Miller opens commanding lead in trainers' standings

DEL MAR, Calif. – Peter Miller won three races Thursday, including with Finnegans Wake in the Grade 2 Hollywood Turf Cup, to open a commanding lead in the trainers’ standings.

Entering Friday’s card, Miller was three wins ahead of Mike Puype, 12-9, and they were well clear of the rest of the field. Statistically, Puype still had a chance to catch Miller, but Miller had far more firepower over the final days of the meet and seemed certain of nabbing his third title at this track in the past 2 1/2 years.

Miller, who lives just up the road in Carlsbad, won his first Del Mar title in the summer of 2012 and tied for the lead at this past summer’s meet with Jerry Hollendorfer.

** Jockey Mario Gutierrez was suspended for three days (Dec. 7, 11, and 12) by Del Mar’s stewards, who cited him for careless riding aboard Tamasino in the first race Nov. 23. Tamasino finished third. The horse who was interfered with finished seventh and last. There was no disqualification in the race. The dates of the suspension are during the upcoming Los Alamitos meeting.

** Suspended indefinitely by the California Horse Racing Board in February for failure to appear before the stewards after not fulfilling his riding obligations, Patrick Valenzuela was a visitor to Del Mar on Thursday. Valenzuela, 52, said he currently was acting as a consultant to owners and had moved to the San Diego area. He said he still hopes to ride again.