Finnegans Wake wins San Gabriel Stakes by a length

Finnegans Wake won the $200,000 San Gabriel Stakes by a length at Santa Anita.

Ridden by Victor Espinoza, Finnegans Wake ran 1 1/8 miles on the turf in 1:48.38 and paid $18.00, $7.20 and $5.20. Patrioticandproud returned $11.20 and $5.20 at 13-1 odds, and Power Ped was another three-quarters of a length back in third and paid $7 to show at 26-1 odds.

Finnegans Wake went five-wide turning for home and hung on against a field of eight older horses. The victory, worth $120,000, increased his career earnings to $945,375, with five wins in 26 starts. It was the second straight stakes win for 6-year-old Finnegans Wake, who won the 1 1/2-mile Hollywood Turf Cup by a neck at Del Mar on Nov. 27.

In the $200,000 Santa Ynez Stakes for 3-year-old fillies, Seduire won by 2 1/4 lengths for Hall of Fame trainer Jerry Hollendorfer.

Ridden by Rafael Bejarano, Seduire ran 6 1/2 furlongs in 1:15.37 and paid $10.60, $6 and $4.20 in her first graded stakes win.

Callback returned $13.40 and $7.40 at 17-1 odds, and Xoxo was another 4 3/4 lengths back in third and paid $7.80 to show.

“Seduire broke sharp from the gate,” Bejarano said. “I was hoping she would break sharp because she likes to be on the lead and I had a bad post. She broke well so I took advantage. I got her relaxed and tried to give her a breather. When I felt pressured going into the stretch, I let her go and she showed me a big kick.”

The victory, worth $120,000, increased Seduire’s career earnings to $262,200, with four wins in seven starts.