Buy Local edges clear late to win $175,000 New Mexico Breeders Derby
SUNLAND PARK — Buy Local earned his second stakes win of the season in an impressive score Sunday in the 21st running of the $175,000 New Mexico Breeders Derby at Sunland Park Racetrack and Casino under jockey Guillermo Rodriguez.
Trained by Todd Fincher, Buy Local was mid-pack early in the 1 1/16 mile affair then quickly advanced to contest the pace rounding the far turn. Rodriguez ran up alongside pacesetting American Century at the head of the lane and kicked clear in the final furlong to win by 1 3/4 lengths. The son of Sporting Chance stopped the clock in 1 minute, 44.27 seconds.
Owned by J. Kirk and Judy Robison and bred by the Robison family and Downstream Racing, LLC, Buy Local came into the NM Breeders Derby off a convincing win in his most recent start, the Red Hedeman Mile over this course last month. Now a three-time winner from nine career starts, Buy Local has amassed earnings of more than $246,000.
Fincher also trained runner-up Ghosted Again as well as third place finisher Cash Waterfall. Fincher heads into the final days of the current season in a tight race atop the thoroughbred trainer standings. Justin Evans and Dick Cappellucci entered the day tied atop the standings with 24 winners apiece, with Fincher just two back with 22 winners.
Sent off as the 4-to-5 post time favorite, Buy Local paid $3.80 to his winning backers. The $2 exacta with Ghosted Again returned $10.20. Cash Waterfall and American Century rounded out the top four finishers.