Finnegans Wake Stays on Turf in San Luis Rey

It was a novel idea to nominate red-hot turf specialist Finnegans Wake to take on Shared Belief in the Santa Anita Handicap (gr. I) March 4, but as enticing as it was, trainer Peter Miller decided not to mess with a good thing.

Instead, the 6-year-old son of Powerscourt will look to extend his grade II turf winning streak to four in the $200,000 San Luis Rey Stakes (gr. IIT) going 1 1/2 miles March 21 at Santa Anita Park. 

Since a 10th-place finish in the Longines Breeders' Cup Turf (gr. I) Nov. 1, the horse owned by Donegal Racing and Rockingham Ranch has powered to three straight grade II turf wins: the Hollywood Turf Cup Stakes Nov. 27 at Del Mar, the San Gabriel Stakes Jan. 3 at Santa Anita, and the San Marcos Stakes Feb. 7 on the Arcadia, Calif., turf course.

"If it's not broke, don't fix it," Miller said of the decision to keep Finnegans Wake on turf. "We may still try the dirt later on in the year, but right now we're going to stick with turf."

The decision could be a deft one, as the Kentucky-bred out of the Silver Ghost mare Boat's Ghost seems to overmatch eight other horses in the San Luis Rey. The likely favorite will carry 123 pounds with jockey Victor Espinoza and break from post 8, while the rest of the field will travel with 118.

The only other entrant with a graded-stakes win on his resume is 7-year-old Joes Blazing Aaron, but that score came in 2011, when the gelding won the Palm Beach Stakes (gr. IIIT) at Gulfstream Park.

Recent rivals Power Foot (third in the San Marcos, fourth in Hollywood Turf Cup) and Diamond Bachelor (fourth by disqualification in the San Marcos) also return to challenge Finnegans Wake.

Miller said the relocation to the training center San Luis Rey Downs, along with the horse's affinity for the Southern California turf, is the reason for the horse's resurgence. Prior to his recent streak, Finnegans Wake was 1-for-19 against graded-stakes company.

He currently has a 6-3-3 record from 27 career starts with just more than $1 million in career earnings.

"It was a combination of things. He likes the quiet out at San Luis Rey Downs," Miller said of the horse's turnaround at the Bonsall, Calif., training center. "He has just blossomed and likes the turf courses out here."

Eight-time winner (the last four in claiming races) Buymeabond, Great Britain shipper Raise Your Gaze, Fly Lexis Fly, and allowance/optional claiming victors Play Hard to Get and Ashleyluvssugar round out the field.