NEWS
D’ Funnybone rolls to Swale Stakes score
Posted: Saturday, March 20, 2010 8:31 PM
D' FUNNYBONE
Coglianese Photos
To view the Swale Stakes, click here.
by Myra Lewyn
Paul Pompa Jr.’s talented sprinter D’ Funnybone could be on the path to the Preakness Stakes (G1), the second jewel of the Triple Crown, after rolling to a clear win over hard-charging Ibboyee in the $150,000 Swale Stakes (G2) on Saturday at Gulfstream Park.
The multiple graded stakes-winning colt by D’wildcat took command after the opening quarter and opened an authoritative lead under a hand ride from jockey Edgar Prado in early stretch. He was urged on late to turn back a strong bid from New York-bred multiple stakes winner Ibboyee and crossed the finish line clear by 1¼ lengths.
D’ Funnybone covered the seven-furlong trip in 1:21.98 on a track rated as fast to remain perfect in two starts this season.
The chestnut colt was the 1-to-2 favorite for the Swale following a one-length victory in the Hutcheson Stakes (G2) at the same track and distance on February 20 in his season debut and return to dirt following a last-place finish in the 2009 Grey Goose Breeders’ Cup Juvenile (G1) on the synthetic Pro-Ride Surface at Santa Anita Park. Prior to the Juvenile, he won the 6½-furlong Saratoga Special (G2) and seven-furlong Futurity (G2) Stakes by a combined margin of 15¼ lengths.
D’ Funnybone’s victory salvaged an important race day at Gulfstream for Dutrow, whose classics hopeful Radiohead (GB) finished ninth in the Florida Derby (G1) and Grade 2-winning filly Amen Hallelujah finished second in the Bonnie Miss Stakes (G2), a prep for the Kentucky Oaks (G1).
D’ Funnybone dueled for the lead early with pacesetter Hear Ye Hear Ye and Privilaged and then drove between those opponents into the far turn to seize control. He sealed the victory a few strides into stretch while pursued by Privileged, who was soon overhauled by Ibboyee.
While Ibboyee could not catch the winner, he finished 2¼ lengths in front of third-place finisher Privilaged, who shipped in from Southern California.
Dutrow said earlier in the week that there were no firm plans for D’ Funnybone, but Pompa said in published reports that the shorter distance of the Preakness might better suit his colt’s running style better than the Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum Brands (G1) two weeks earlier. Pompa, co-owner of 2008 Derby and Preakness winner Big Brown, privately acquired D’ Funnybone before the Saratoga Special.
“He ran like I thought he would,” Dutrow said after the Swale. “It looked like he was pretty much in control all the way. My first choice for him next would be the Withers [Stakes (G3) on April 24 at Aqueduct], a one-turn mile, then see where we are.”
D’ Funnybone, who is out of the Woodman mare Elbow, improved to five wins in seven career starts and earnings of $458,200.
For an Equibase chart, click here.
Myra Lewyn is Thoroughbred Times TODAY editor
