Fionn finds another gear, outsteps Laurelin in Jockey Club Oaks
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OZONE PARK, N.Y. - For a few strides in Saturday’s Grade 3, $350,000 Jockey Club Oaks, Laurelin, under Kendrick Carmouche, appeared to spurt away from Fionn and Flavien Prat as the two main protagonists in the race came to the eighth pole of Aqueduct’s inner turf course.
But Fionn had another gear under Prat and was able to outfinish Laurelin to win the Jockey Club Oaks for 3-year-old fillies by a half-length. It was three lengths back to the 75-1 pacesetter Don’t Jinx It in third.
The win was the sixth from eight starts this year and fifth in a stakes for Fionn, who previously won stakes at Fair Grounds, Saratoga, Churchill Downs and Kentucky Downs. And she may not be done yet this year. Trainer Brad Cox said Fionn would be considered for the Grade 1, $300,000 American Oaks at Santa Anita on Dec. 26.
“Definitely something we’re thinking about,” Cox said. “We’ll see how she comes out of it.”
Fionn had won three consecutive graded stakes in the summer before she finished fourth in the Grade 1 Queen Elizabeth II Challenge Cup at Keeneland. Cox felt the outside post and Fionn’s pre-race behavior - or, more accurately, misbehavior - in the paddock pre-race, may have had something to do with that defeat.
“She was probably a little more on edge at Keeneland than some of the other times,” Cox said.
Cox removed blinkers from Fionn’s equipment for the Jockey Club Oaks, but primarily because he didn’t think she needed them anymore. He had left them on because she was winning and he didn’t want to mess with success.
In the Jockey Club Oaks, Prat had Fionn in seventh position, about five lengths off the pace and about two lengths behind Laurelin, who was in fifth under Carmouche.
Don’t Jinx It, under Jaime Rodriguez, dictated terms through six furlongs in 1:16.45.
Down the backstretch and into the far turn both Fionn and Laurelin moved a little closer to the leaders.
Laurelin came five wide into the lane while Fionn was out farther than that. In midstretch Laurelin tried to spurt away but Fionn, while in the middle of the course at this point, kept coming to get the victory.
“[Laurelin] has a good turn of foot, she run away from me a little bit, but as we went on the stamina just kicked in,” Prat said.
Fionn, a 3-year-old daughter of Twirling Candy owned by George Messina and Michael Lee, covered the 1 3/8 miles in 2:17.22 over firm ground and returned $4.82 as the second choice.
Fionn is now 6 for 8 this year and 7 for 10 overalll. She increased her earnings to $2,010,170.
“She’s been very good all year,” Cox said.
Laurelin finished second for the second straight race after winning her first five career starts. She was second in the QE II, finishing 3 1/4 lengths in front of Fionn that day.
“Just got outrun,” Graham Motion, trainer of Laurelin said. “He tried to get the jump on her. They take turns beating each other. They’re two nice fillies. She’ll get a break now.”
Cox said Fionn would likely ship to his Payson Park base and he will evaluate how she is training before deciding whether to pursue the $300,000 American Oaks. Cox said the last Federal Express flight out to Southern California before the holidays is Dec. 14, which is a little later than usual, Cox said.
“It makes it a little more doable,” Cox said.
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