George Messina and Michael Lee's Fionn was as game as could be in the $2 million Dueling Grounds Oaks Invitational Stakes (G3T) Sept. 10, proving best in an all-out slugfest to the wire with Candy Quest for her third consecutive graded victory.
Fionn's win secured the first Kentucky Downs training title for her conditioner Brad Cox, who wrapped the lucrative 10-day meet with eight wins.
Exiting a top-level triumph in the Belmont Oaks Invitational Stakes (G1T) at Saratoga Race Course, in which she also prevailed in a thrilling stretch duel, the battle-tested filly was bet down as the 2-1 favorite in the 1 5/16-mile Dueling Grounds Oaks.
Positioned far off moderate early fractions of :24.26, :48.12, and 1:11.86 set by Running Away, Fionn raced the entire journey safely in the clear three across under jockey Flavien Prat. Midway through the uphill stretch to the wire, Prat pressed 'go' on a willing Fionn, who accelerated strongly for the finish with Candy Quest in tow. The two fillies dueled the remainder of the way, with Candy Quest gaining a brief advantage before being put away by Fionn late.
Fionn ($6.92) finished a half-length in front of a stubborn Candy Quest with Hereforagoodtime winning the photo over Admit for third.
Bred by Dixiana Farms, the 3-year-old daughter of Twirling Candy completed the distance in a final time of 2:05.52 over a firm turf course.
Fionn became the third Kentucky Downs stakes winner of the meet for Lane's End stallion Twirling Candy, who landed wins with Ag Bullet in the Ladies Turf Sprint Stakes (G2T) and Johnny's Red Storm in the Kentucky Downs Juvenile Sprint Stakes.
