Finnegans Wake prevails in thrilling Woodford Reserve Turf Classic
RACE REPLAY IS NOT AVAILABLE
LOUISVILLE, Ky. – Finnegans Wake was a cut below the nation’s best grass horses until late in his 5-year-old year. Then he headed west and blossomed into California’s top turf horse in the winter and spring.
On Saturday, he showed his winning ways are not limited to racing within California by narrowly taking the $500,000, Grade 1 Woodford Reserve by a head in a thrilling three-horse photo at Churchill Downs.
The head-bobbing finish was so tight it took the track’s placing judges several minutes to determine the winner, with Sky Captain and Jack Milton also heads apart. Then the result was delayed longer as stewards conducted an inquiry, ultimately disqualifying Sky Captain from second and placing him fourth for drifting out and impeding Seek Again in late stretch.
The change to the order of finish elevated Jack Milton from second to third and Seek Again from fourth to third.
Joel Rosario on Seek Again said the incident cost his mount, noting he had to grab a hold of him “in the last 20 yards.” He was 1 1/4 lengths behind Finnegans Wake and a length behind Jack Milton at the finish.
The winner, a 6-year-old horse by Powerscourt owned by Donegal Racing and Rockingham Ranch and trained by Peter Miller, paid $9.20 as the slight favorite over Jack Milton. He raced 1 1/8 miles in 1:47.24 on a firm turf course.
With a last-to-first rally, Finnegans Wake led only the last stride of the Woodford, though in the jump that mattered. The Woodford was his first Grade 1 victory.
Irrespective of the disqualification, Sky Captain ran bravely in defeat, turning back all comers except one while racing on the lead with splits of 47.85 seconds for a half-mile and 1:11.28 for three quarters.
Following the victorious Finnegans Wake and Sky Captain across the wire was Jack Milton, who was slightly out-finished while closing from midpack.
Though it took away little from the eventual drama of Woodford, the race lost one of its key players when the top grass mare Stephanie’s Kitten was scratched, along with her apparent pacemakers Coalport and Scrumpdilicious. All three are owned by Ken and Sarah Ramsey.