Paul
Pompa, Jr.’s D’Funnybone won the Hutcheson Stakes (G2) on Feb. 20 as the
favorite in his 3-year-old debut and will be the horse to beat in the Swale
Stakes (G2) Saturday over the same seven-furlong track and distance with
regular rider Edgar Prado in the saddle for trainer Rick Dutrow.
D’Funnybone
was brilliant last summer in New York winning the Saratoga Special (G2) by 10 ½
lengths in August and The Futurity (G2) at Belmont Park in September by 4 ¾
lengths after being purchased privately following a win and a second to begin
his career at Calder.
The only
blemish on D’Funnybone’s resume came when he trailed in last of 13 after
prompting the pace to the far turn in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile at Santa Anita
on Nov. 7. Dutrow has suggested several times since then that the colt did not
care for the synthetic surface more so than the distance of the race.
Making
his 3-year-old debut in the field of nine 3-year-olds is Evelyn and Darrell
Yates’ Dixie Band for trainer Wayne Catalano with jockey Julien Leparoux to
ride. The Dixie Union gelding won his first three starts last year at Arlington
Park,
including the Arlington-Washington Futurity (G3), but retired to 10th of 14
trying two turns in the Breeders’ Futurity (G1) at Keeneland last out on Oct.
10.
Completing
the field for the Swale are Susan and Jim Hill’s City Trooper, Javier
Castellano; Jeff Singer and David Lanzman’s Fearless Cowboy, Alan Garcia;
Donald Ming’s Gary D, Elvis Trujillo; Jacks or Better Farm’s Hear Ye Hear Ye,
Jeffrey Sanchez; Anstu Stable’s Ibboyee, John Velazquez; C.R.K. Stable’s
Privilaged, Tyler Baze; and Charles Galli’s Silver Craft, Jesus Castanon.