 Beyers: 95-91-90

◗ Her only loss in her last five starts is a two-length defeat in the Breeders’ Cup Filly and Mare Sprint.

◗ Beaten a neck in this race last year by Haveyougoneaway, who came back to beat her again in the Grade 1 Ballerina.

◗ After two Grade 1 wins in four weeks, she was freshened for the Ballerina later in this meet and is using the Honorable Miss to get there.

By the Moon, by Indian Charlie
Last 3 Beyers: 93-96-94

◗ May be better going a little farther than this, but she shows two sharp workouts coming off two graded stakes victories downstate.