Pacific Classic International Scouting Report: Finger

After winning the first two legs of Japan’s Dirt Triple Crown, Finger could have just stayed home to try to sweep the relatively new series. But the son of Hall of Famer Gun Runner is enticed by the Pacific Classic (G1), Del Mar’s signature race that serves as a “Win and You’re In” for the Breeders’ Cup Classic (G1). 

With his relentless galloping style and proven stamina, Finger should maintain his momentum in a 1 1/4-mile race that figures to have loads of early pace. Indeed, his connections have said that he thrives in “tough” races, in pace scenarios that put a premium on staying power rather than finesse. 

The question is how Finger stacks up against the older horses here, especially as a hulk of a sophomore who is still physically developing. That said, the retirements of Nysos and Journalism, combined with uncertainty about Knightsbridge’s stamina, give this edition an open look. 

Finger has competed only against fellow three-year-olds in Japan, but he has intriguing collateral form with the Japanese competitors in the 2026 Kentucky Derby (G1), notably Danon Bourbon.  

If his overall profile makes him an intriguing wild card in the Pacific Classic, Finger stands to benefit from the experience. The Del Mar venture has the potential to set him up for a bright future as a globetrotter. 

“Looking at his performances in the Haneda Cup and Tokyo Derby, he’s a horse that makes you want to race him in the United States,” trainer Hiroyasu Tanaka said, according to tospo-keiba.jp.

“He’s not the type of horse that gets off to a slow start and then makes a late surge to win. I don’t know if he can win, but I can imagine him being competitive over there. I’m looking forward to it. I think it will be a good challenge.”

Finger’s pedigree and connections

Foaled in Japan but conceived in the U.S., Finger has a familiar American pedigree. His dam, Grade 3-winning sprinter Estilo Talentoso, placed in the 2021 Derby City Distaff (G1), Madison (G1), Princess Rooney (G2), and Thoroughbred Club of America (G2). 

By Maclean’s Music and out of a mare by champion Afleet Alex, Estilo Talentoso hails from the further family of 1988 Derby-winning Hall of Famer Winning Colors. Another maternal relative, Tap Dance City, was a high-class turf performer who captured the 2003 Japan Cup (G1) and 2004 Takarazuka Kinen (G1).

Estilo Talentoso was sold to Japanese interests for $600,000 at the 2021 Fasig-Tipton November Sale. Once safely in foal to Gun Runner, she was exported to her new home.

The first foal from Estilo Talentoso, Finger, sports the colors of M’s Racing. The same owner campaigns Stinger Glass, a Grade 3-winning stayer who is targeting Australia’s famed Melbourne Cup (G1). 

Finger’s trainer, Hiroyasu Tanaka, came close in his only prior U.S. appearance, also at Del Mar. His 22-1 shot in the 2024 Breeders’ Cup Turf (G1), Rousham Park, rallied furiously to miss by a neck to Rebel’s Romance. 

Tanaka’s most recent international expedition was not one for the highlight reel. Sixpence, the Yasuda Kinen (G1) winner, was virtually eased home in last Sunday’s Prix Jacques le Marois (G1) at Deauville. Yet it’s probably not helpful to extrapolate too much from that flop on the European turf. 

A former jockey turned trainer who sent out his first runner in 2018, Tanaka earned Japan Racing Association (JRA) awards for best trainer by winning average (23.9%) and training technique in 2024. His all-time top earner, Godolphin’s Lemon Pop, was twice honored as Japan’s champion dirt horse. Tanaka has another dirt celebrity at the moment in Mikki Fight, who is also under consideration for foreign travel. 

Finger’s regular rider, Keita Tosaki, has ranked among the top jockeys in Japan for nearly two decades – first on the dirt-focused National Association of Racing circuit, then at the elite JRA level. In 2025, he took home the JRA’s most valuable jockey award for the sixth time. 

Tosaki’s biggest international win came aboard Danon Decile in the 2025 Dubai Sheema Classic (G1) on World Cup night. In his lone stateside ride, he guided Songline to a fifth-place effort as the favorite in the 2023 Breeders’ Cup Mile (G1). 

Road to Japan’s Dirt Triple Crown

Second in all three starts as a juvenile, Finger performed like a big colt who just needed time to strengthen up. The turning point came in a Jan. 4 maiden at Nakayama, where the freshly minted three-year-old romped as the 3-10 favorite. Finger cruised on the front end by 9 1/2 lengths, making every yard of the about 1 1/8-mile contest look effortless.

"To be honest, in his debut race, he seemed to be still in the process of getting into shape,” Tanaka told keiba.go.jp. “Although he has improved considerably with each race, I was surprised by his overwhelming victory in the last race.”

Just 17 days later, Finger captured his stakes debut in the Bluebird Cup, held over the same distance going left-handed at Funabashi. He was drawn in the far outside post 13, but had no difficulty in securing a decent early position in fourth. Watch how he advances on the far turn, levels off down the stretch, and prevails by a comfortable 1 1/2 lengths:

The time (1:55.4) looks pedestrian by U.S. standards, but Japan's dirt surfaces are different, and Funabashi was reportedly playing slower than usual that night. The recap on keiba.go.jp regarded Finger’s time as “excellent” in these conditions. 

“I had intended to race near the front,” Tosaki said, “but the horse on the inside also asserted itself, so I let it go and rode while considering the horse’s rhythm. It took a while for the horse to get its first win after a series of second-place finishes, but I could feel its ability, and it won in a really strong way in the last race.”

“He’s still developing,” Tanaka said after the Bluebird Cup, “but I can feel his high potential, and it was a promising performance for the future.”

It was encouraging from a form perspective as well. The third-placer in the Bluebird Cup, Charlie, would go on to finish third to Danon Bourbon in the final leg of the Japan Road to the Kentucky Derby, the March 28 Fukuryu S. Danon Bourbon was next seen as the Japan Road invitee at Churchill Downs, running a mighty race for fifth in the Kentucky Derby. If not for sustaining an injury, Danon Bourbon arguably could have gotten closer to wearing the roses. 

Finger was favored to make it a hat trick in his next prep, the March 24 Keihin Hai at Oi, but he was overturned by Rock Ptarmigan. While the slight cutback to about 1 1/16 miles may have been a factor, there was a more significant reason: Finger had a setback that interrupted his preparation, and he lined up 10 kilograms heavier than in his prior start. 

At the same time, Rock Ptarmigan was no slouch as the slight second choice. In fact, he was bound for the UAE Derby (G2) until the war with Iran broke out, and he ended up staying home. In his juvenile finale, Rock Ptarmigan had beaten Wonder Dean, the UAE Derby winner and Kentucky Derby eighth-placer. 

The race dynamics also played into Rock Ptarmigan’s hands, especially once Finger was off a beat slow on the rail. Rock Ptarmigan enjoyed the better trip, tracking the pacesetter on the outside, and getting first run in a tactical affair. Finger stayed on for second, three lengths adrift. 

“He’s not the type to run at a slow pace and then sprint, so I wish the pace had been a little faster,” Tanaka said.

Classic double in Haneda Hai, Tokyo Derby

A fitter Finger exacted revenge on Rock Ptarmigan in the first leg of the Dirt Triple Crown, the April 29 Haneda Hai, and confirmed his superiority in the June 10 Tokyo Derby. 

Going into the Haneda Hai, Finger was given extra gate practice to ensure that he broke well. Tanaka and Tosaki were also well prepared, with a game plan, determined to take the initiative and establish a more advantageous race flow at Oi. 

“We carefully planned the strategy with jockey Tosaki after the draw was announced,” Tanaka told keiba.go.jp. “He had won before even without leading from the front, but we hated the idea of ​​him getting caught up in a slow pace. We talked with the jockey about creating a race that would allow the horse’s toughness to shine through, and although it was a tough race, he was able to fully demonstrate his abilities.”

Hustled early from post 11, Finger grabbed the lead and the rail. But he didn’t go fast enough to get away from Rock Ptarmigan, who hounded him for much of the way. On the right-handed turn for home, Rock Ptarmigan and fellow stalker Realize Glint offered stiff challenges, and Finger briefly appeared to be vulnerable. Yet the farther they went, the more his stamina came into play, and Finger powered home by three lengths.

“I think we slowed the pace too much,” Tosaki commented, “which is probably why everyone else couldn’t settle into their positions. I was riding while considering the horse’s rhythm, and the horse itself seemed to be in a very good mood while running. I felt that it had improved since the last race.”

“Honestly, he is still immature both physically and mentally,” Tanaka reiterated. “Even so, the fact that he was able to perform like this and win a (local) Grade 1 race as a three-year-old shows how talented this horse is. I think there is still room for growth in the future.”

Stepping up in trip for the about 1 1/4-mile Tokyo Derby brought out more improvement. Tosaki confidently sent Finger from post 12 and rolled past Rock Ptarmigan early. Rock Ptarmigan regrouped to track him, but there would be no reprise of the Haneda Hai challenge.

Finger looked stronger, and in full command, as he pulled away on the turn. Realize Glint took off in vain pursuit before flattening out. Silver Ratio, the favorite off his victory in the Unicorn (G3), rallied belatedly for second. 

In the keiba.jo.jp recap, Tosaki emphasized that “a tough race would bring out the best in this horse, so I went for the lead aggressively,” and Tanaka said that the jockey’s “bold decision to go for the lead was one of the reasons for our victory.”

“I’m honestly surprised,” Tanaka added. “I knew he was getting stronger, but I didn’t expect him to be this good.”

Although Tanaka mentioned the possibility of pursuing the Triple Crown, he revealed his international ambition even then for a “super horse” with unusual ability. 

“This horse’s greatest asset is undoubtedly his abundant stamina. It’s not something just any horse can do to maintain that pace.”

If Finger performs well in the Pacific Classic, he could join Japan’s dirt supremo, Forever Young, in the Breeders’ Cup Classic. You might say that he’s auditioning to be their next roving ambassador on dirt.