November, 2020 | Horse Racing Free Tips

Finite Proves Best In Chilukki; May Head West Next For La Brea

Favored Finite closed into a swift pace, moved into contention around the turn and ran down Sanenus (CHI) near the top of the stretch to comfortably win Saturday's 35^th running of the Grade 3, $100,000 Chilukki Stakes at Churchill Downs in Louisville, Ky., by 2 1/2 lengths at odds of 6-5.

Finite, ridden by Ricardo Santana and trained by Steve Asmussen, clocked one mile over a fast track in 1:35.53 to beat eight other fillies and mares. It was the 3-year-old filly's fifth stakes win of her career and first against elders.

Risky Mandate led the field in the one-turn mile through swift fractions of :22.75 and :45.59 with Finite tracking in seventh down the backstretch. As she moved into contention circling around the field, Sanenus (CHI), who was sitting just off the pace-setter, grabbed the lead and crossed the six-furlong marker in 1:10.81. But the closing Finite quickly forged an advantage in upper stretch and willingly drew off thereafter.

“We had a great trip rating behind the pace,” Santana said. “I think at this stage of her career she is just getting better. She's only 3-years-old and today was her first time against older horses. We went one-turn today but she's maturing and going to be really nice at longer distances, too.”

Finite banked the $59,520 first prize for owners Winchell Thoroughbreds (Ron Winchell),Thomas J. Reiman, William Dickson and Deborah A. Easter. She rewarded her backers with $4.40, $3.40 and $2.40. Sanenus (CHI), ridden by Rafael Bejarano at odds of 10-1, paid $7 and $3.80. Whoa Nellie was another 1 ¼ lengths back in third at 6-1 under Joe Rocco Jr. and returned $4.20.

Gold Standard, Grand Cru Classe, Risky Mandate, New Roo, Crazy Sexy Munny and Unique Factor completed the order of finish.

Prior to the Chilukki, Finite was the narrow runner-up finisher behind Venetian Harbor in last month's $200,000 Raven Run (G2) at Keeneland.

Overall, Finite has won six of 11 starts and $757,869. Her previous stakes scores came in the $122,097 Rags to Riches and $300,000 Golden Rod (G2) at Churchill Downs as a 2-year-old and the $148,500 Silverbulletday and $294,000 Rachel Alexandra (G2) earlier this year at Fair Grounds.

Following her fourth-place effort in the $400,000 Fair Grounds Oaks (G2) in March, Finite underwent minor ankle surgery but returned to Asmussen's stable a few months later.

“She's a really quality filly,” said Asmussen, who also won the 2007 Chilukki with Rolling Sea. “We had a really nice win last year at Churchill in the Golden Rod (G2) and going one-turn in the Rags to Riches. I think she had five wins in a row at one point last year. It was a disappointing race in the Fair Grounds Oaks (G2) and after that is when this year was sort of turned upside down. We gave her some time off after that race and she didn't really handle the going in her start at Kentucky Downs. In the Raven Run, she ran really well against some nice fillies that day.”

In an attempt to land a Grade 1 win to her resume, Asmussen plans to send Finite to California's Santa Anita for a start in the $300,000 La Brea (G1) for 3-year-old fillies over seven furlongs on Dec. 26.

Finite is a chestnut daughter of Munnings out of the Tapit mare Remit and was bred in Kentucky by Winchell Thoroughbreds LLC.

Known as the Churchill Downs Distaff from 1996-2004, the Chilukki was renamed in 2005 to honor Stonerside Stable's graded stakes-winning filly who was trained by Bob Baffert. The daughter of Cherokee Run made four starts at Churchill Downs, all of which were victories. Chilukki won the 2000 edition of this race in what would be her final start with a final time of 1:33.57 – a track record at the time.

Racing at Churchill Downs resumes Sunday with a nine-race program that begins at 1 p.m. ET. The carryover in the Single 6 Jackpot, which covers Races 4-9, is up to $162,270.

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Merveilleux Enters Sovereign Award Discussion After Ontario Damsel Victory

Following up her three-length Wonder Where win, Merveilleux turned in another dazzling performance in the $150,000 Ontario Damsel Stakes for Ontario-bred 3-year-old fillies on Saturday at Woodbine Racetrack in Toronto, Ontario.

With Rafael Hernandez aboard, the Kevin Attard trainee stalked the dueling front-runners before launching her winning bid three-wide in the final turn of the 1 1/16-mile main track stakes event.

Avie's Samurai left sharply and darted to the lead with Justleaveitalone joining her on top to trade blows through fractions of :24.91, :48.68 and 1:26.61. Reigning divisional champion and Woodbine Oaks winner Curlin's Voyage attempted to circle the pacemakers approaching three-quarters, but the even-money favorite posed no threat down the lane.

At the top of the stretch, Merveilleux exploded with late pace and drew off by 3 1/4 lengths in 1:44.37, with Avie's Samurai staying for second over the late-rallying Afleet Katherine, also trained by Attard. Ann of Cleves, Curlin's Voyage and Justleaveitalone completed the order of finish.

“I just wanted to make sure to get the right move, at the right time,” said Hernandez. “I didn't want to get it too early and then flatten out in the lane, but everything worked good in the whole race. We sat behind the speed horse, relaxed good and everything worked perfect today.”

Bred by Mike Carroll, the daughter of Paynter out of Breech Inlet now boasts three wins and third (in the Woodbine Oaks) from five sophomore starts for owners Al and Bill Ulwelling. The consistent filly has hit the board in eight of her 11 races lifetime.

“She was kind of misfortunate earlier in the year to have some rough trips and some bad racing luck, but she's really put it together lately and I'm just happy to see it for the owners,” said Attard, via a video call after watching the race from home.

Merveilleux's late-season stakes success puts her in the conversation for divisional Sovereign Award honors.

“The championship is not based on one or two months of the year, it's over the season, and she's obviously gotten better as the season's gone on and she's at the top of the division right now,” noted Attard. “We're just happy that she's progressed like we wanted her to and hopefully she turns out to be a nice 4-year-old.”

Merveilleux paid $6.10 to win as the 2-1 second choice.

Live Thoroughbred racing continues at Woodbine Racetrack on Sunday, Nov. 22, featuring the $125,000 Grey and matching Mazarine, a pair of Grade 3 stakes for two-year-olds.

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War Front’s Half Brother North Dakota Makes Last Run To Capture Red Smith

Allen Stable's North Dakota utilized a patient trip and surged under jockey Jose Lezcano to overtake Red Knight in deep stretch to post a half-length victory in Saturday's Grade 3, $100,000 Red Smith Stakes, a 1 3/8-mile turf route for 3-year-olds and up at Aqueduct Racetrack in Ozone Park, N.Y.

Fresh off earning a personal-best 97 Beyer Speed Figure when fourth to Red Knight in his stakes debut in the Grade 3 Sycamore on October 15 at Keeneland, North Dakota sat chilly in sixth position as 151-1 longshot Real Factor led the 11-horse field through the opening quarter-mile in 24.67 seconds before opening up a 10-length lead with the half in 48.79, three-quarters in 1:13.68 and a mile in 1:38.49 on the firm inner turf course.

Red Knight, under jockey Jose Ortiz, made up ground and overtook the tiring pacesetter out of the final turn. North Dakota maintained the pressure with a strong outside bid before gaining the advantage in the final sixteenth and hitting the wire in 2:16.47 for his first stakes victory.

“I watched the replay and last time, I think he had a little bit of trouble,” Lezcano said. “I tried to give him a clean trip the whole way and not lose any momentum. He progressed. Every pole was progress. As soon as he got to the three-eighths pole, he switched gears. I hit him a couple times and he really took off and went on with it and won the race. I think he's a very nice horse. He's kind of one paced, but the longer he can go, the better for him.”

North Dakota, a half brother to graded stakes-winner and prominent sire War Front, didn't break his maiden until his seventh career race, with the late-blooming 4-year-old son of Medaglia d'Oro finally earning a winner's circle trip in March at Tampa Bay Downs. Hall of Fame trainer Shug McGaughey said he's been pleasantly surprised by his progress.

“He's come a long way. I wouldn't have thought he would be running in the Red Smith back when he broke his maiden at Tampa [on March 25],” McGaughey said. “He's been up here from Fair Hill. He had been training really well. I thought he had a big chance today. He's got the pedigree to do it and wants a distance of ground. Jose is a patient guy and I said just take your time with him and that's what he did and it worked out for him.”

Off at 8-1, North Dakota returned $19.40 on a $2 win bet. The Kentucky homebred improved his career earnings to $157,325.

Red Knight, the winner of last month's Sycamore for fellow Hall of Fame conditioner Bill Mott, earned a placing for the third consecutive graded stakes start, edging Ziyad by a head for second. Red Knight, the runner-up in the Grade 3 Kentucky Turf Cup in September at Kentucky Downs, moved to 8-7-1 in 22 career starts.

“My horse just fell out of the gate and found his own place,” Ortiz said. “I thought I was in a good position early on but when we went to the backside, everyone started worrying about the horse up front being too far in front and we had to start moving. I started moving and tried to get into position without using him much. I think I had a good trip. I passed the winner going to the half mile pole to the three-eighths pole. I passed him but then he came outside me to win the race. Good trip, no complaints. We were just second-best.”

Sadler's Joy, the 9-5 favorite and defending Red Smith winner, finished fourth. Doctor Mounty, Aquaphobia, Postulation, Real Factor, Tintoretto, Fame to Famous and Changi completed the order of finish.

Live racing resumes Sunday at the Big A with a 10-race card featuring a pair of New York Stallion Stakes Series contests, starting with the $100,000 Thunder Rumble for 3-year-olds and up in Race 3 and the $100,000 Staten Island for fillies and mares 3-years-old and up in Race 9. First post is 11:50 a.m.

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Finite Back to Her Best in Chilukki

Finite (Munnings), a leading contender for the GI Longines Kentucky Oaks earlier this year after capping a five-race win streak in the GII Rachel Alexandra S., returned to her best form Saturday to annex the GIII Chilukki S. over a one-turn Churchill mile that proved right up her alley. Backed as the even-money choice coming off a close second in the GII Lexus Raven Run S. at Keeneland going seven panels Oct. 17, the blaze-faced chestnut settled well off the pace early while drafting behind rivals. Asked for more after a hot half in :45.59, she circled up out wide heading for home and wore down a stubborn Sanenus (Chi) (Scat Daddy) by midstretch en route to a 2 1/2-length tally. Whoa Nellie (Orb) rounded out the trifecta.

Saturday, Churchill Downs
CHILUKKI S.-GIII, $100,000, Churchill Downs, 11-21, 3yo/up, f/m, 1m, 1:35.53, ft.
1–FINITE, 120, f, 3, by Munnings
1st Dam: Remit, by Tapit
2nd Dam: Free Spin, by Olympio
3rd Dam: Spin n Win, by Private Account
($200,000 2yo ’19 EASMAY). O-Winchell Thoroughbreds LLC,
Thomas J. Reiman, William Dickson & Deborah A. Easter;
B-Winchell Thoroughbreds LLC (KY); T-Steven M. Asmussen;
J-Ricardo Santana, Jr. $59,520. Lifetime Record: 11-6-3-0,
$757,869. *1/2 to Reride (Candy Ride (ARG)), MSW-USA,
GSP-UAE, $461,010. Werk Nick Rating: A++.
Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.
2–Sanenus (Chi), 121, f, 4, Scat Daddy–Belgian Chocolate, by
Tale of the Cat. O/B-Haras Matriarca (CHI); T-Michael W.
McCarthy. $19,200.
3–Whoa Nellie, 121, f, 4, Orb–Allegheny Angel, by Medaglia
d’Oro. ($220,000 Ylg ’17 KEESEP). O-Fox Hill Farms, Inc.;
B-Doug & Felicia Branham (KY); T-J. Larry Jones. $9,600.
Margins: 2HF, 1 1/4, HF. Odds: 1.20, 10.60, 6.00.
Also Ran: Gold Standard, Grand Cru Classe, Risky Mandate, New Roo, Crazy Sexy Munny, Unique Factor.
Click for the Equibase.com chart, the TJCIS.com PPs or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree. VIDEO, sponsored by Fasig-Tipton.

“We had a great trip rating behind the pace,” said winning rider Ricardo Santana, Jr. “I think at this stage of her career she is just getting better. She’s only three years old and today was her first time against older horses. We went one-turn today but she’s maturing and going to be really nice at longer distances, too.”

A third-out graduate sprinting at Kentucky Downs last September, Finite returned to the dirt to annex the track-and-trip Rags to Riches S. by six lengths that October before adding the GII Golden Rod S. in the slop at the end of the Churchill meet. She carried her momentum to Fair Grounds for wins in the Silverbulletday S. and over champion 2-year-old filly British Idiom (Flashback) and yet-to-emerge superstar Swiss Skydiver (Daredevil) in the Feb. 15 Rachel Alexandra S., but could only manage fourth at short odds-on in the GII Fair Grounds Oaks Mar. 21 behind Bonny South (Munnings). She hit the sidelines after that, reemerging to finish last of 11 back at Kentucky Downs for the Sept. 15 Music City S. before earning a career-best 96 Beyer Speed Figure when just missing in the Raven Run to another talented daughter of Munnings in Venetian Harbor.

“She’s a really quality filly,” said Hall of Fame trainer Steve Asmussen. “We had a really nice win last year at Churchill in the Golden Rod and going one-turn in the Rags to Riches. I think she had five wins in a row at one point last year. It was a disappointing race in the Fair Grounds Oaks and after that is when this year was sort of turned upside down. We gave her some time off after that race and she didn’t really handle the going in her last start at Kentucky Downs. In the Raven Run, she ran really well against some nice fillies that day.”

Pedigree Notes:

Finite is a fourth-generation homebred for the Winchell family, who first got into Finite’s damside when they purchased her fifth dam, Debs Angel (Raise a Cup), through their long-time association with agent David Fiske out of the 1991 Keeneland November sale for $190,000 while she was carrying a filly by Capote. The Winchells resold Debs Angel at the same sale seven years later for just $55,000, but they still own a number of the family members these few decades later and runners have included Tapiture (Tapit), a MGSW and now a second-crop sire at Darby Dan. Tapiture had three stakes-winning full siblings, including Remit, dam of Finite and of a yearling colt and weanling filly, respectively, by another Winchell runner in Gun Runner. The mare has been bred back to that stallion for next term. Finite continues to have Winchell family fingerprints all over her, as her broodmare sire, Tapit, was also a Winchell runner and has, of course, transformed into one of the preeminent sires in the nation. Finite is one of 40 black-type winners out of his daughters to date. Finite is also one of the top runners by Munnings this year, who currently ranks in the top 10 leading sires by earnings in North America for 2020. Munnings, who stands at Ashford Stud in Kentucky, has 10 black-type winners this year amongst his 42 stakes winners in seven crops to race. Finite is one of 17 graded winners for the Speightstown sire.

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