Finger Arriving at Del Mar © Zoe Metz Photo
The stage is set for the 36th running of the richest race in the west, the $1 million, Grade I Pacific Classic. Among the field of 11 and making the journey across the Pacific is Finger, a 3-year-old son of Gun Runner who has already captured the first two legs of Japan’s Dirt Triple Crown. Raced exclusively in Japan throughout his career, Finger now looks to take on the local competition and continue his 3-year-old campaign in the United States.
Although Finger was born and raced in Japan, he has American roots in his pedigree. His dam, Estilo Talentoso, was a Grade III winner and twice Grade I-placed in the United States before being purchased by Japanese connections for $600,000 at the 2021 Fasig-Tipton November Sale.
Trained by Hiroyasu Tanaka and ridden by jockey Keita Tosaki, Finger began his rise through the Japanese ranks with an eye-catching 9½-length maiden victory. Just two and a half weeks later, he returned to Funabashi Racecourse in Chiba Prefecture for the Grade III Bluebird Cup, where he defeated his rivals by 1½ lengths while covering 1,800 meters, approximately 1⅛ miles to put it in U.S. terms.
The Bluebird Cup serves as an official trial for the Haneda Hai, giving the winner a spot in the next stage of Japan’s Dirt Triple Crown. Finger's path, however, would not be without difficulty. He finished second in the Keihin Hai at Oi Racecourse after appearing to miss the break while racing along the rail, leaving him unable to reel in foe Rock Ptarmigan in the stretch.
The two rivals would meet again in the Haneda Hai, but this time Finger would have the upper hand. His victory earned him a place in the Tokyo Derby, where he faced the challenge of stretching out to 2,000 meters, or approximately 1¼ miles. Finger responded in impressive fashion. Going straight to the lead, he controlled the race from the front and never looked back, winning the Tokyo Derby by 1¼ lengths and securing the second leg of Japan’s Dirt Triple Crown.
With the Japan Dirt Classic still to come in October, Tanaka and the connections faced a decision: continue on the familiar path toward a potential Triple Crown sweep in Japan, or take on a new challenge overseas.
They chose the latter.
Finger wins the Tokyo Derby at Oi Racecourse © Akihiko Takeda
“The way he won in the Blue Bird Cup, he gave us a lot of confidence to try at higher levels,” said Tanaka. “His best performance, I would have to say his most recent race the Tokyo Derby. He was able to establish a good position early, take the lead and stay there all the way to the finish.”
Instead of waiting for October’s Japan Dirt Classic, the connections began looking toward the United States and the Pacific Classic at Del Mar, giving Finger an opportunity to test himself against an international field and begin the next chapter of his 3-year-old campaign.
“I first visited Del Mar on my own in 2023, bringing one of my horses to race at Del Mar had been one of my goals,” said Tanaka. “I was able to achieve that goal to some extent when Rousham Park ran in the Breeders’ Cup Turf two years ago (finished second), but the Pacific Classic is Del Mar’s biggest signature race during its regular meeting. We had also been receiving invitations since early in the spring, so I gradually began to seriously consider taking part in the race.”
Finger’s preparation for his stateside debut continued at the Miho Training Center in Japan under the care of assistant trainer Toshihiko Hokari, a former jockey.
His final work came on August 13, when he worked in company and covered six furlongs in 1:23.20. Exercise rider Akiko Yamazaki was encouraged by what she saw, “He is able to move ahead without needing much urging, so I think he is in a good place mentally,” Yamazaki said.
Finger was scheduled to depart Japan the following day, with his team reporting that the colt appeared to be in even better condition than he had been before his Tokyo Derby victory.
“I think he is heading into the trip in a really good frame of mind and in excellent condition,” Yamazaki said.
Upon his arrival at the seaside oval, Finger settled into his home for the next week where he was vetted and fed; a barn assistant mentioned his appetite did not suffer in the trip “He finished his meals very quickly.” While his exercise rider quipped: “He may like his American meals more than his Japanese meals. It must be his American gene loving it!”
This year’s Pacific Classic has enticed a competitive and speedy field. Finger will take on front-running eastern shippers in Navajo Warrior and Forged Steel from the Saffie Joseph, Jr. barn and Knightsbridge from Bill Mott’s crop. Back in Japan, Finger’s team had been actively working to address his issue of failing to close when making his move from off the pace.
“Finger’s biggest strength is his stamina, as well as his ability to find another gear even after racing on the lead,” said Tanaka. “We have spoken with his jockey, Keita Tosaki, about making use of that strength and racing prominently near the front.”
For Finger, the Pacific Classic represents more than simply his first race in the United States. It is an opportunity to test himself against some of the best dirt horses in the west and potentially earn an automatic berth into the Breeders’ Cup Classic.
The 36th running of the $1 million, Grade I Pacific Classic has been carded as Race 10 on an 11-race program and has an approximate post time of 6:45 P.M. PT.