2 minute read
Finneus’ Golden State Juvenile
FINNEUS FIGURES IT OUT
FAMILY HONOR UPHELD IN GOLDEN STATE JUVENILE
BY TRACY GANTZ
It’s tough having a famous mom. Add in a talented sibling and a father who’s been making headlines, and expectations can skyrocket. Fortunately, Finneus is a colt, so he doesn’t know that My Fiona, Fi Fi Pharoah, and Stay Tirsty have caused the humans around him to expect great things.
Finneus has been coming very close to those headlines, running second in this year’s Best Pal Stakes (G2) and Runhappy Del Mar Futurity (G1). He became a stakes winner on the frst of two Breeders’ Cup afternoons at Del Mar, scoring in the $178,000 Golden State Juvenile Stakes Nov. 5.
Terry Lovingier has been responsible for Finneus’ entire pedigree. Lovingier bred the colt’s dam, My Fiona, and raced her in partnership with Tom Beckerle and Amanda Navarro to the 2014 California-bred 2-year-old female championship title. Lovingier brought Finneus’ sire, Stay Tirsty, to California, and he also bred stakes-winning Fi Fi Pharoah, a half sister to Finneus by American Pharoah.
“His mother won the female version of this race,” Lovingier said.
Te 2014 Golden State Juvenile Fillies Stakes, run that year at Santa Anita, was one of three stakes My Fiona captured during her championship season. She ultimately earned $478,743. Together, Finneus and Fi Fi Pharoah have earned nearly that much, and both could continue to earn much more during their careers.
With the seven-furlong Juvenile attracting Finneus as well as Slow Down Andy, an impressive maiden winner by Nyquist, and I’m Smokin Stakes winner Joker Boy, that trio’s nine rivals all went of at double or even triple digits in the wagering. Slow Down Andy went favored over Finneus and then Joker Boy.
A phalanx of runners set of in the frst fight of the Juvenile, and jockey Joel Rosario had Finneus alone on his own in ninth. Tat was an excellent position from which Finneus could pass horses around the turn.
Racing four wide into the stretch, Finneus challenged Slow Down Andy and Fast Draw Munnings, defeating Slow Down Andy by a half-length in 1:23. Slow Down Andy had three-quarters of a length advantage over Fast Draw Munnings.
“He’s such a big horse—he’s still learning how to run,” said Lovingier. “He’s just fnally getting his feet under himself, and, hopefully, he’ll keep moving forward. He’s a horse that keeps on trying.”
Lovingier campaigns Finneus with Navarro and Naseer Mohammed Fasihuddin. Walther Solis trains the colt.
“He’s a special horse, and every single race he’s learning more and more,” Solis said. “He’s going to get to the point where he really has it fgured out. Now he’s switching leads on time. Te frst couple of races he didn’t want to switch leads, and that makes a lot of diference.”
© BENOIT PHOTOS
Finneus takes the Golden State Juvenile at Del Mar on frst day of BC World Championships
Finneus’ extended family connections celebrate the colt’s Golden State Juvenile Stakes victory in the Del Mar winner’s circle
© Benoit Photo
