Roxelana Plan B for Finley'sluckycharm

LOUISVILLE, Ky. – Bret Calhoun wanted to run Finley’sluckycharm in the Grade 1 Madison earlier this month at Keeneland and the Grade 1 Humana Distaff on the Derby undercard, but a minor injury to the filly’s hind leg is forcing her to miss both races.

Instead, Finley’sluckycharm will make her 4-year-old debut as a heavy favorite here Saturday night in the $65,000 Roxelana, an overnight stakes at six furlongs.

The daughter of Twirling Candy was a close second in the Grade 1 La Brea at Santa Anita in her most recent race last December and has won 5 of 7 career starts.

Finley’sluckycharm popped a curb – swelling in a ligament behind the hock – after a couple of works at Fair Grounds, Calhoun said.

“I didn’t want to fight it the rest of the year, so we freeze-fired it and gave her a little time,” he said. “She’s come back super, but we missed just enough time with her that we had to skip those two Grade 1’s. We ought to be fine in this spot, and hopefully we’ve got a good year ahead of us.”