Giant Finish, third in the Horseshoe Casino Cincinnati Spiral Stakes (gr. III) last month, will enter the Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (gr. I), trainer Anthony Dutrow confirmed April 30.
"He's going to get there Thursday morning (May 2)," Dutrow said of the New York-bred son of Frost Giant , who qualified with 10 points on the road to the May 4 Kentucky Derby. He bumps Fear the Kitten, who has 6 points, from the last of 20 spots to the also-eligible list in the field for the 1 1/4-mile Classic.
Additionally, the partnership group headed by Dr. Mark Dedomenico that now owns Carving is considering a run in the Derby. The horse is based at Emerald Downs with trainer Mike Puhich, who told Churchill officials that a May 2 flight to Louisville is on standby should there be any defections. Carving is ranked No. 22 on the Derby points board with 2 points.
Giant Finish was bred by Andy Cohen out of the Hickman Creek mare Apocalyptic and has a 2-1-1 record from five starts, with earnings of $133,050. He races for Cohen's Sunrise Stables in partnership with Gary Tolchin, Aubrey Flanagan, and Bob Smith. He earned his victories on the dirt at Aqueduct Racetrack and notched his in-the-money finishes on Polytrack, finishing second in the March 2 John Battaglia Memorial Stakes at Turfway Park prior to the Spiral.
The connections of Giant Finish contacted Churchill Downs officials April 30 and indicated their desire to run. Under the new qualifying system for the race, their point total was 20th best on the list and made them eligible to fill the field.
Dutrow told officials that he "has agreed to support my owners' decision to run in the Kentucky Derby.
"I am so surprised at all of this," he said. "I was pleasantly surprised and happy to see he ran as well as he did (in two Kentucky starts in March). We've kept an eye on him since and have made sure he's had good energy since those races."
Giant Finish last worked at Fair Hill Training Center April 25, going four furlongs in :49 2/5. He is to ship by van from Fair Hill May 1 and arrive at Churchill the morning of May 2, in time to meet the requirement for Derby horses to be on the grounds in advance of the race.
Dutrow said the owners were trying to line up a rider for the race and that he would have someone other than himself saddle the horse for the Derby.
