Finite Passes Two-Turn Test in Sloppy Golden Rod

Winchell Thoroughbreds and Hall of Fame trainer Steve Asmussen are no strangers to success in the Longines Kentucky Oaks (G1), having twice won it together, first with Summerly in 2005 and then with champion Untapable in 2014. Now, a little more than five months before the historic 3-year-old filly race, it looks as though they have a bright prospect in Finite.

Racing during the "Stars of Tomorrow" 2-year-old program Nov. 30 at Churchill Downs, the daughter of Munnings  scored her first graded stakes victory by turning back a bold stretch bid from Motu to win the $300,000 Golden Rod Stakes (G2), a qualifying race for next year's Oaks. The win earned her 10 points, placing her among the top five Road to the Kentucky Oaks points earners. Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies (G1) winner British Idiom is the leader with 30.

Making her first start around two turns in the 1 1/16-mile race, Finite relaxed under jockey Ricardo Santana Jr., settling in third while Bean was hustled to the lead and set fractions of :23.93 and 48.53 in the slop. There Finite remained, tucked in along the inside for the opening half-mile, before being launched three wide to go after Bean and Lady Glamour, who poked a head in front by the six-furlong split in 1:14.20.

Then the Golden Rod became a two-filly race between Finite and a rallying Motu, who advanced to her heels in the stretch. The two distanced themselves from the rest of the pack, with Finite maintaining a small advantage over the final quarter-mile. She hit the wire three-quarters of a length in front—finishing in 1:45.99—and paid $3.60.

"Steve has been working so long with her, teaching her how to relax in the morning," Santana said. "She relaxed really well. She broke very sharp, but she let me take back, took off the speed, and she gave me a nice kick at the end."

A winner of three consecutive races, Finite scored in the Oct. 27 Rags to Riches Stakes at Churchill Downs for owners Winchell Thoroughbreds, Thomas Reiman, William Dickson, and Deborah Easter. Winchell Thoroughbreds bred the filly out of the Tapit  mare Remit, a two-time stakes winner.

Remit, a full sister to graded winner and sire Tapiture , has produced two stakes winners. Reride (by Candy Ride) won the Mine That Bird Derby and Big Drama Stakes in 2018. The mare has a yearling daughter of Candy Ride  and a Gun Runner  weanling colt, and was bred back to Gun Runner for 2020.

"To show the style she ran today, it should be very effective going forward," Asmussen said. "A great winner of the Golden Rod."

Asmussen and Santana swept the two stakes races Saturday at Churchill Downs, winning the Kentucky Jockey Club Stakes (G2) an hour later with Silver Prospector.

Asmussen suggested a short break could follow before Finite is geared up for the Oaks in 2020.

"I think now it will be a matter of spacing," he said. "Plenty of experience, 2-for-2 here at Churchill now. I would expect to want the Oaks to probably be her third run next year."

Motu's connections had reason to be encouraged by her close defeat. She was 6 1/2 lengths ahead of third-place Lady Glamour. Hung four wide for much of the race after an awkward break, Motu raced 59 more feet than the winner, according to Trakus.

Since the Golden Rod moved to its current distance in 1980, only two winners have parlayed their success into Kentucky Oaks victories the following spring: champions Silverbulletday in 1998-99 and Rachel Alexandra in 2008-09.

Still, horses from the Golden Rod have run well in the Oaks over the past couple of years. Liora, last year's Golden Rod winner, ran second to Serengeti Empress in this year's Oaks. A year before, Monomoy Girl won the 2018 Oaks during her championship 3-year-old season after finishing second in the 2017 Golden Rod.

Video: Golden Rod S. (G2)