Dialed In, who has had three stakes winners in the past month, will be represented in this year’s Kentucky Derby (G1) by Finnick the Fierce, who drew post 1 in the 18-horse field.
Saturday’s 1 1/4-mile Derby will be the first ran with a redesigned starting gate, allowing the inside horses more opportunity to establish good position early in the race.
Finnick the Fierce earned his way into the Run for the Roses with a solid third in the Arkansas Derby (G1), which ironically was run on May 2, the original date for this year’s Kentucky Derby.
The chestnut 3-year-old is trained by Ray Hernandez, who co-owns with Arnaldo Monge. Hernandez also gallops his charge in the mornings as well.
“I think it’s a big plus (getting on your own horses) because you can feel how they’re doing and you know everything about them,” Hernandez said after galloping on Wednesday morning. “It’s to your advantage.”
Finnick the Fierce has made three starts at Churchill Downs, including finishing second in last year’s Kentucky Jockey Club (G1). The third-place finisher that day was current Derby favorite Tiz the Law.
Finnick the Fierce was bred in Kentucky by Paige Jillian Blue Sky Stables and will be ridden Saturday by Martin Garcia.
Post time Saturday for the Derby, race 14, is 7:01 p.m. ET.
