Finnegans Wake may ship to New York for Manhattan

Finnegans Wake will be considered for the $1 million Manhattan Stakes at Belmont Park on June 6 after his thrilling win in Saturday’s $500,000 Woodford Reserve Turf Classic at Churchill Downs.

Finnegans Wake closed from last of nine in the final three-eighths of a mile to win by a head as the 7-2 favorite in the Grade 1 Woodford Reserve, the most prestigious victory of his 29-race career.

“That was the only stride he was in front,” trainer Peter Miller said. “He’s a professional racehorse.”

Miller said he has yet to finalize plans for Finnegans Wake, who races for Donegal Racing and Rockingham Ranch.

Victor Espinoza rode Finnegans Wake in the Woodford Reserve, the race before he won the Kentucky Derby on American Pharoah. Finnegans Wake was 10th in the Breeders’ Cup Turf last November under jockey Joe Talamo. Espinoza began riding Finnegans Wake last fall and has since won four of five starts, all in stakes.

“I’m so proud of the horse,” he said. “Victor gets the most out of him.”

Miller watched from his home in the San Diego area, celebrating the birthday of his wife, Lani. Minutes before Finnegans Wake’s win, the Miller-trained Richard’s Boy won the $92,500 Desert Code Stakes for 3-year-olds on the hillside turf course at Santa Anita.

Richard’s Boy, the 9-5 favorite, won by a neck over Diamond Majesty, his fourth win in five starts and first stakes win. Miller said that Richard’s Boy has the $200,000 Real Good Deal Stakes for California-bred 3-year-olds at seven furlongs at Del Mar on Aug. 2 as a long-term goal.