Finley'sluckycharm Highweight for Chicago Handicap
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Photo: Coady Photography
Finley'sluckycharm is undefeated in five starts at Churchill Downs
Carl Moore Management's female sprinter Finley'sluckycharm will attempt to remain unbeaten at Churchill Downs when she concedes 6-10 pounds to 12 rivals in the June 24 running of the Chicago Handicap (G3) for fillies and mares.
The race, run at Arlington International Racecourse in the past, will run for the first time at the Louisville oval.
Undefeated in five starts beneath the Twin Spires, Finley'sluckycharm registered her first graded stakes win in last month's Winning Colors (G3) with overwhelming authority as the 1-5 favorite. The 4-year-old daughter of Twirling Candy broke fastest of all in the six-furlong sprint May 27, widened her lead in the turn, and comfortably drew away in hand to score by 5 1/2 lengths over stablemate Mayla. It was the largest margin of victory in 14 runnings of the race.
SHEA: Finley'sluckycharm Romps in Winning Colors
Trained by Bret Calhoun, Finley'sluckycharm will break from post 8 under regular rider Brian Hernandez Jr. while toting 124 pounds—six more than Mayla, who will start from post 7 under Gabriel Saez.
"She does everything so well and has such good natural speed that I just have to stay out of her way," Hernandez said.
The Winning Colors was Finley'sluckycharm's third stakes triumph. Following a narrow half-length loss to Constellation in the La Brea Stakes (G1) over seven furlongs at Santa Anita Park in late December, Kentucky-bred Finley'sluckycharm made her first start of the year April 29 at Churchill and recorded a three-quarter length win over Helen Pitts-trained Athena in the Roxelana Overnight Stakes.
Prior to the La Brea, she won the Dream Supreme Overnight Stakes at Churchill in late November by 8 1/2 lengths and clocked six furlongs in 1:08.58.
Finley'sluckycharm boasts a record of 7-1-0 from nine starts and earnings of $344,468. Each of her seven victories came at six furlongs or shorter.
Like the La Brea, Saturday's Chicago Handicap is run at seven furlongs.
"It was a very good race in the La Brea—a heartbreaking loss," Calhoun said. "I kind of understood it. We were a little bit vulnerable, coming off two very fast races on the speed figures over a short period of time and shipping to California. She got pressed the whole way. It was a tough loss, but I kind of understood it.
"I think seven-eighths is probably her maximum distance with top-level horses. She's a fast filly and she wants to be fast in her races. She's not rank, but she's just naturally fast ... (and) she does have an affinity for the Churchill Downs racing strip.
"We've got the (grade 1) Breeders' Cup (Filly & Mare Sprint at seven furlongs) on our mind. We're hopeful we end up (at Del Mar Nov. 3-4) and we're kind of campaigning her in that direction. ... We're still at our home base and, hopefully, we can save a little bit for the fall."
Mayla, Sweetgrass, Covey Trace, and three-time stakes winner Athena finished second through fifth, respectively, behind Finley'sluckycharm in the Winning Colors. Brooke T. Smith Investments and Denzik Thoroughbreds' Covey Trace, winner of last year's Charles Town Oaks (G3), is the only other graded stakes winner in the field.
Kathballu, a three-time stakes winner, and Pleasant Tales have rested since finishing third and fourth, respectively, behind Finley'sluckycharm in the Roxelana.
G. Watts Humphrey's Improv will cut back in distance after she ran a neck behind Walkabout in the May 20 Matron Stakes (G3) at 1 1/16 miles.
Chicago H. (G3)
Churchill Downs, Saturday, June 24, 2017, Race 10
- 7f
- Dirt
- $100,000
- 3 yo's & up Fillies and Mares
- 5:21 PM (local)
| PP | Horse | Jockey | Wgt | Trainer | M/L |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1Pleasant Tales (KY) | Miguel Mena | 115 | Dallas Stewart | 15/1 |
| 2 | 2Athena (KY) |
Joseph Rocco, Jr. | 117 | Helen Pitts | 12/1 |
| 3 | 3Kathballu (KY) | Florent Geroux | 117 | Kenneth G. McPeek | 8/1 |
| 4 | 4Mines and Magic (KY) | Robby Albarado | 117 | Victoria H. Oliver | 15/1 |
| 5 | 5Ivy Bell (KY) |
Shaun Bridgmohan | 116 | William J. Denzik, Jr. | 30/1 |
| 6 | 6Improv (KY) | Declan Cannon | 116 | George R. Arnold, II | 20/1 |
| 7 | 7Mayla (MD) | Gabriel Saez | 118 | W. Bret Calhoun | 10/1 |
| 8 | 8Finley'sluckycharm (KY) |
Brian Joseph Hernandez, Jr. | 124 | W. Bret Calhoun | 4/5 |
| 9 | 9Sweetgrass (KY) | Chris Landeros | 117 | Ian R. Wilkes | 10/1 |
| 10 | 10She Mabee Wild (IN) | Jon Kenton Court | 117 | Mark Danner | 30/1 |
| 11 | 11Covey Trace (KY) |
Jack Gilligan | 117 | William J. Denzik, Jr. | 30/1 |
| 12 | 12Put Da Blame On Me (KY) |
James Graham | 114 | Michael A. Tomlinson | 15/1 |
| 13 | 13Stageplay (KY) | Corey J. Lanerie | 115 | Steven M. Asmussen | 15/1 |