Racing Roundtable: Future is bright for Shred the Gnar, Fionn

The Racing Roundtable of James Scully, Ashley Anderson, and guest Nick Tammaro opine on the futures of Jockey Club Oaks (G3) victress Fionn and Chilukki (G3) romper Shred the Gnar. They also discuss other standout performances and racing news from the weekend.

Twirling Candy filly Fionn crossed the wire first, a half-length ahead of Irish-bred graded stakes winner Laurelin, in the 1 3/8-mile Jockey Club Oaks (G3) at Aqueduct on Saturday. The Brad Cox trainee, who improved her lifetime mark to 10-7-1-1 with her fifth stakes victory — could run one more time as a three-year-old in the Dec. 26 American Oaks (G1) at Santa Anita. 

The soon-to-be four-year-old could be a top contender for the female turf division next year and will compete with the likes of Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Turf (G1) runner-up She Feels Pretty, Charlie Appleby-trained Diamond Rain, and talented turf sprinter Ag Bullet.

Fellow three-year-old Shred the Gnar could also be a top name in the older dirt female division. The Into Mischief filly reeled off a third straight win on Saturday in the Chilukki (G3) at Churchill Downs. The Brian Lynch pupil led all the way in the one-turn, one-mile event, topping runner-up One Magic Philly by 2 3/4 lengths. Graded stakes winner Ragtime was another length back in third.

Elsewhere in racing, Churchill Downs hosted the 27th Claiming Crown for North America's top blue-collar horses, and Churchill Downs' winningest horse, Bango, was honored beneath the Twin Spires following the announcement of his retirement. The eight-year-old gelding ended his career with 15 lifetime wins, a record 12 of them at Churchill Downs, and more than $1.6 million in earnings. Greg Foley trained the multiple stakes winner.