Todd Fincher, Sunland Park's leading trainer, had an afternoon to remember at the New Mexico track on Tuesday, winning six races on the 13-race program, including the final four events of the day – all stakes – led by Henry Q's 14 3/4-length romp in the $100,000 Mine That Bird Derby.
The four stakes were added to the regularly scheduled nine-race card as they were among the races lost when most of Sunday's program was cancelled due to extreme wind.
“Almost impossible, just unbelievable,” said Fincher. “Six wins and four stakes is a pretty good day. One time at Ruidoso I won six, but they were Thoroughbred futurity trials and I think each one had about a $5,000 pot.”
Fincher began his big day with a victory in the second race with Sense of Urgency, a $12,500 claimer who was subsequently claimed. He then took the fifth race, a state-bred allowance contest, with Comic Hot Toddy. Both of those winners were guided by leading rider Luis Fuentes.
Flying Connection, a 3-year-old filly by Nyquist, crushed her rivals by 9 1/4 lengths under Alfredo Juarez Jr. in the $75,000 Island Fashion Stakes – a local prep for the March 26 Sunland Park Oaks – a Kentucky Oaks qualifying points race. Thruthestorm, ridden by Fuentes, led a 1-2-3 finish for Fincher runners in the $100,000 Red Hedeman Mile Stakes. Henry Q, with Edwin Maldonado coming over from Southern California to ride, defeated Fincher stablemate Giroovin to give Fincher win No. 5 in the Mine That Bird Derby, then Fincher and Fuentes teamed up one more time to win the $100,000 Albert and Henry Dominguez Memorial Stakes for New Mexico-breds with Cheese Tray to close out the card.
The Mine That Bird Derby is a steppingstone to the Grade 3 Sunland Park Derby, a Kentucky Derby qualifying points race scheduled on March 26.
Fincher was quick to credit trainer Doug O'Neill for Henry Q's success.
“I just got him a week ago, so that was all Doug,” Fincher said of the Blame colt who races for The Del Mar Group and who came to New Mexico off a Feb. 4 maiden win at Santa Anita going seven furlongs. Bred by Fred W. Hertrich III and John D. Fielding, Henry Q was purchased by Dennis O'Neill for $125,000 from Taylor Made Sales Agency at the 2021 Keeneland September Yearling Sale.
“I'll keep him here and we'll point for the Sunland Derby,” Fincher said. “The filly will go for the Oaks if all is well. I've loved that filly since last year at this time. She had some back end issues, a pulled muscle, and didn't run well at Del Mar. But I had my No. 1 gallop guy get on her back here and that has made a big difference.”
Bred by Liberty Road Stables, Flying Connection was purchased for $250,000 from Gainesway at Keeneland September. She races for Brad King, Randy Andrews, Chris Coleman, Jim Cone, Suzanne Kirby and Lee Lewis.
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