Finger (horse)

Finger
SireGun Runner
GrandsireCandy Ride
DamEstilo Talentoso
DamsireMaclean's Music
SexStallion
Foaled(2023-02-18)February 18, 2023
CountryJapan
ColourBay
BreederTakahashi Farm
OwnerM's Racing
TrainerHiroyasu Tanaka
JockeyKeita Tosaki
Record9: 4-4-0
Earnings207,800,000 JPY[1]
Major wins
Haneda Hai (2026)
Tokyo Derby (2026)
Last updated on June 29, 2026

Finger (Japanese: フィンガー, Hepburn: Fingā; foaled February 18, 2023) is a Japanese Thoroughbred Racehorse.[1] His major victories include the 2026 Haneda Hai and Tokyo Derby.[2]

Racing career

2-year-old season (2025)

Finger made his debut in the 2025 1,800 meter maiden race for 2-year-olds on the dirt track at Nakayama Racecourse, ridden by Keita Tosaki. Going off as the second favorite, he was overtaken by Kenton in the final stretch and finished a close second.[3] He ran two more maiden races that same year, both in November, and both 1,600 meters on the dirt track at Tokyo Racecourse, but finished second in both.[4]

3-year-old season (2026)

On January 4, 2026, he returned to Nakayama, this time running in a maiden race for 3-year-olds. He delivered a decisive victory, breaking sharply from the start to take the lead, and maintaining his speed throughout the race, and winning by over ten lengths.[5] On January 21, Finger competed in the Bluebird Cup, a domestic grade 3 race restricted to three-year-old horses, held at Funabashi Racecourse. Despite this being his first attempt at a graded stakes race and a short time after his successful maiden race, he ran well. Finger settled onto 3rd place on the outside during the mid-race, pushing ahead on the third turn, winning by a length and a half.[6][7]

For his next race, he competed in the Keihin Hai, a grade 2 race and a trial race for the Haneda Hai, the first leg for Japan's Dirt Triple Crown.[8] He finished second place, three lengths behind Rock Ptarmigan.[9]

Still, finishing second guaranteed him priority entry rights to the Haneda Hai, where he went off as the third favorite. He broke well, and took the lead near the first turn. Realize Glint and Rock Ptarmigan challenged for the lead several times, but failed to catch up to Finger. He finished first by three lengths.[10]

In his post-race comments, jockey Tosaki said, "Trainer Hiroyasu Tanaka and I made a plan before the race. We thought we would try to race near the front. I was able to take the lead, but I wondered if I had slowed the pace down too much. I think Finger has improved compared to the previous race." Regarding the possibility of winning the Dirt Triple Crown, he said, "Since we were able to win one of the classics, I think he will continue to attract attention from here on, and I hope everyone will support him. We were able to show Finger's strength, and I think we can look forward to his future success as well."[11]

On June 10, he participated in the Tokyo Derby, the second leg of the Dirt Triple Crown.[12] Just like in his previous race, he took the lead and set the pace. Although Rock Ptarmigan briefly overtook him just before the final turn, he reclaimed the lead, and went on to win by a length, achieving his second consecutive crown.[13]

On June 25, it was announced that Finger would aim for the Pacific Classic Stakes, to be held at Del Mar Racetrack on August 22, which would be his first overseas campaign. It was explained that, based on the result of that race, they would consider whether to proceed to the Breeders' Cup Classic.[14][15]

He arrived at Del Mar on August 16, less than a full week before the race. During the race, he botched the start and settled in mid pack. Full Serrano and Knightsbridge—who ran nose to nose throughout the race—set a rapid pace, with the initial quarter mile being covered in 22.68 seconds. Finger made several attempts to better his position, but was pushed back and continued to lose his strength. On the third corner he began to slow down, falling further back and finishing last, in 11th place.[16][17]

Racing record

Finger has won four races out of nine starts. The following racing form is based on information available on netkeiba.com[18] and JBIS-Search.[4]

Date Distance (Condition) Race Class Course Field HN Odds
(Favored)		 Finish Time Winning
(Losing)
Margin		 Jockey Winner
(2nd Place)
2025 – two-year-old season
Sep 27 Dirt 1,800 m (Fast) Two Year Old Newcomer Nakayama 16 10 7.2 (3rd) 2nd 1:56.0 (2 lengths) Keita Tosaki Kenton
Nov 9 Dirt 1,600 m (Good) Two Year Old Maiden Tokyo 16 2 6.4 (3rd) 2nd 1:37.6 (neck) Keita Tosaki Saint Lazare
Nov 24 Dirt 1,600 m (Fast) Two Year Old Maiden Tokyo 14 6 1.5 (1st) 2nd 1:37.6 (3 lengths) Keita Tosaki Mac Lir
2026 – three-year-old season
Jan 4 Dirt 1,800 m (Good) Three Year Old Maiden Nakayama 13 4 1.3 (1st) 1st 1:54.5 10+ lengths Keita Tosaki (Nishino Morimichi)
Jan 21 Dirt 1,800 m (Fast) Bluebird Cup JpnIII[a] Funabashi 13 13 1.8 (1st) 1st 1:55.4 1+1⁄2 lengths Keita Tosaki (Katarite)
Mar 25 Dirt 1,700 m (Good) Keihin Hai JpnII Oi 7 1 2.4 (1st) 2nd 1:46.8 (3 lengths) Keita Tosaki Rock Ptarmigan
Apr 29 Dirt 1,800 m (Good) Haneda Hai JpnI Oi 13 11 4.2 (3rd) 1st 1:52.7 3 lengths Keita Tosaki (Rock Ptarmigan)
Jun 10 Dirt 2,000 m (Muddy) Tokyo Derby JpnI Oi 16 12 2.8 (2nd) 1st 2:04.4 1+1⁄4 lengths Keita Tosaki (Silver Ratio)
Aug 23 Dirt 1+1⁄4 miles (Fast) Pacific Classic Stakes GI Del Mar 11 3 7.7 (3rd) 11th 2:07.78 (29+1⁄2 lengths) Keita Tosaki Knightsbridge
  1. ↑ All Jpn graded races are considered Listed internationally.

Pedigree

Pedigree of Finger (JPN)
Sire
Gun Runner
2013		 Candy Ride
1999		 Ride the Rails Cryptoclearance
Herbalesian
Bramalea Candy Stripes
City Girl
Quiet Giant
2007		 Giant's Causeway Storm Cat
Mariah's Storm
Quiet Dance Quiet American*
Misty Dancer
Dam
Estilo Talentoso
2017		 Maclean's Music
2008		 Distorted Humor Forty Niner
Danzig's Beauty
Forest Music Unbridled's Song
Defer West
Bazinga Baby
2012		 Afleet Alex Northern Afleet
Maggy Hawk
Elizaveta Quiet American*
Carezza

Finger is inbred 4x4 to Quiet American, and 5x5x5 to Fappiano.[1]

References

  1. 1 2 3 "Finger(JPN)". Japanese Bloodhorse Breeders' Association. Archived from the original on 2026-06-29. Retrieved 2026-06-29.
  2. ↑ "競走馬情報　JRA". www.jra.go.jp. Retrieved 2026-07-23.
  3. ↑ "【中山4R新馬戦結果】8番人気ケントンが快勝 リアルスティール産駒 | 競馬ニュース". netkeiba (in Japanese). Retrieved 2026-07-23.
  4. 1 2 "Race Records | Finger(JPN) | JBIS-Search". www.jbis.jp. Retrieved 2026-07-23.
  5. ↑ "【中山4R新馬戦結果】8番人気ケントンが快勝 リアルスティール産駒 | 競馬ニュース". netkeiba (in Japanese). Retrieved 2026-07-23.
  6. ↑ "レース紹介｜ブルーバードカップ 2026年｜ダートグレード競走特設サイト". keiba.go.jp (in Japanese). Retrieved 2026-07-23.
  7. ↑ "【船橋】JpnⅢブルーバードカップ ダートの名門・田中博厩舎のフィンガーが重賞初制覇". 東スポ競馬 (in Japanese). 2026-01-21. Retrieved 2026-07-23.
  8. ↑ "3歳ダート三冠競走等における地方所属馬の出走馬選定方法" (PDF). TCK. Retrieved 12 June 2023.
  9. ↑ "【京浜盃】ロックターミガンがダートグレード競走初V 西村淳也騎手「馬が速いから...あまりぬれずに帰って来られました」 | 競馬ニュース". netkeiba (in Japanese). Retrieved 2026-07-23.
  10. ↑ "【大井競馬 羽田盃】フィンガー 激しい先行争いを制し逃げ切り 3歳ダート1冠目獲得 | 競馬ニュース". netkeiba (in Japanese). Retrieved 2026-07-23.
  11. ↑ "【羽田盃】フィンガーがダートクラシック1冠目をゲット 戸崎圭太騎手は田中博康調教師と練った「プランがうまくいった」 | 競馬ニュース". netkeiba (in Japanese). Retrieved 2026-07-23.
  12. ↑ "TOKYO DERBY | Wednesday, Jun 10,2026, 4th OI 3-day | JBIS-Search". jbis.jp. Retrieved 2026-07-23.
  13. ↑ Kieckhefer, Bob (2026-06-10). "Gun Runner Colt Nears Sweep of Japan Dirt Triple Crown". bloodhorse.com. Retrieved 2026-07-23.
  14. ↑ Carasso, Alan (2026-06-25). "Multiple Japanese 3YO Stakes Winner Finger Pointed For Pacific Classic". Thoroughbred Daily News. Retrieved 2026-07-23.
  15. ↑ "Finger targets U.S. campaign after dirt Double Crown success, G1 Pacific Classic next on agenda". netkeiba.com. Archived from the original on 2026-06-29. Retrieved 2026-06-29.
  16. ↑ 【パシフィッククラシック】日本馬フィンガーは最下位入線 中団から脚を使えず ナイツブリッジがV [[Pacific Classic] Japanese horse Finger finishes last, unable to use its speed from the middle of the pack. Knightsbridge takes the victory.]. netkeiba (in Japanese). 23 August 2026. Retrieved 23 August 2026.
  17. ↑ "STAKES Pacific Classic S. Grade 1 - Thoroughbred". www.equibase.com. 22 August 2026. Retrieved 23 August 2026.
  18. ↑ "Finger Race Record and Form". netkeiba.com. Archived from the original on 2026-06-29. Retrieved 2026-06-29.
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