The Funny Cide- $200.000 Purse
SAR- For Two Year Olds Foaled In NY
Six and a Half Furlongs on the Dirt
August 28, 2015
Two year olds bred in NY will also have their chance to shine on Travers Eve at SAR as the second running of the Funny Cide takes place. The race debuted on the schedule last year, and it was won by I Never Bluf so Fold, who had a fantastic start to his career. The Funny Cide was actually his second NY-bred stake win, having also won the Rockville Center at BEL in the month prior. A month after his Funny Cide win, I Never Bluf So Fold won the NY Breeders Futurity, which is the last time he has been to the winners circle. So what will the future hold for this years crop? Will the best horses we see here today, fizzle out? Four of the six in last years race have gone on to win over $100.000 so far in their career, but I Never Bluf so Fold remains the most successful to come from that race. For now, let us enjoy the present as this field of six go to the gate.
#1- Dj Fireraj (Night Rider Stables, ridden by J R Velazquez)- The trainer will look to go two-for-two in the Funny Cide with this God O War foal. Yes, that is the sire of this horse, and not the horse in the gate next to him. He was able to break his maiden in his third start at BEL, and followed that up well with a third place performance in the Grade 3 Sanford right here at the Spa. In that race, he earned a 91 SRF figure, something only one other in this field can duplicate. He’s working well, and a recent mile work will also get people excited about what he might be capable of doing in the future. Dj Fireraj has a great shot here, but even if he doesn’t win, remember this name.
#2- Man O War (D J C Racing Stables, ridden by J R Leparoux)- In order to choose this name for this horse, D J C Racing Stables certainly has some very high hopes, although we could always forgive Man O War for a loss at this race track. He has only raced once in his career, and captured his debut in April at LS. Several six furlong works will not jump right out at you, but there’s a bullet at PRX on July 18th will get anyone’s attention. If something was being tested there that might be used here, all the better. I have some hesitations about him in this race, but PRX showed he has the ability in him.
#3- Henri The Cat (Allinthegate, ridden by E Trujillo)- To have confidence in this Pink Panther colt, you really just have to go by the works. He has shown the ability to be consistent at the same workout time that Man O War seemed to peak at. Whether or not that is translating on the race track is another story, and the trainer will get their answer here. I think this is a great spot for the horse if you want to see what you have, as it may be feat or famine. The time he won his last race in, in June, is what doesn’t excite me. It was about a second slower then what DJ Fireraj won at, and a few tenths behind the others. I like the works a lot and think he has earned this shot. We’ll see how it goes.
#4- Palestinian (Nakamura Stables, ridden by J Alvarado)- This gelding has won two of his three prior starts, including a nice win in an optional claimer at EMD last month, earning him a 91 SRF, making him the only other horse besides DJ Fireraj to get into the 90’s yet. On Sunday, he fired off an impressive bullet work against 22 others, including American Winner. Longer works might not be as glamourous as a couple others though they are still strong and he has proven he can translate to the race track, whereas a couple others haven’t yet. You have to like his potential to run a big one here; he will be one of the top threats.
#5- Above Standard (Mb Stables, ridden by R Bejarano)- Mb Stables calls on this Jesse James colt to try and pick up a Funny Cide trophy. So far, Above Standard does not know how to finish a race without making a trip to the winners circle, having won both of his two races to date. Interestingly, her second win was a four length romp at FL on July 28th, a race in which Man O War had scratched out of. That would have been an interesting showdown. Works are as good if not better then others in this field, and he should also have a good chance.
#6- American Winner (Night Mare Racing, ridden by J Rosario)- This Model American foal has not been actually been an American winner yet, having finished fifth and second in his first two races. In that second place run, he was two lengths behind a very impressive looking colt named Engine Failure out of Mb Stables, so there’s really no shame in that. I don’t always get behind non-winners in a race like this, but American Winner could be an exception. Thought he worked really well heading into that last race, and if he’s ready to go here, he’s just as good as the other top contenders.
Prediction: 1-4-5-6
— NS
Categories: Ungraded
