Trainer Todd Fincher was undeterred when his top New Mexico-bred filly was unable to win Del Mar's Grade 2 Rancho Bernardo, run down late and beaten a half-length by Edgeway. Fincher brought Slammed back in another graded stakes race, entering her in Keeneland's Thoroughbred Club of America Stakes this Saturday, and this time the 4-year-old daughter of Marking was able to deliver the victory by a dominating 6 1/2 lengths.
“Really, my only concern was getting away from the gate good and clean,” Fincher explained. “Last time she slipped behind and it cost her, so when I saw those turquoise blinkers jump out of the gate I was very happy. I looked up after the first quarter and it went in 22 and 3, I said, 'If she gets beat we have no excuse,' because the fractions weren't too bad—she can go much faster. So, very happy. And you saw what she did down the lane. She had a lot left. She's an awesome horse.”
Sent off as the favorite, Slammed and jockey Florent Geroux completed six furlongs over Keeneland's fast main track in 1:10.03. The win earned the filly an expenses-paid berth to the Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Sprint next month at the Lexington, Ky. oval.
“It was good (away from the gate), just like she did in the morning, very professional,” said Geroux. “She knows what to do out there. I'm very pleased for the opportunity from (trainer) Mr. (Todd) Fincher and the owners and my agent for getting me the mount. I was just the lucky recipient today on her. Very excited about her. She relaxed very nicely (in the middle of the race). You can tell on television, when their ears start going back and forth, it's usually a good sign that the horse is taking their time and having fun out there. As soon as I chirped to her a little bit at the three-sixteenths (pole), I had plenty of horse left and I just tried to keep her focus all the way to the wire. But that was really a result of strong urging.”
Slammed is owned by Brad and Suzanne King and Barbara Coleman, and was bred by Brad King and Todd Fincher out of another top New Mexico-bred stakes star, the 7-for-8-winning Hennesey Smash (Roll Hennesey Roll). Overall, Slammed's record stands at nine wins from 12 starts for earnings of $557,030.
Happy Soul and John Velazquez held on to finish second, a half-length ahead of Joyful Cadence. The remaining order of finish was as follows: Li'l Tootsie, Club Car, Sconsin, Liberty M D, and Palm Cottage.
The post New Mexico-Bred Slammed Goes All The Way In ‘Win And You’re In’ TCA appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.
