Finger, a 3-year-old Japanese-bred colt by Three Chimney Farms' marquee stallion Gun Runner , is set to travel to the United States this summer to target the Pacific Classic (G1) at Del Mar. The news was first reported by Nikkan Sports, a Japanese daily sports newspaper.
Finger recently won the $1.059 million Tokyo Derby (G1) at Oi Racecourse, the second leg of the Japan Dirt Triple Crown, by 1 1/2 lengths. The bay colt has never finished worse than second in eight career starts (4-4-0), and has banked earnings totaling $1,285,002.
"I decided to advance to the Pacific Classic as a goal," said trainer Hiroyasu Tanaka to Nikkan Sports. "Based on the results, I would like to consider whether to go to the Breeders' Cup Classic (at Keeneland)."
The Pacific Classic is held annually over the Del Mar dirt at 1 1/4 miles, for horses aged 3 and up. The race features a lucrative $1 million purse and an automatic berth into the Breeders' Cup Classic (G1).
Finger was bred in Japan by Takahashi Farm and is campaigned by M's Racing. Japanese connections JS Company purchased Finger's dam—Estilo Talentoso, a graded stakes winner by Maclean's Music —for $600,000 at the 2021 Fasig-Tipton November Sale. Estilo Talentoso won the Bed O'Roses Stakes (G3) in 2021 and finished second in that year's Madison Stakes (G1) at Keeneland, finishing 3/4 of a length behind Kimari.
The mare was kept in Kentucky to be bred to Gun Runner, resulting in the aforementioned Finger. He was purchased privately by Masahiko Sugono of M's Racing.
