Breeders' Cup Turf: Finnegans Wake, Lucayan drop out

Finnegans Wake and Lucayan, second and third in graded stakes on turf in September, are unlikely to start in the $3 million Breeders’ Cup Turf at Santa Anita on Nov. 2, their trainers said on Sunday.

Finnegans Wake, second to BC Turf hopeful Hyper in the Grade 2 Bowling Green Handicap at Belmont Park on Sept. 7, is a candidate for the $200,000 Fayette Stakes over 1 1/8 miles on the Polytrack surface at Keeneland on Oct. 26, trainer Dale Romans said.

Romans has a leading contender for the BC Turf in Little Mike, who won the 2012 running. Little Mike won the Grade 1 Joe Hirsch Turf Classic at Belmont Park on Sept. 28, his first victory of 2013 in his fifth start of the season.

Lucayan, a fast-closing third in the Grade 2 John Henry Turf Championship at Santa Anita on Sept. 29, is being pointed for the $1 million Canadian International on turf at Woodbine on Oct. 26.

Lucayan won the Group 1 French 2000 Guineas in 2012, but has yet to win a stakes in North America.

The BC Turf field is expected to be led by Little Mike; Big Blue Kitten, second by a nose to Little Mike in the Joe Hirsch Turf Classic; and Indy Point, who won the John Henry Turf Championship.

The team of shippers from Europe has not been finalized. The Fugue, who won the Group 1 Irish Champion Stakes on Sept. 7, is a likely starter, along with Grandeur, who won the Foundation Stakes at Goodwood Racecourse in England on Sept. 25.

Treve and Orfevre, the first two finishes of Sunday’s Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe, are not expected to start in California.

Treve will run in Hong Kong in December if she has another race this year, trainer Criquette Head-Maarek said after Sunday’s race. Orfevre is expected to make the final start of his career in the Arima Kinen Stakes in Japan in December, according to published reports.