Fingal’s Cave rolls to victory in Thursday’s Bay Ridge Stakes, her first start in more than a year. NYRA Photo.
Alifyfe Racing’s Fingal’s Cave took more than a year to make her return following arguably the best race of her career – a loss, and her first defeat, no less – but showed Thursday she’ll be a major player in the New York-bred older female division.
Making her first start since finishing second in the Grade 2 Lexus Raven Run in late October 2022 at Keeneland Race Course, Fingal’s Cave shrugged off her foes to win the 10th running of the $100,000 Bay Ridge Stakes. The 4-year-old daughter of Carpe Diem won the 1-mile Bay Ridge by 4 3/4 lengths under Jose Lezcano, leading almost from the start on the way to her fifth victory in six starts.
“Four hundred thirty-two. I heard someone say the number and I tried not to dwell on it,” said winning trainer David Donk. “She’s got a lot of class, so I think the class prevails.”
The 2-1 favorite in the field of six, Fingal’s Cave took the lead from Bustin Bay leaving the chute and clicked past the opening quarter-mile in :23.30 on a tight hold from Lezcano.
Fingal’s Cave maintained a half-length advantage over 5-2 second choice and multiple stakes winner Venti Valentine heading to the far turn and past the half in :46.52. Fingal’s Cave and Venti Valentine, the winner of last year’s Bay Ridge and champion 2-year-old filly in 2021, stayed a half-length apart after 6 furlongs in 1:11.46 before the former edged away in the stretch. Fingal’s Cave continued to widen in the lane, passed 7 furlongs in 1:24.19 and finished in 1:37.45 over the muddy and sealed surface.
“When we broke out of the gate, my filly did everything herself,” Lezcano said. “She’s got a lot of class and broke pretty good and put herself there. I didn’t ask her for nothing. When I asked her at the quarter [pole] she went on and won the race.
“When I got to the quarter, I still felt I had a lot left in the tank. When I asked her she went on well. She’s very classy.”
Fingal’s Cave earned $55,000 for the victory to boost her bankroll to $370,500.
Donk watched the races leading up to the Bay Ridge and liked what he saw for the filly’s comeback.
Jose Lezcano and Fingal’s Cave greet their people after winning the Bay Ridge. Susie Raisher/NYRA Photo.
“I left it up to Jose. I thought there would be more pace,” Donk said. “I was satisfied that horses could close today and that it wasn’t a biased rail. Sometimes, when it gets wet and dries out, it changes throughout the day. But horses were closing. I told him to ride her the way he thought was best.
“Jose is a really good rider and really kind. But she broke sharp and I thought being off the long layoff, she’d be a little fresh. I thought maybe one or two might be in front of her but when she was there, he did the right thing.”
Bred by Chester and Mary Broman and foaled at their Chestertown Farm in Chestertown, Fingal’s Cave is out of the Mineshaft mare Barbie On a Budget. Alifyfe Racing bought her for $75,000 at the 2021 OBS April 2-year-olds in training sale.
A second-generation homebred for the Bromans and out of their top-producing mare Seeking the Ante, Barbie On a Budget went 1-1-2 in four starts and earned $61,500. Fingal’s Cave is her first foal. Barbie On a Budget did not produce a foal in 2020 or 2021 and is the dam of a colt by Honest Mischief that sold for $100,000 at this year’s Fasig-Tipton Saratoga New York-bred yearling sale.
Unraced at 2, Fingal’s Cave made quick waves in the New York-bred 3-year-old filly division in 2022 with back-to-back victories to start her career in the spring at Belmont Park. After an allowance win going 9 furlongs at Saratoga Race Course in late July 2022, Fingal’s Cave won the Fleet Indian Stakes at the same distance in late August to improve to 4-for-4. She suffered her first loss, a 4-length defeat to Wicked Halo, after a troubled and slow start in the 7-furlong Raven Run in late October 22 at Keeneland.
Donk said Fingal’s Cave was diagnosed with “a little bone bruising” after her sophomore campaign and was late to return to his string in New York after dealing with foot bruises while prepping for her return in Kentucky this past summer and fall.
“She was a little delayed getting to me but she came in great shape,” Donk said this week. “She’s done really well since she’s been here.”
Fingal’s Cave showed her readiness with a bullet 5-furlong work in 1:00.66 Saturday on the Belmont training track.
