D'Funnybone Back in Action at Belmont

Photo: Max Lashin/Eclipse Sportswire

The Waldoboro at six furlongs features four horses who will be making either their first or second start off a lengthy layoff, including a coupled entry from the barn of Rick Dutrow, Jr. that serves as the 2-1 morning-line second choice.

This Ones for Phil, a four-time stakes winner whose victories include a score in the 2009 Grade 2 Swale at Gulfstream Park via disqualification, is unraced since finishing eighth in the 2010 Grade 2 Gulfstream Park Handicap. He made one other start that winter, prevailing by a nose in the Sunshine Millions Sprint at Gulfstream following a lengthy duel with Pashito the Che.

“He was off in his rear end, and we wanted to give him some time off,” said Paul Pompa, Jr., who owns the 5-year-old gelded son of Untuttable in partnership with Jack Mandato and Michael Dubb. “We didn’t want to bring him back in a graded stakes. We wanted to protect him because we think a lot of him, and Rick told me he’s training better than ever.”

Javier Castellano will pilot This Ones for Phil from the rail.

D’ Funnybone, whose exploits include Grade 2 wins in the Saratoga Special, Futurity, Hutcheson, Swale, and Woody Stephens, has made one start in 2011, finishing fourth against Florida-breds in the Sunshine State Stakes at Gulfstream on April 9 in his first start following his last-of-seven effort in the Grade 1 Kings Bishop at Saratoga Race Course in August.

“We just wanted to give him some time off since he had some soreness in his cannon bones,” said Pompa. “He won five Grade 2 races for us and never had a break since his 2-year-old year. He loves Belmont as he has won two graded stakes there, and this race is an excellent spot for his return to the NYRA circuit.”

Pompa, listed as D’ Funnybone’s sole owner, hopes the colt has a cleaner trip that what he got in the Sunshine State.

“He got buried along the inside and didn’t have the chance to run,” said Pompa.

Hall of Fame jockey Edgar Prado has the call aboard D’ Funnybone from the outside in the field of six.

Mill House’s Trappe Shot will make his first start since finishing ninth as the slight favorite in the Grade 1 Travers in August. Prior to that race, Trappe Shot won the Long Branch and finished second in the Grade 1 Haskell Invitational, both at Monmouth.

While Trappe Shot’s last three races have come over a route of ground, his connections are likely to keep the 4-year-old son of Tapit in sprint races in 2011.

“We’ll have him run at six furlongs and go from there,” said Artie Magnuson, assistant to trainer Kiaran McLaughlin. “He’s run at two turns before and he has never had a bad race, except for the Travers. He’ll tell us more, distance-wise, but I think he’ll be going in shorter races this year.”

Trappe Shot, the 8-5 morning-line favorite, will leave from post five under John Velazquez, who on Saturday picked up his first Kentucky Derby victory aboard Animal Kingdom.

Yet another 4-year-old who will commence his 2011 campaign in the Waldoboro is Rule by Night, who last seen rolling home a 9 ¼-length winner of the Groovy overnight stakes at Aqueduct in November. Trained by Steve Amsussen for owner Gold Square, Rule by Night has won two of his last three starts, having won a Monmouth Park allowance in August and finished second in the Gallant Bob at Parx Racing in October.

Ramon Dominguez has the call aboard Rule by Night, the 5-2 morning-line third choice, from post 3.

The Waldoboro field is rounded out by Deputy Daney, second to Be Bullish last time out in the Mr. Nasty overnight stakes in the mud at Aqueduct Racetrack on April 1, and Sunrise Smarty, sixth in the Grade 1 Carter at the Big A on April 9.

In the 6 ½-furlong Times Square, Wishingonastar will make his second career start and his first for trainer David Jacobson and owner Bruce Golden, having been claimed by those connections for $16,000 out of his April 21 Aqueduct debut.

“I look at all first-time starters in the paddock, and he was very impressive when he walked in,” said Jacobson.

Wishingonastar validated Jacobson’s opinion by stalking the pace, taking command on the far turn, and drawing clear under minimal urging to take the one-mile race by 5 ½ lengths.

“I was impressed with his race, and there’s no telling what he could do,” said Jacobson. “Any horse who wins like that in their first start has talent. He convinced me he could compete at this level. Every time you claim a horse you hope that happens, and sometimes you get lucky.”

Jacobson said he isn’t concerned with Wishingonastar cutting back to 6 ½ furlongs or leaving from post position 1.

“There’s some other speed, and he should get a stalking trip,” said Jacobson. “Maybe I’d be concerned if the race was on the inner track.”

Wishingtononastar, the 2-1 morning-line second choice, will have the services of David Cohen.

In the Times Square, trainer Rudy Rodriguez will send out Darrin’s Dilemma and Freuds Ana Streak, who both enter Wednesday’s race off fourth-place finishes against old horses at Aqueduct.

Darrin’s Dilemma, owned by Michael Dubb and Bethlehem Stables, broke his maiden by 7 ½ lengths on Aqueduct’s inner track on March 10 in his third start and comes into Wednesday’s race off a close fourth against 12 opponents in a New York-bred allowance on the Big A’s main track April 9.

“I think that race was very tough as it was his first start against older horses,” said Rodriguez. “I’m glad he has the chance to run against 3-year-olds again.”

Darrin’s Dilemma, the 7-5 morning-line favorite, will be ridden by Ramon Dominguez from post position 3.

Rodriguez’s other Times Square entrant, Freuds Ana Streak, will leave from post 2 under Cornelio Velasquez as the 4-1 morning-line third choice.

“Hopefully he can fit with these horses,” said Rodriguez. “I think he’ll run well.”

Warrior Up, Anaphylaxis, Freud’s Honour, and With a Cape complete the Times Square field.

The field for the $60,000 Waldoboro:

The field for the $100,000 Times Square: