Althea D. Richards’ homebred FINERY (Lear Fan) overtook the pacesetting
Changing World (Spinning World) a few jumps before the wire to take Saturday’s
$112,800
Beaugay H. (G3) at Aqueduct by a neck. As the latter set splits of :24, :49
1/5, 1:13 2/5 and 1:38, jockey Pablo Fragoso and Finery were saving ground while
running in third. Nearing the stretch, the bay mare moved to the outside and
proceeded to run down Changing World, just getting to her before the finish and
stopping the clock for 1 1/16 miles on the good turf in 1:44 2/5.
Sent of the 7-1 fourth choice in the nine-horse field, the Billy
Turner-trained Finery returned $17.60, $6 and $3.70 to her supporters while
keying the $54 exacta. Changing World was second by 2 1/2 lengths and gave back
$3.80 and $3 as the 9-5 favorite. Asti (Ire) (Sadler’s Well) saved ground on the
inside while racing in midpack, then came wide and managed to nose out Fast
Cookie (Deputy Minister) for third, paying $3.40 at 7-2 and ending the $184
trifecta (2-1-4). Fortunate Damsel (Runaway Groom) followed Fast Cookie, then
came Sauvage (Fr) (Sri Pekan), Savage Beauty (Joyeux Danseur), With Patience
(With Approval) and Lady Libby (Sea Salute). Actcellent (Noactor) and Strategy
(A.P. Indy) were main-track only entrants.
Finery improved her earnings to $268,000 and now owns a mark of 12-5-4-0. The
five-year-old adds this victory to her other stakes win, last year’s Athenia H.
(G3). The Virginia bred is out of the multiple stakes-placed Duds (Ack Ack),
making her a half-sister to stakes queen Smock (El Prado [Ire]) and an unnamed
2005 filly by Storm Boot.
Turner mentioned the May 22 Sheepshead Bay H. (G2) and the Just a Game
Breeders’ Cup H. (G2) on June 11, both at Belmont Park, as possible next starts
for Finery.