Funtastic (More Than Ready), a front-running victor in a 1 1/2-mile $62,500 optional claimer at Belmont last out May 26, was making his Grade I debut here and was duly dismissed at odds of 23-1 for the loaded Chad Brown barn despite some progressive form.
The Three Chimneys Farm colorbearer jumped straight into the lead from the inside stall, was rated along nicely by Antonio Gallardo through six furlongs in 1:13.52, pinched a bit of a break into the lane and had just enough left in the tank to hold off his favored stablemate Money Multiplier (Lookin At Lucky). The latter raced too freely through the opening five-eighths of a mile, settled better in the middle stages and ran on well to complete the exacta.
Just a neck short in second in last November's Gio Ponti S. at Aqueduct at three, Funtastic hit the board in his first two appearances this season prior to his aforementioned tally in Elmont.
Funtastic becomes the third United Nations winner for Brown. “I knew it was a tough race,” Brown said. “The owner, Goncalo Torrealba, really deserves most of the credit here. He was sure this horse could stay a distance of ground in the mile and an eighth, mile and a half races, in the Grade I class.”
Brown continued, “He was doing well and it worked out. Just teamwork and my staff did a fabulous job and Antonio Gallardo rode a wonderful race to take the initiative out of the gate. He used his horse a little bit early to get that position and then he backed it down just enough to carry him all of the way. I thought it was a really superb ride.”
Pedigree Notes:
Funtastic is not only a half-brother to the late Horse of the Year Saint Liam (Saint Ballado), but is also kin to Monmouth Grade II winner Quiet Giant (Giant's Causeway), the dam of reigning Horse of the Year and new Three Chimneys stallion Gun Runner (Candy Ride {Arg}). The further female family includes More Than Ready's GI Mother Goose S. winner Buster's Ready and MGSW Lull (War Front). Funtastic is the 22nd worldwide Group 1/Grade I winner for his wildly successful stallion and his first Grade I-winning turf male in the United States. He is the 86th graded winner and 189th black-type winner for More Than Ready and achieved his feat just minutes after Sir Truebadour won the GIII Bashford Manor S. at Churchill Downs.
Saturday, Monmouth Park
UNITED NATIONS S.-GI, $315,000, Monmouth, 6-30, 3yo/up,
1 3/8mT, 2:12.36, fm.
1–FUNTASTIC, 118, c, 4, by More Than Ready
1st Dam: Quiet Dance (SW & GSP, $224,240), by Quiet American
2nd Dam: Misty Dancer, by Lyphard
3rd Dam: Flight Dancer, by Misty Flight
1ST BLACK TYPE WIN, 1ST GRADED STAKES WIN, 1ST GRADE I WIN. O-Three Chimneys Farm; B-Besilu Stables LLC (KY); T-Chad C. Brown; J-Antonio A. Gallardo. $180,000. Lifetime Record: 9-4-2-1, $384,943. *1/2 to Saint Liam (Saint Ballado), HOTY, Ch. Older Horse, MGISW, $4,456,995; Congressionalhonor (Forectry), GSW, $112,413; American Dance (A.P. Indy), GSP, $174,395; Quiet Giant (Giant's Causeway), GSW, $405,389; Dance Quietly (A.P. Indy), SW, $123,570; Miss Besilu (Medaglia d'Oro), MGISP, $187,829.Werk Nick Rating: F. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.[bullet ad=”lynwood-stable-graduate”][bullet ad=”kbif-g1″]2–Money Multiplier, 120, r, 6, Lookin At Lucky–Intensify, by Unbridled's Song. ($100,000 Wlg '12 KEENOV; $260,000 Ylg '13 KEESEP). O-Al Shahania Stud; B-Machmer Hall & Haymarket Farm (KY); T-Chad C. Brown. $60,000.[bullet ad=”machmer-hall-co-bred”][bullet ad=”selectsales-shell”][bullet ad=”mersant-international”][bullet ad=”nick-de-meric-de-meric-stables-graduate”][bullet ad=”woodstock-thrived”][bullet ad=”bluewater-moneymultiplier”]3–Bigger Picture, 118, g, 7, Badge of Silver–Glory Dancer, by Honour and Glory. O-Three Diamonds Farm; B-Kenneth L. Ramsey & Sarah K. Ramsey (KY); T-Michael J. Maker. $30,000.[bullet ad=”eqb-cardioclient”]Margins: HF, 1HF, HF. Odds: 23.00, 2.20, 12.60.
Also Ran: Vettori Kin (Brz), Silverwave (Fr), Oscar Nominated, Profiteer, Kurilov (Chi), One Go All Go.
Click for the Equibase.com chart, the TJCIS.com PPs or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree. VIDEO, sponsored by Fasig-Tipton.
Not a subscriber? Click here to sign up for the daily PDF or alerts.
