Funontherun Earns His Keep and Some Derby Speculation

When trainer Mel Stute went to the Barretts’ sale at Fairplex Park in Pomona last year, owner Herb Alpert--he of trumpet-playing and Tijuana Brass fame--had a specific request.

Alpert, who owns horses with brother David, wanted a gray horse. Wishing to accommodate his owner, Stute found a son of Runaway Groom, but he was a little expensive. “He was the best one I saw in our price range,” Stute said. “I paid [$70,000]. I went a little over my limit, I know that.”

How much the gray colt in question cost is no longer a concern because Funontherun more than earned his purchase price back Sunday.

Making his first start around two turns and first with Lasix, the 8-1 shot bravely held off 13-1 outsider Inexcessivelygood by three-quarters of a length to win the $201,800 San Rafael Stakes.

Over a somewhat dull Santa Anita main track, Funontherun completed the mile, under Goncalino Almeida, in 1:36, running the final quarter of a mile in a mediocre 25 4/5.

This was the second trip to the winner’s circle in four starts for the Kentucky-bred, which is two less times than he has been on the vet’s list.

After each of his races, Funontherun has gone on the vet’s list for being unsound, but X-rays and scans have turned up nothing.

“He just walks bad after his races,” Stute said. “I think he’ll probably make it again. It’s a thing we just can’t seem to find.

“We’ve had him nuclear scanned, four sets of X-rays and we can’t seem to find anything. Hopefully, he’s like one of those athletes who hurt all over when they’re done playing and then they come back. Basically, he walks like he’s on eggs after his races. He’s just a little different.”

Hello, the 3-2 favorite and unbeaten in two previous American outings, no doubt came out of the San Rafael with a sore head. He broke through the gate before the start, compromising his chances, and had to settle for third, beaten by two lengths.

“It’s never beneficial [breaking through the gate],” jockey Chris McCarron said. “It’s usually very harmful and I think it was today. This horse hit his head pretty good in there.”

Third behind Silver Charm and Free House in the seven-furlong San Vicente after setting some fast fractions, Funontherun had a new rider Sunday. Almeida took over for Alex Solis, who elected to stay with Swiss Yodeler, who finished fifth in the San Rafael.

He also had Lasix after bleeding in his stakes debut, which came a little more than a month after an 11-length maiden victory, and he showed some courage because he looked beaten heading into the stretch.

Taken off the pace Sunday because trainer Bob Baffert feels that’s how he wants to run, Inexcessivelygood got within a head of the lead at the quarter-pole, but he was losing ground at the wire.

“He’s getting better and better and I think he’s going the right way,” said Baffert, mentioning the Jim Beam Stakes at Turfway Park on March 29 as a possible next stop for the California-bred.

The $750,000 Santa Anita Derby on April 5 is likely next for Funontherun and, perhaps, he is the ticket for Stute, 69, to make his third trip to the Kentucky Derby. He was last there in 1986 with Snow Chief, who faded badly to finish 11th as the 2-1 favorite, but rebounded with a win in the Preakness.

“We’ll probably go in the Derby here, but I’m not sure,” Stute said. “He’s nominated to just about everything across the country. I might go somewhere else, but he’ll probably stay here.”

Wild Rush, the 3-1 second choice on the strength of two easy victories in Louisiana, finished seventh.

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Two races before the San Rafael, Northern Afleet rebounded with a return to sprinting, beating Hesabull by a length in the $157,700 San Carlos Handicap.

Ridden by Chris McCarron for owners Ron Waranch and Gregg Anderson and trainer Dave Hofmans, the 9-2 third choice came through along the inside to win in 1:21 2/5 for the seven furlongs.

High Stakes Player, the 6-5 favorite on the strength of consecutive wins in the El Conejo and Palos Verdes, was a distant third, seven lengths behind Hesabull. Larry The Legend, the 7-2 second choice, finished last.

Horse Racing Notes

Media Nox, the 2-1 favorite, rallied strongly in the final furlong to get up and win the $135,250 Buena Vista Handicap by a half-length over 14-1 shot Traces Of Gold. Corey Nakatani was aboard for trainer Bobby Frankel and owner the Juddmonte Farms. . . . There was only one winning ticket in the Pick Six Sunday and it was worth nearly $233,000. . . . The combination of jockey Matt Garcia, trainer Doug Peterson and owners Ron and Susie Anson made it three consecutive victories over the weekend when Spectal won the fourth race and Reality Changes the 10th Sunday. They had won the ninth race on Saturday with Fraley.