Derby Scratch Finnick the Fierce Diagnosed With Leg Strain

Arnaldo Monge and Rey Hernandez’s Finnick the Fierce (Dialed In), a Friday scratch from last Saturday’s GI Kentucky Derby after appearing off during morning training, has been diagnosed with a minor strain of his upper suspensory ligament. The injury is not career-ending, and the one-eyed gelding must rest for 30 days before resuming training.

“We sent Finnick to Dr. Larry Bramlage at Rood & 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 his   trainer Hernandez.

Third in a division of the GI Arkansas Derby in May, Finnick the Fierce most recently finished seventh in the GII Toyota Blue Grass S. in July. His connections hope a return to full training in October will allow him to make a start in November or December.

“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.”

The post Derby Scratch Finnick the Fierce Diagnosed With Leg Strain appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

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The Way Home Moves To Lost Creek Ranch In Arkansas For 2021

The Way Home, a veteran New Mexico sire, has been sold to Craig Whitlow's Whipsaw Thorougbreds, and he will relocate to Dr. Rodney Vaughn's Lost Creek Ranch in Jonesboro Ark., for the 2021 breeding season.

The 16-year-old son of Giant's Causeway previously stood at Doubletree Farm in Hobbs, N.M., where he entered stud in 2008. He sold to Whipsaw Thoroughbreds for $1,350 last month in the ThoroughbredAuctions.com online New Mexico Breeders' Sale.

An advertised fee will be announced at a later time.

The Way Home's runners have earned over $4 million on the racetrack, and his top runners include stakes winners Way to Go Gerda, Western Way, and E Bar Way.

“I'm very glad to have a man of Rodney's talent to stand The Way Home for Whipsaw Thoroughbreds,” Whitlow said. “He is extremely experienced and great at what he does. I can not express our excitement to have Lost Creek Ranch as The Way Home's new home.

“Rodney is building the future Greensboro Equine Clinic in Jonesboro, which just reinforces our beliefs that this is the up and coming area for breeding race horse,” he continued. “The breeding incentives alone are worth the investment in this area.”

Bred in Virginia by Edward P. Evans, The Way Home is out of the placed Buckaroo mare Homewrecker, who became one of the top broodmares of her generation. The stallion is a sibling to five stakes winners including Grade 1 winner Prenup, Grade 2 winner Cat's at Home, and Grade 3 winners Honor the Hero and Giant Wrecker.

Whitlow said The Way Home has yet not relocated to Arkansas, but the stallion already has eight mares booked to him for 2021.

Whitlow, a graduate of Arkansas State University in Jonesboro, said the school's decision to start its own Thoroughbred breeding program also influenced his decision to send The Way Home to stand at Lost Creek Ranch.

To support his alma mater, Whitlow said Whipsaw Thoroughbreds has started a fundraiser for the school to support their program, as well as bring attention to The Way Home.

Whipsaw Thoroughbreds will be accepting donations for the Arkansas State equine program, and the donor that raises the total amount over each thousand-dollar threshold, through the first $10,000, will receive a free season to The Way Home, with an approved mare.

“We wanted to make it fun to support one of the few universities that offer a Thoroughbred industry program and a way into this business for our future horse breeders, trainers, farm managers, horsemen and women,” Whitlow said. “It's important to Whipsaw Thoroughbreds to preserve our industry's future. When I was growing up, you had to either be born into it or know some one. I think horsemen and women from all over the country will get behind donating to these programs since they usually have such limited budgets.”

The post The Way Home Moves To Lost Creek Ranch In Arkansas For 2021 appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

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Runhappy Turf Sprint Stakes at a Glance

The Runhappy Turf Sprint Stakes at Kentucky Downs may be a six-furlong race, but it’s not your daddy’s turf sprint. While some turf sprints are contested on hard courses with tight turns that favor speed horses, the Runhappy Turf Sprint is contested on a hilly, deep course and starts at the top of the one turn, all of which could work against speed types.

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