Finnegans Wake makes debut for Miller in John Henry

Last updated: 9/25/14 8:11 PM

Finnegans Wake has gone west in search of better fortune
(Four Footed Fotos)

Donegal Racing’s Finnegans Wake, who has been a seasoned competitor in the
turf ranks for Dale Romans, makes his Southern California debut for new trainer
Peter Miller in Sunday’s Grade 2, $200,000
John
Henry Turf Championship at
Santa Anita. The son of Powerscourt will face the
streaking Big John B and the six who followed him across the wire in the Del Mar
Handicap, as well as San Juan Capistrano hero Big Kick and well-bred Irish Surf.

Finnegans Wake was long well regarded by Romans, but hasn’t quite managed to
put it all together on the big occasion. Over the course of his career, he has
placed in such major events as the Secretariat, Virginia Derby and Bowling Green
Handicap, and posted respectable fourths in last year’s Man o’ War and Arlington
Million.

Finnegans Wake finally broke through with his first stakes win in the July 12
Arlington Handicap, suggesting that the five-year-old might just be reaching his
peak. Yet he failed to build on that effort when fifth in the latest renewal of
the Arlington Million August 16. The change of scenery could help, and he fired
a bullet five furlongs in 1:01 2/5 at his new San Luis Rey base September 23.
Joe Talamo picks up the mount on Finnegans Wake, who has drawn outside in post
10.

Big John B enters in career-best form, riding a four-race winning streak. Victorious in a June 29 starter handicap at this
track and 1 1/4-mile trip in his debut for the Phil D’Amato barn, the Hard Spun gelding
continued his rapid ascent at Del Mar over the summer. The deep closer crushed
an allowance by 7 1/4 lengths and easily mastered his Del Mar ‘Cap foes by 5 1/4
lengths, earning an automatic spot in the
Breeders’ Cup Turf. Drawn on the rail
here, the 124-pound co-highweight will try to stay perfect for D’Amato and Hall
of Fame rider Mike Smith.

Despite his clear-cut conquest last out, many of his vanquished Del Mar ‘Cap
foes are taking another crack at Big John B. The respective second through
seventh-place finishers — Bench Light, Bright Thought, Starspangled Heat,
Unbridled Command, Poshsky and Si Sage — are all trying again. Bright Thought
has yet to recapture his sparkling form from early 2013, when he set a
short-lived world record in the San Luis Rey, but he’s eligible to improve in
his second start for D’Amato.

Big John B has won four straight, and brings a perfect three-for-three mark since joining Phil D’Amato
(Benoit Photos)

Unbridled Command has abundant back class as the winner of the 2012 Hollywood
Derby and third-placer in the 2013 Gulfstream Park Turf to Point of Entry and
Animal Kingdom. The gray hasn’t been the same, however, since returning from
injury. Unbridled Command is one of a trio representing Miller, along with
Finnegans Wake and Poshsky.

Si Sage could have the most upside of those attempting a form reversal from
Del Mar. The French import ran two of his better races at Santa Anita over the
winter, missing by a neck after a wide trip in the Sir Beaufort and checking in
second to the ill-fated Vagabond Shoes in the San Marcos at this distance. Si
Sage launched an ambitious international raid on the May 18 Singapore Airlines
International Cup, where he was not disgraced in sixth, and met trouble en route
to his seventh in his U.S. return in the Del Mar ‘Cap. The Darrell Vienna colt
has the look of a dark horse with new rider Brice Blanc.

In addition to Finnegans Wake, only two others are crashing the Del Mar
reunion — Big Kick and Irish Surf — and both hope to turn the page on
disappointing efforts.

The Mike Machowsky-trained Big Kick is two-for-two in front-running fashion
at Santa Anita, including a dominating job in the about 1 3/4-mile San Juan
Capistrano on June 29. He was not as happy last time on the Arlington turf in
the August 16 American St Leger, gave way badly on the backstretch, and faded to
last. Big Kick should be back in business at Santa Anita, and his blistering
early speed makes him dangerous in the hands of Victor Espinoza.

Irish Surf, a son of Giant’s Causeway and champion Surfside, was only ninth
in last year’s John Henry. But the four-year-old has progressed in the interim,
as evidenced by his fourth in December’s Hollywood Turf Cup and in the May 24
Charles Whittingham at this course and trip. The Dan Hendricks charge took his
game to Del Mar’s Polytrack for the July 25 Cougar II, and wired the 1 1/2-mile
test by 8 1/4 lengths in a track-record 2:29.01. The class hike for the August
24 Pacific Classic proved a bit too steep, but he reported home a decent fifth
behind unbeaten champion Shared Belief. While this spot suits him better, he
could still prefer a little more ground.

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