LEXINGTON, KY – Carl R. Moore Management’s Finley’sluckycharm found a new dimension to fly home first in Saturday’s Grade 2, $250,000 Thoroughbred Club of America Stakes at Keeneland.
The Thoroughbred Club of America is a Breeders’ Cup “Win and You’re In” event, with Finley’sluckycharm receiving an automatic berth in the $1 million Filly & Mare Sprint at Del Mar on Saturday, November 4.
Bumped at the start by Grace’s Treasure, Finley’sluckycharm recovered to sit fourth early under jockey Brian Hernandez, Jr., while Chalon and True Romance took turns setting splits of :23.05 and :46.03. Fanned wide at the top of the stretch, Finley’sluckycharm commenced a rally down the lane and took the lead in the final furlong. The Bret Calhoun trainee cleared away in the final steps to complete the 6-furlong main track sprint in a final time of 1:10.01.
“She’s a good filly, you just have to be proud of her,” said Hernandez, Jr. “What’s really proud is that last 1/8 of a mile, how fast she came home. She didn’t break as sharp as she normally does, but I never really panicked. The biggest thing was we just trusted in her and she got us there.”
Chalon stayed on strong for second, 1 3/4 lengths behind the winner. and 3/4 of a length ahead of True Romance. Bendable, I’m a Looker, Grace’s Treasure, and Vertical Oak completed the order of finish. Ivy Bell was scratched.
The win improved Finley’sluckycharm’s record to 12-9-2-0 with career earnings of $593,368. The 4-year-old daughter of Twirling Candy has suffered only one loss in 2017, a second-place effort behind Paulassilverlining in the Grade 2 Honorable Miss Handicap at Saratoga. Assuming both horses remain sound, expect Finley’sluckycharm to have a shot for revenge against that rival in four weeks.
“She’s been a very consistent filly,” Calhoun said. “Brian said she just didn’t get away good today and he decided to try something different.”
Finley’sluckycharm returned $3.60 to win, $2.80 to place, and $2.20 to show. Chalon brought back $8.60 to place and $5.40 to show, while True Romance paid $8 to show.
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