Finite (center) with Ricardo Santana, Jr. aboard gets a head in front to win the 28th running of the Silverbulletday Stakes at Fair Grounds. The victory marks the 1,000th stakes win for trainer Steve Asmussen.
Trainer Steve Asmussen celebrated the 1,000th stakes win of his Hall of Fame career on Saturday at the Fair Grounds, sending out Finite to win the $150,000 Silverbulletday by a head. He is only the third trainer in history to reach this milestone; the other two are D. Wayne Lukas and Todd Pletcher.
A 3-year-old daughter of Munnings, owned by Winchell Thoroughbreds, Thomas J. Reiman, William Dickson and Debbie Easter, Finite settled just behind the pacesetters while three-wide down the backstretch, then ran gamely through the length of the stretch to earn her fourth straight victory. Ridden by Ricardo Santana, Jr., the filly completed a mile and 70 yards over the fast main track in 1:42.73.
The victory earns Finite 10 points on the Road to the Kentucky Oaks, and she now sits in third on the overall leaderboard with 20 points.
Ursula was sharp out of the starting gate, followed by His Glory and a three-wide Finite around the clubhouse turn. Leading by three-quarters of a length, Ursula set early fractions of :24.23 and :48.72 down the backstretch.
Rounding into the far turn, Finite made her move and drew even with Ursula and His Glory. A four-wide Portrait was also up close on the far outside as the leaders straightened up for the battle down the long Fair Grounds stretch.
Ursula kept on fiercely but could not keep Finite at bay in the final strides. Finite got her head in front just in time for the wire, and Ursula was able to hold second over the late-running Tempers Rising. Portrait was within a length in fourth.
Bred in Kentucky by co-owner Winchell Thoroughbreds, Finite is out of the multiple stakes-winning Tapit mare Remit, a full sister to millionaire and young stallion Tapiture. Finite is a half-sister to $461,010 earner Reride, and brought a final bid of $200,000 at the Fasig-Tipton Midlantic 2-year-old in training sale. The filly ran second in her first two starts, but has now run out four victories in a row, including the G2 Golden Rod, to improve her overall earnings to over $450,000.
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