By Joe Bianca
Finite (Munnings), an easy winner of her last two including the Rags to Riches S. at Churchill, will try to make it three in a row as a likely favorite against seven rivals in Saturday's GII Golden Rod S. beneath the Twin Spires.
Second on debut July 19 at Saratoga, the $200,000 Fasig-Tipton Midlantic 2-year-old graduate filled the same slot there next out Aug. 18 before moving to the turf and scoring a front-running 4 1/4-length graduation Sept. 12 at Kentucky Downs. Moved back to the main track and stretched to a route for the first time in the Rags to Riches Oct. 27, the chestnut put away even-money favorite and 'TDN Rising Star' Specially (Tapiture) before drawing clear to cruise by a half-dozen lengths. The Steve Asmussen trainee has drilled three times in the interim, including a rare six-furlong move for the barn in 1:13 3/5 (1/2) Nov. 25 and she embarks on her initial two-turn test.
Brereton Jones's Turtle Trax (Cairo Prince) also stretches out as an improving sort for trainer Ian Wilkes. Well bet for the stable at 39-10 in her career bow here Sept. 19, the homebred finished a late-running fifth with some stretch traffic, and snuck away at 7-1 next out Oct. 12 at Keeneland when graduating by 3 1/4 lengths. Stepping into allowance company going 6 1/2 panels at this oval Nov. 8, the dark bay moved forward once more, closing into a modest pace to score by 2 3/4 lengths going away.
Melodee Hicks's Bean (Bernardini) could make some noise for trainer Larry Rivelli. Picked up for $340,000 as a Keeneland November weanling, the Florida-bred rolled by 7 3/4 lengths debuting at Rivelli's Arlington base Sept. 20, earning a field-best 86 Beyer. The dark bay then overcame a troubled journey to be runner-up in the Presque Isle Debutante S. Oct. 10 and stumbled and lost her rider when favored against the aforementioned Turtle Trax Nov. 8.
Ben and Sheila Rollins' His Glory (Mineshaft) looks to continue a late-season surge for trainer Tom Amoss. A facile debut victress June 11 at Indiana Grand, the $52,000 Keeneland September purchase made no impact when seventh in the GIII Schuylerville S. and was a distant third in the Ellis Park Debutante S. Aug. 18. Dismissed at 43-1 in the track-and-trip GII Pocahontas S., she sprung to life, dueling on the pace and holding second. The dark bay proved that was no fluke when going wire to wire for an allowance victory here Oct. 27, defeating the re-opposing Motu (Paynter) by 4 1/2 lengths.
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