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Finnegans Wake prevails in Hollywood Turf Cup
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Finnegans Wake earned his second graded win of 2014 in
determined fashion
(Benoit Photo) |
Under deft handling by jockey Victor Espinoza, Finnegans Wake rallied between
horses entering the stretch, then fought off longshot Patrioticandproud in the
final sixteenth to score a neck triumph in the Grade 2, $250,000
Hollywood Turf Cup at Del Mar on Thanksgiving Day.
Finnegans Wake, owned by Donegal Racing and Rockingham Ranch and trained by
Peter Miller, came into the race off a 10-place effort behind Main Sequence in
the Breeders' Cup Turf at Santa Anita November 1.
Sent postward as 7-2 third choice among 10 rivals, the five-year-old son of
Powerscourt completed 1 1/2 miles on the firm grass in 2:27 1/5. The Hollywood
Turf Cup marked the first 1 1/2-mile race over the Jimmy Durante Turf Course in
Del Mar's history.
"It was a little confusing out there on the backside," Espinoza said. "They
didn't seem to know where they wanted to go; horses going in, going out. But I
was patient with him. He felt good under me and when I got him outside, that was
it. Then he really kicked. When he cut it loose, I knew we were good."
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Patrioticandproud, a 34-1 outsider who was piloted by Drayden Van Dyke, was a
length in front of 2-1 favorite The Pizza Man in third.
Finnegans Wake, scoring his fourth triumph in 25 starts, added $150,000 to
his bankroll, pushing the total to $825,375. After going winless in 2013, he
recorded his first stakes victory this year in the Grade 3 Arlington
H. in mid-August, and the bay horse also finished second in the Grade 2 John
Henry Turf Championship two starts previously.
Finnegans Wake provided Miller whose horses are based at the nearby San Luis
Rey Downs training center, with his second of three wins on Thursday's card.
After tying with Jerry Hollendorfer for the Del Mar title last summer, Miller
probably clinched the training championship of Del Mar's fall Bing Crosby season
as he increased his win total to 12, three more than Mike Puype with three
racing days remaining. The 15-day season concludes Sunday.
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