Although West Coast-based coach Todd Fincher ended his last trip to Keeneland for Breeders’ Cup 2022 with a not-so-favorite result, he has advanced to 2023 with a new game plan for his talented cadets.
slam 5 years old daughter of tick the only man to bring the second New Mexican blood in history to the World Stage, finishing last in the Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Sprint (G1) after leading in the first half and lackluster in the final. The mare has battled leg problems for years after a pasture accident as a child.
“I don’t think her leg was 100% normal at the time and then she cut a hole, that’s the last column you want to pick. … We went in and tried to fix her leg. her and gave her a break and she just got back to training so it’s far from anything newsworthy… (her feet) have been an issue her whole life. there,” Fincher said.
“It’s going to get better for a little while and you’ll see how well she can run and then it’ll come back and upset her again. It’s a deformed foot from being hit. cut as children in the fence. They tried to solve the problem where it will never happen again, so hopefully this time we have fixed the problem.”
Beaten to work at Keeneland ahead of Breeders ‘Cup 2022
Fincher, who co-breed Slammed, said the mare had just returned to light training 10 days ago.
Despite health problems throughout her career, the “tough as a nail” mare fought back as a 3-year-old to win four consecutive bet races including Sierra Starlet Stakes, Carlos Salazar Stakes, Petticoat Stakes and New Mexico Classic Cup Championship Fillies and Mares Stakes.
Campaigned by co-creators Brad King, Barbara Coleman, Stan and Suzanne Kirby, Slammed secured his first ever classified win and bet in 2022, placing third in the Rancho Bernardo Handicap (G3) and won the final start against the World Championships in the United States Thoroughbred Club (G2) Stakes around the Lexington oval.
Fincher’s other participant at the World Championships is Senator Buscador , a cross for Joe Peacock. 5 year old son of mines finished eighth of nine horses in the Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile (G1) after a ride that proved to be no challenge and trailed behind the caravan all the way.
“It’s unbelievable, I have no doubt he will win that race,” Fincher said. “He did a great job, he went out on the track and the parade afterwards was great. When they got him to the gate, he was completely washed, which he never did. earlier in his life and he was clearly bleeding a lot. He didn’t even run a jump that day, very heartbroken about it.”
Senor Buscador trains at Keeneland ahead of Breeders’ Cup 2022
Senor Buscador returns to the jobs tab at the beginning of January at Sunland Park and Fincher say his next start will likely be a holding company in Arkansas.
“He’s almost ready to run. Hopefully we’ll get him to Oaklawn and get him there as planned if all goes well.”
With a 4-0-1 record in eight starts, Senor Buscador kicked off his career on a strong note, breaking his maidenhood in the fall of 2020 on his first try at Remington Park. He returned to the Oklahoma City track for his next start in the Remington Springboard Mile Stakes, where he went 5 3/4 of the way to win.
He finished right on the board at Del Mar in 2022 Pat O’ Brien Stakes (G2) before winning Ack Ack Stakes (G3) at Churchill Downs for his final race against the Breeders’ Cup.
The ultimate goal for both horses will be to return to the World Championships in November at Santa Anita . Park.
“We’ll try to put together another Breeder’s Cup with both of them this year and see what happens,” Fincher said. “It’s also possible to put (Slammed) out that way. That’s where the Breeders’ Cup is and they might have a few races she could be in. We’re not really looking for a lot of races ahead of Breeders. ‘ Cup. We just wanted to get her there at the right time. … Timing is everything.”
