Olivia Twist's victory in the $100,000 Trapeze Stakes on Saturday at Remington Park kept the 2-year-old filly undefeated after three starts for trainer Todd Fincher.
Fincher has now won the top local races for 2-year-old fillies and also for 2-year-old colts/geldings, winning the $400,000 Springboard Mile with Senor Buscador in 2020.
Olivia Twist, a 2-year-old Kentucky-bred daughter of Mshawish (Medaglia d'Oro), out of the War Chant mare Twinkling, handled the step up in class to stakes company with ease, but it wasn't before some problems being boxed in early in the race. It was a problem that jockey Cristian Torres said really didn't exist.
Olivia Twist, owned by G. Chris Coleman of Farmington, N.M., covered the first half mile of the race in a box down on the rail, but it wasn't as bad as it seemed.
“She had a lot of speed out of the gate and she broke sharp,” said Torres. “We worked her behind horses (in the morning) and so I knew it was no problem. She just relaxed behind them and when we had an opening and I asked her to run, she opened up.”
Torres, who won the riding title this season at Remington Park, in his first time venturing to Oklahoma City, rode Olivia Twist like a master at 4-5 odds as the heavy favorite. She wound up leaving the field behind when she finally found room and scored by two full lengths at the one-mile distance.
Fincher said it was the first time he had ever seen Olivia Twist race live.
“We got her ready at Ruidoso Downs (in New Mexico),” said the New Mexico-based trainer. “Then we shipped her here. It's tough for me to go back and forth. But she was ready to run once we brought her to Remington Park.”
Olivia Twist started her career with a maiden win at Remington Park on Oct. 19, sprinting five furlongs in :58.66, winning by 2-1/2 lengths. The filly showed strong improvement immediately in an allowance race for non-winners of two lifetime, drawing away from her competitors by 15 lengths at the end of that one-mile race when she stretched out the first time. Torres has ridden her to all three wins.
Olivia Twist won the one-mile Trapeze in a time of 1:40.14 over a fast track after checking back on the rail from third early to fifth halfway through the race. She ate into early fractions set by Bonnieview and Faith Alone, who both faded badly down the stretch. They covered the first quarter-mile in :23.70, followed by a half in :47.59, three-quarters of a mile in 1:13.52 and seven furlongs in 1:26.76.
This was the first Trapeze Stakes win for all connections.
Olivia Twist earned $60,000 from the purse and improved to three wins in three tries for a bankroll of $100,149.
“She has never done anything wrong,” said Fincher. “I've never seen a weak link in her. Our jockey rode a great race and we're very proud of her. We'll take her to Oaklawn on Monday.”
If all goes as planned at Oaklawn in Hot Springs, Ark., Olivia Twist could be pointed toward the Grade 3, $300,000 Honeybee Stakes on Feb. 25 at 1-1/16th miles for 3-year-old fillies. The ultimate goal for 3-year-old fillies is the Grade 3, $600,000 Fantasy Stakes on April 1.
The order of finish behind Olivia Twist was Demi (2nd), Lucky Deputy (3rd), Appropriated Funds (4th), Bonnieview (5th), Jokes On Blue (6th), Faith Alone (7th) and Doudoudouwanadance (8th).
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