4 weeks ago
6
ROBERT Halledeen’s timing aboard FUNCAANDUN could not be any more perfect, shaving inches off seemingly home-and-dried DESERT OF MALIBU with every stride inside the last half-furlong, to win yesterday’s She’s A Maneater Trophy by a short head at a mile.
Reminiscent of his Mouttet Mile win, reeling in Florida invader LEGACY ISLE at the wire, Halledeen paced the four-year-old colt third down the backstretch while stablemate CALIFORNIA CROWN set fractions of 45.4 for the first half-mile with DESERT OF MALIBU in tow but still on the bridle and minding her own business.
Champion and leading jockey, Raddesh Roman, yet to win a tough race astride DESERT OF MALIBU, glided past CALIFORNIA CROWN, taking peeks between his legs while coming off the home turn in 1:12.1 for six furlongs, gauging FUNCAANDUN, who had improved into second, the only horse in with a chance of catching the new leader.
Roman set DESERT OF MALIBU alight early in the stretch run, the six-year-old mare quickening into a three-length lead with FUNCAANDUN wound up and charging in mid-track under Halledeen.
Flashing past the furlong pole, just off the rail with a two-length lead, DESERT OF MALIBU’s strides started shortening whereas fellow American FUNCAANDUN leapt forward, a final surge at the wire, confirming his dominance at a mile under topweight 126lb.
Clocking 1:40.1 for his 10th win from 14 starts, Jason DaCosta’s FUNCAANDUN stayed perfect at a mile, four from as many tries, including last December’s Mouttet Mile, defeating United States-bred winners flown in for the US$250,000 event.
FUNCAANDUN was the second winner of a three-timer for Halledeen on the 10-race card, having won the previous event aboard XYLOPHONIC STEEL at five furlongs straight. Halledeen teamed up with DaCosta for a jockey-trainer two-timer and his third winner by booting home 5-2 chance PRINCE AMAAN in division one of the Donald Wehby Sr Memorial at six furlongs for non-winners of an overnight allowance.
DaCosta closed a three-timer with TEFLON DON in the following event, division two of the Wehby Sr Memorial, 2023 champion rider Reyan Lewis going gate-to-wire with the four-year-old at odds of 7-2.
Yesterday’s 10-race card closed July’s meet, giving way to Emancipendence holiday racing marked by the Jamaica Oaks at 10 furlongs on Emancipation Day, Friday, August 1, followed by Saturday racing, August 2, and the Jamaica Derby at 12 furlongs on Independence Day, Wednesday, August 6.
English (US) ·