Horse Racing

The dams connect to Todd Fincher’s Breeder’s Cup


by JN Campbell

If you didn’t know the name of Todd Fincher of New Mexico, now you do. The past few weeks have solidified it. “My phone just blew up,” he admitted.

During the GII Purebred Club of America S. in Keeneland on October 8, the trainer’s 4-year-old boy slam (Tick) set the speed early. Never looking back, she burned a solid field more than half a dozen long. After her $200,000 replenishment, she’ll race on the same track in the GI Breeders’ Cup Filly and Mare Sprint on November 5.

It was Fincher’s second trip to the heart of Bluegrass, and his first win at Keeneland. It has earned him a pair of tickets to next month’s international event. His 4-year-old pony, Senor Buscador (Platen), won the GII Ack Ack S. at Churchill Downs on October 1 and will compete on the same day as the GI Breeders’ Cup Big Ass Fans Dirt Mile.

But this story is much more than that.

Back in 2013, when Fincher was facing a predicament. Two of his top mares headed for the same race. There isn’t any way around it; he must enter both. Keeping them apart had worked until then, but time was running out.

The short-priced favorite, Rose’s Desert, was then a 5-year-old mare owned by Joe Peacock Sr. She will face her stable friend, Barbara Coleman, 4 years old, Hennesey Smash (Roll Hennesey Roll) in Peppers Pride H. at Sunland Park.

Fincher says he doesn’t know how it’s going to turn out, except that, he said, “It’s going to be a showdown.” He was right.

From the bell, Hennesey Smash took the lead, forcing Rose’s Desert to fan out before its first call. In the back, Fincher’s younger entry clings to the rails in control, but it looks like her more experienced opponent is gaining the edge. At the top of the lane, though, it’s clear that Coleman’s mare has more to offer in the tank. The discomfort happened, all the way to the wire.

Ironically, Slammed and Senor Buscador were dropped from Hennesey Smash (MSW, $252,006, winner of seven of her eight career starts) and Rose’s Desert (MSW, $626,035, winner) respectively. won 10 of her 15 career starts). Perhaps it is more prophetic. Since he took his coach license 25 years ago, it’s been one of those all-out moments, as both dams are connected to his Breeders’ Cup wharf.

Fincher was born in Denver, Colorado to a family of horsemen. They moved to Albuquerque, New Mexico in 1985.

“I weigh 100 lbs. and about 5’1″ in middle school,” Fincher said with a chuckle. After graduating from high school, he became a professional jockey in his home state, earning $2,138,839 in earnings in about 4,100 starts. He became too big for the saddle in 1997, and the following year, he switched to training.

Despite a stellar record in New Mexico, Fincher surprised some by finishing this October in the winners’ circle with Senor Buscador and Slammed. The success of conditioning is no accident; instead, it was built on breaking and building young athletes to race. What Fincher calls, “my program,” which does not include claims, is purely based on patience. It is not easy.

“My approach is to be slow and methodical and let the horses dictate everything because they will let you know when the time is right,” he said.

With a team of jailbreakers, he helps select trusted kids and 2-year-olds for his trusted clients, then trains many of them to use early speed to great effect. outstanding results. If owners decide to move to another barn to run elsewhere, Fincher prides themselves on having a solid foundation.

A recent case in point, Smash Ticket (Midnight Lute), who was partly owned by Coleman, was moved into Rob Atras’ barn over the summer. Slammed’s half-sister recently won the Weather Vane S. award at Pimlico. Fincher says he’s very pleased.

“The right choices early in a horse’s career mean everything, I think, so we start them on the right foot,” he explains.

Managing the horse’s form during training also requires a steady dose of persistence. Back in early 2021, when Senor Buscador picked up an injury along the Derby Trail after GII Risen Star S. at the Fair Grounds, Fincher and owner Joey Peacock Jr., did everything in their power to give the new starlet. budding has a chance to recover.

“Nothing was easy in that period until this past summer, and it’s frustrating to see him have a couple of big setbacks, but he’s the best he can be, right now.”

Fincher continues to build strong relationships with customers. After GIII Rancho Bernardo H. at Del Mar in August, he sold his stake in Slammed to Barbara Coleman.

“She and her husband, now deceased, have sent me some really good horses over the years, and Brad King and I bought Hennesey Smash from her when she left the breeding business. and racing, so that’s the right thing Fincher said.

He may have missed out on the scum’s future earnings, but he says he doesn’t see it that way.

“I am a coach,” he said. “I have to pay the bills, so ownership is not at the top of my mind.”

What is Fincher thinking? Get ready for the biggest race of their lives and possibly its own. As for Rose’s Desert, she is currently the pony for Authentic, while Hennesey Smash has visited City of light. The next generation of New Mexican crossbreeds is coming.

In the meantime, another demonstration appeared. Luckily for Todd Fincher, Slammed and Senor Buscador didn’t have to race.

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