Equity Search tops 1-2 finish for Fincher in Sierra Starlet Stakes
ALBUQUERQUE – Trainer Todd Fincher saddled the top two finishers in Sunday’s $75,000 Sierra Starlet Stakes at Albuquerque Downs, with heavy post-time favorite Equity Search proving best in the final yards over Bye Bye Vicki.
Ridden by Oscar Andrade Jr. for owners J. Kirk and Judy Robison, Equity Search was always within striking range of stablemate Bye Bye Vicki down the backstretch of the 5 1/2 furlong contest. The 3-year-old daughter of Sporting Chance rolled up alongside the leader with a furlong left to run and inched clear late to win by a half-length in 1 minute, 3.53 seconds.
Equity Search was bred in New Mexico by the Robison family and Downstream Racing LLC. She has won three times from five career starts and has never finished worse than second. Sunday’s victory in the Sierra Starlet was her first career stakes win, pushing her career bankroll past $101,000.
In her previous start, Equity Search finished second in the C.O. Kendrick Memorial Stakes at SunRay Park on May 17.
Fincher, the leading Thoroughbred trainer at the current Ruidoso at Albuquerque meet, has 34 wins in New Mexico this year, including eight stakes victories.
Equity Search went into the starting gate as the 3-to-5 favorite and returned $3.20 to win. The $2 exacta with Bye Bye Vicki paid $6.80. Awesome Glory was a distant third, and BFT Rigged Up rounded out the top four.
Albuquerque Downs will host 11 trial heats Sunday for 3-year-old Quarter Horses looking to qualify for major stakes races next month.
Six trials will be held for the $1 million Rainbow Derby, alongside five trials for the $350,000 Rainbow Oaks. All 11 heats will be contested at 440 yards, with the 10 fastest qualifiers from each set of trials advancing to the finals on Saturday, July 11.
The track will host two additional days of trials Friday and Saturday for the Rainbow Futurity, the middle leg of Quarter Horse racing’s Triple Crown. A total of 30 trials at 400 yards will determine the 10 fastest qualifiers for the Rainbow Futurity final on Sunday, July 12.