NEWS

D’ Funnybone out for another Grade 2 win in Swale

Posted: Thursday, March 18, 2010 3:39 PM

D' FUNNYBONE

Adam Coglianese/NYRA photo

by Jeff Lowe

D’ Funnybone has racked up three Grade 2 wins over his past four starts and will shoot for another on Saturday in the $150,000 Swale Stakes (G2) at Gulfstream Park.

The D’wildcat colt won the Hutcheson Stakes (G2) over the same seven-furlong trip at Gulfstream on February 20, bouncing back from his last-place finish in the Grey Goose Breeders’ Cup Juvenile (G1), his lone start on a synthetic surface and beyond seven furlongs.

Prior to the Breeders’ Cup, D’ Funnybone scored by 10 ½ lengths in the Saratoga Special Stakes (G2) and 4 ¾ lengths in the Futurity Stakes (G2) at Belmont Park.

Trainer Richard Dutrow Jr. considered switching D’ Funnybone to Saturday’s Florida Derby (G1) after the expected favorite, Eskendereya, was pulled from the race on Tuesday. Dutrow told Daily Racing Form that owner Paul Pompa Jr. preferred the Swale for D’ Funnybone.

The other graded stakes winner in the field of nine is Dixie Band, who has not raced since a tenth-place finish in the Dixiana Breeders’ Futurity (G1) on October 10 at Keeneland Race Course. He won his three other starts last year for trainer Wayne Catalano and owners Evelyn and Darrell Yates, including the Spectacular Bid Stakes and Arlington-Washington Futurity (G3) at Arlington.

Dixie Band raced exclusively on Polytrack as a two-year-old.

Privilaged also will move to dirt for California-based trainer John Sadler and owner C R K Stable. Privilaged finished fifth in the Gold Rush Stakes on December 12 at Golden Gate Fields in his most recent start.

Two-time Woodbine stakes winner Fearless Cowboy will make his first start since finishing third in the Saratoga Special on August 20.

Gary D exits a clear victory in the OBS Sprint Stakes on February 15 in a non-wagering event at the Ocala Training Center.

Jeff Lowe is a Thoroughbred Times staff writer

Swale S.