Finnegans Wake eyes fourth straight stakes in San Luis Rey
ARCADIA, Calif. – The turf-distance division in Southern California has belonged to Finnegans Wake since the Breeders’ Cup Turf last November.
Finnegans Wake has won three consecutive Grade 2 stakes on turf since late November, a streak that could easily go to four races in Saturday’s $200,000 San Luis Rey Stakes at 1 1/2 miles at Santa Anita.
“We’re hoping for more of the same,” trainer Peter Miller said.
Finnegans Wake is the only horse in the field of nine in the Grade 2 San Luis Rey to win a stakes in the last year. Diamond Bachelor won the Oak Tree Juvenile Turf at Del Mar in September 2013 but has lost his last 16 starts. On Thursday, trainer Patrick Biancone said Diamond Bachelor is not a definite runner Saturday.
Fly Lexis Fly, trained by Miller, won two Group 1 races in Peru in 2011. Earlier this week, Miller said he might not run Fly Lexis Fly in the San Luis Rey. The race has not drawn a strong field. Two runners – Buymeabond ($32,000) and Joes Blazing Aaron ($62,500) – were claimed in their last starts.
Key contenders
Finnegans Wake (Last 3 Beyers: 101-101-99)
* Owned by Donegal Racing and Rockingham Ranch, Finnegans Wake is in the best form of his career. The 6-year-old horse has won 6 of 27 starts and earned $1,065,375 but never before had linked three consecutive wins.
* Finnegans Wake joined Miller’s stable last summer, having been trained previously by Dale Romans in the Midwest. The current success has been a delight for Miller.
“He’d run decent, but he’d never shown this kind of winning form,” Miller said.
* The trainer admits that timing is a key part of the success. There has not been a standout runner in turf races at 1 1/8 miles or beyond in California in recent seasons.
“It’s not the deepest division in Southern California,” Miller said. “We’re a beneficiary, and hopefully we can continue.”
* Victor Espinoza will ride Finnegans Wake, who will race from off the pace. Espinoza has ridden Finnegans Wake to four wins in as many starts, including the Grade 3 Arlington Handicap for Romans last July.
* The San Luis Rey will be Finnegans Wake’s first start at 1 1/2 miles on turf since a win in the Grade 2 Hollywood Turf Cup on Nov. 27. Finnegans Wake was 10th, beaten 5 1/4 lengths by Main Sequence, in the BC Turf at 1 1/2 miles here last November. The current win streak includes two races at this meeting – the San Gabriel Stakes at 1 1/8 miles Jan. 3 and the San Marcos Stakes at 1 1/4 miles Feb. 7.
“He’s run well at all distances,” Miller said.
Ashleyluvssugar (Last 3 Beyers: 91-72-88)
* The San Luis Rey Stakes will be the graded-stakes debut for Ashleyluvssugar, a 4-year-old gelding who won an optional claimer at 1 1/8 miles Feb. 5. Talco, second in that race, won an optional claimer last week.
* Ashleyluvssugar has not raced beyond 1 1/8 miles, and trainer Peter Eurton said the longer distance will be a test for a gelding who can be anxious.
“He can run all day,” Eurton said. “It’s a question of whether we can shut him down early.”