Donegal Racing and Rockingham Ranch's Finnegans Wake (Powerscourt {GB}) cuts back to what might be his best distance and returns to the grass for Saturday's GI Eddie Read S. The Peter Miller pupil annexed this venue's GII Hollywood Turf Cup over 12 furlongs in November, and took the nine-panel GII San Gabriel S. Jan. 3. He stretched his streak to three in the GII San Marcos S. a month later before finishing second to subsequent GII Charles Whittingham S. winner Ashleyluvssugar (Game Plan) in the GII San Luis Rey S. Mar. 21. Back at this trip for Churchill's GI Woodford Reserve Turf Classic on GI Kentucky Derby day May 2, the bay rallied resolutely from dead last to get his head in front. He was a late-charging fourth behind Woodford Reserve also-ran Slumber (GB) (Cacique {Ire}) and next-out GI United Nations S. hero Big Blue Kitten (Kitten's Joy) in the GI Manhattan S. at Belmont June 6, and was a decent fourth last time in the GI Gold Cup at Santa Anita on the dirt June 27.
Power Ped (Powerscourt {GB}) was third behind Finnegans Wake in both the San Gabriel and San Marcos, having annexed Turf Paradise's Cotton Fitzsimmons Mile H. in between.
Midnight Storm (Pioneerof the Nile) has turned a serious corner since transferring from Jorge Gutierrez to Phil D'Amato almost a year ago. He took an optional claimer here last August, and scored a 17-1 front-running upset in the course-and-distance GII Del Mar Derby three weeks thereafter. The dark bay crushed Gabriel Charles (Street Hero) by 7 3/4 lengths while earning a 106 Beyer Speed Figure at Santa Anita Apr. 16, and settled for second at even-money in the GI Shoemaker Mile S. last out June 13. He figures to show the way, but could face pressure from Big Cazanova (Arg) (Giant's Causeway).
Gabriel Charles took the quicker division of the GII Del Mar Derby over distance and surface in 2013, but went missing after a runner-up finish in the GII Twilight Derby that November. His first start after the long break came in that Apr. 16 allowance, after which he finished third behind well-regarded Bal a Bali (Brz) (Put It Back) and subsequent Shoemaker upsetter Talco (Fr) (Pivotal {GB}) in the May 9 GIII American S.
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