Month of Rest Planned for Finnick the Fierce

Grade 1-placed Finnick the Fierce will take about a month off after being diagnosed with a minor strain to an upper suspensory ligament, according to a Sept. 11 release from co-owner Arnaldo Monge.

Finnick the Fierce, a 3-year-old son of Dialed In —Southern Classic, by Southern Image, was scratched Friday, Sept. 4, from the Kentucky Derby Presented by Woodford Reserve (G1) after appearing uneven in his on-track warm-up Sept. 3.

According to the release, the injury is not career-ending and requires 30 days of rest before the gelding can resume training.

"We sent Finnick to Dr. Larry Bramlage at Rood and Riddle and he found him to have a slightly enlarged proximal suspensory ligament with no fiber disruption. In layman's terms, it's a strain, not a tear, and his prognosis is good for a full recovery," said Dr. Arnaldo Monge, DVM, who co-owns Finnick the Fierce with trainer Rey Hernandez. 

The gelding is expected to resume full training in October and, if all goes well, his connections are hoping he will make his next start before the end of the year. 

"Racing-fit horses don't lose much condition in 30 days, so we're hopeful he can make a start sometime in November or December," said Monge. "That being said, it's not about a particular race or schedule—it's about the horse. The horse always comes first. That's why, as disappointing as it was to let go of that once-in-a-lifetime dream to run in the Derby, it was an easy decision, because it was about the horse and what's best for him."

Finnick the Fierce was bred in Kentucky by Paige Gilster's Paige Jillian Blu Sky Stables and holds a 2-1-2 record from nine starts, with earnings of $191,290.