Finnegans Wake Victorious Again in San Marcos
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Finnegans Wake extended his winning streak in graded turf races to three with a late-running victory in the $200,000 San Marcos Stakes (gr. IIT) Feb. 7 at Santa Anita Park .
Owned by Donegal Racing and Rockingham Ranch and trained by Peter Miller, the 6-year-old horse surpassed $1 million in career earnings with the victory. He closed from last of eight with half a mile to run to track down 46-1 shot Diamond Bachelor in deep stretch. Finnegans Wake won by a length in the 1 1/4-mile race on the firm turf course in a time of 2:00.88.
It's not only the third straight graded turf victory for the son of Powerscourt, but also his third straight win with jockey Victor Espinoza aboard for Miller, who took over training the bay horse last fall.
Finnegans Wake, second choice at 19-10, came wide out of the final turn and slightly contacted 12-1 Power Ped entering the stretch. He gained steadily and passed a tiring Diamond Bachelor, who crossed the wire second by one length, but was later disqualified to fourth for bearing out and causing Power Foot to check midstretch.
"I wasn't ever concerned about catching Diamond Bachelor," Espinoza said. "I thought I could catch him any time I wanted. This horse is unbelievable. He runs (and) he tries hard. He really likes it here in California—the weather, the track. Distance is never a problem."
The Kentucky-bred out of the Silver Ghost mare Boat's Ghost paid $5.80, $3.40, and $3. Power Ped paid $8.80 and $5.60, and Power Foot paid $7.40. Both Power Ped and Power Foot are trained by Neil Drysdale
The win pushed Finnegans Wake's career earnings to $1,065,375. He is 6-3-3 in 27 starts.
"He just keeps firing," Miller said of Finnegans Wake's run of three straight victories at California tracks. "I wish I could take the credit. The horse really has blossomed out here and really likes it out here."
Diamond Bachelor and jockey Martin Pedroza sped to the early lead, running the quarter in :24.01, the half in :48.77 and six furlongs in 1:12.56, when he had opened up an eight-length margin.
Favored Dynamic Sky was well-beaten, 4 1/2 lengths behind the top four, and was followed by Little Jerry, Patrioticandproud and Majestic Harbor, who was making just his second start on the grass in 28 lifetime starts.
Bred by Donegal's Jerry Crawford, Finnegans Wake began his streak of wins with a victory in the Hollywood Turf Cup Stakes (gr. IIT) at Del Mar Nov. 27 and won the San Gabriel Stakes (gr. IIT) last time out at Santa Anita Jan. 3. Patrioticandproud finished second in both of those races, but never factored in the San Marcos.