She's All Ready, Fingerpainter face off in Arctic Queen Stakes

The $50,000 Arctic Queen on Monday at Finger Lakes is for fillies and mares, but much of the attention in the six-furlong sprint for New York-breds is likely to center on She’s All Ready and Fingerpainter, the two youngsters in the group at age 3.

She’s All Ready, based with James Ryerson at Belmont Park, had a promising 2-year-old campaign in 2015 but is winless in four tries this year. The Arctic Queen is a chance for her to get back on track.

Fingerpainter has developed into a nice closing sprinter for local horseman Timothy Murphy. She won the Niagara Stakes in June, an allowance in August, and an overnight handicap Sept. 5. She was unlucky to lose an optional-claiming race by a neck two weeks later after being carried out by the winner during the stretch run.

“This filly is so special,” Murphy said. “She’s still learning how to run and she’s getting better and better. One of the things she needs to learn is how to run through trouble like that.”

Murphy, 59, has a farm in Shortsville, N.Y., and races exclusively at Finger Lakes.

“It’s huge for a small guy like me to have a nice horse like this,” Murphy said. “I’m a hands-on trainer. I’m in the stall with them, rub them myself, and I’m there to put them to bed at night. It’s my life. I love it.”

Arctic Queen, Race 8

Key contenders

She’s All Ready, by Girolamo
Last 3 Beyers: (54-78-75)

◗ She has speed but can also come from just off the pace, which may prove useful in a race where Awesome News and Court Dancer are likely to set a lively pace.

◗ Two of her four starts this season have come in open-company stakes. She was fourth in both the Miss Preakness and the Jersey Girl at Belmont Park. At 2, she won the $200,000 Seeking the Ante for New York-breds at Saratoga and finished third in the Grade 1 Frizette.

Fingerpainter, by Nobiz Like Shobiz
Last 3 Beyers: (60-71-64)

◗ Fingerpainter is 5 for 13 with earnings of $104,000. She has a ways to go before she catches up to Murphy’s best horse, Ruby’s Rocket, who won 13 races and $269,000 between 2002 and 2006. Ruby’s Rocket made all but one of her 46 starts at Finger Lakes.

“Fingerpainter is in the same class as Ruby’s Rocket, and she was a freak,” Murphy said. “I’m very grateful to the breeders, Richard and Kay Zwirn of Saratoga Springs, for selling her to me. They do such a good job. They’re small, but they breed to the best they can.”

Court Dancer, by War Chant
Last 3 Beyers: (73-91-49)

◗ Won the Broadway Stakes at Aqueduct in February.

◗ Trainer David Cannizzo claimed her for $40,000 out of a 6 1/2-length win in a second-level optional-claiming race for statebreds at Saratoga. She finished fifth to Hot City Girl in the Union Avenue in her first start for him.

Awesome News, by Congrats
Last 3 Beyers: (65-88-67)

◗ Will make her first start for trainer Michael Ferraro on Monday. This will be her first race since May 1. Her speed make her dangerous.