News Breeders’ Cup Champion Finest City Impressive in Grade 2 Santa Monica Win January 22, 2017 News Breeders’ Cup Champion Finest City Impressive in Grade 2 Santa Monica Win January 22, 2017 By: Jared Welch twitterfacebooklinkedinemail Share: share on facebook share on twitter share on linkedin email this article ARCADIA, Calif. (Jan. 21, 2017)—Idle since winning the Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Sprint here on Nov. 5, trainer Ian Kruljac’s Finest City overcame a rail post position and marched to an emphatic 3 ¾ length win in Saturday’s Grade 2, $200,000 Santa Monica Stakes at Santa Anita. Ridden for the second time in a row by Mike Smith, Finest City got seven furlongs over a “wet fast” track in 1:21.49. Favored to be named as America’s Eclipse Award Champion Female Sprinter in a special gala this evening at Gulfstream Park, Track Announcer Michael Wrona noted that Finest City was “looking for the first leg of a special double that could culminate in an Eclipse Award tonight,” as Finest City drew clear from a stubborn Fantastic Style a sixteenth from home. “This could be a once-in-a-lifetime day,” said Kruljac, 28, whose father, longtime trainer, Eric Kruljac, is at Gulfstream to accept the Eclipse trophy on behalf of his son, should Finest City win the highly coveted award. “It’s awesome to share it with my father. Hopefully, we’ll get that award today. “We’re just keeping her fresh…The inside post was a big obstacle today and Mike just took it to ’em. She’s got stamina. She’s got everything you’d ever want in the breeding of a race horse.” A 5-year-old Pennsylvania-bred mare by City Zip, Finest City was off at 2-5 in a field of five older fillies and mares and paid $2.80, $2.20 and $2.10. Owned by Seltzer Thoroughbreds, she improved her record to 15-5-4-2, and with the winner’s share of $120,000, increased her earnings to $1,045,594. “Breaking from the one hole in this slop, you gotta get outta there,” said Smith. “She’s never had this kinda dirt in her face and I certainly didn’t want her to get any today. My only concern with being away as long as she has is that we’d probably have to use her from the rail, but I saw she’s been working really well. I knew she’s handled the grass and she’s got a real athletic way of going, so I thought she could probably handle this surface today.” A well beaten fifth as the 1-2 favorite over a similar surface here on Dec. 30, Fantastic Style made her first start today for trainer Doug O’Neill and proved second best after chasing the winner throughout. Off at 7-2 with Rafael Bejarano, she finished a neck in front of Sheer Pleasure and paid $2.80 and $2.40. Ridden by Martin Garcia, Sheer Pleasure was off at 22-1 and paid $3.40 to show. Fractions on the race, which were all set by the winner, were 22.15, 44.26 and 1:08.79. First post time for an eight-race card on Sunday at Santa Anita is at 12:30 p.m. Admission gates open at 10:30 a.m. JOCKEY QUOTES MIKE SMITH, FINEST CITY, WINNER: “Breaking from the one hole in this slop, you gotta get outta there. She’s never had this kinda dirt in her face and I certainly didn’t want her to get any today. My only concern with being away as long as she has (Nov. 5) is that we’d probably have to use her from the rail, but I saw she’s been working really well. I knew she’s handled the grass and she’s got a real athletic way of going, so I thought she could probably handle this surface today. Ian’s done a great job getting her ready.” TRAINER QUOTES IAN KRULJAC, FINEST CITY, WINNER: “Absolutely (it was good to get this one under her belt). “We’ll enjoy this and see what she wants to do in a couple of weeks. No (we won’t keep her sprinting). There aren’t that many sprints for her here in California. “This could be a once-in-a-lifetime day (should FinestCity be named Eclipse Award female sprint champion of 2016 tonight at GulfstreamPark). “It’s awesome to share it with my father (trainer Eric, who is in Florida for the ceremony). Hopefully we’ll get that award today. “We’re just keeping her fresh. We’re not really laying her off at all. That’s the way she runs the best. The inside (post) was a big obstacle today and Mike (Smith) just took it to ‘em. She’s got stamina; she’s got everything you’d ever want in the breeding of a race horse.” Source: Santa Anita Park
Kentucky Downs and Del Mar Picks & Previews | Blinkers Off 683 The Racing Dudes preview and give picks for this weekend’s… Read More
Kentucky Downs Pick 5 Preview | The Magic Mike Show 565 The Magic Mike Show guys preview & give their tickets… Read More
College Football Picks & NFL Tips | Dudes Who Bet Sports 205 Aaron & Papa Dude give their College Football picks for… Read More
Pacific Classic 2024 Picks and Rapid-Fire | Blinkers Off 682 The Racing Dudes preview and give picks for Saturday’s $1… Read More
Del Mar Pick 5 Preview | The Magic Mike Show 564 The Magic Mike Show guys preview & give their tickets… Read More
Kentucky Downs Picks | Turf Sprint Stakes 2024 [Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint] Aaron previews the 2024 Turf Sprint Stakes (G2) at Kentucky… Read More
Kentucky Downs FREE Win Picks | September 7, 2024 Get our FREE win picks at Kentucky Downs on September… Read More
Del Mar FREE Win Picks | September 7, 2024 Get our FREE win picks at Del Mar Thoroughbred Club… Read More
Kentucky Downs Exacta Picks & Plays | Turf Cup Stakes 2024 [Breeders’ Cup Turf] Dr. Miranda gives her exacta picks & plays from the… Read More
Rocket Picks 🚀: Del Mar, Kentucky Downs, & Gulfstream Park for September 7, 2024 Let’s kick off another big day of horse racing with… Read More