Finnegans Wake most likely for San Luis Rey

ARCADIA, Calif. – Finnegans Wake has become the top turf distance runner in Southern California in the past three months, a status trainer Peter Miller is hoping to further enhance in coming weeks.

Finnegans Wake won his third consecutive turf stakes in the Grade 2 San Marcos Stakes at 1 1/4 miles on turf at Santa Anita last Saturday. While Miller said Finnegans Wake would be nominated for the $1 million Santa Anita Handicap on dirt on March 7, the $200,000 San Luis Rey Stakes at 1 1/2 miles on turf on March 21 is the goal.

“We’ll have to see what the competition is,” Miller said of the Big Cap. “More than likely, it will be the San Luis Rey.”

Owned by Rockingham Ranch and Donegal Racing, 6-year-old Finnegans Wake is on a three-race win streak, including the Grade 2 Hollywood Turf Cup at 1 1/2 miles at Del Mar on Nov. 27 and the Grade 2 San Gabriel Stakes at 1 1/8 miles on turf at Santa Anita on Jan. 3.

Finnegans Wake was nominated for the $10 million Dubai World Cup on dirt and the $6 million Sheema Classic on turf at Meydan Racecourse in the United Arab Emirates on March 28, but Miller said a stateside campaign is preferred. Finnegans Wake was 10th in the Breeders’ Cup Turf at Santa Anita last November, finishing 5 1/4 lengths behind winner and eventual turf champion male Main Sequence.