Stute Has Eye on Two Wins

With a relatively small number of starters, trainer Gary Stute quietly had a solid year in 2004.

Stute, whose father is Mel Stute, won at a 15% clip last year, winning with 16 of 106 starters.

He has a chance to pick up a pair of victories today at Santa Anita with Funny Bone in the fifth race and Tialinga in the seventh.

Both horses, who are owned by a partnership that includes Don Beardsworth, Dennis Decauwer and Horse Racing Television host Peter Lurie, are coming off wins. Funny Bone beat $10,000 California-bred claimers on New Year’s Eve, and Tialinga won a $40,000 claimer on Dec. 16 at Hollywood Park.

Triple-jumped in class to face $20,000 claimers at six furlongs, Funny Bone will be looking for her 12th win in 49 starts.

Garrett Gomez, who was aboard for her last two victories, has the call again today and she is the 7-2 second choice on Jeff Tufts’ morning line.

Claimed for $32,000 by her current connections out of a Bay Meadows maiden race on May 22, Tialinga, a 4-year-old gray daughter of Cee’s Tizzy, has won three of 11 races since, including that five-length romp in her most recent appearance. She is the 2-1 favorite against five opponents.

Race of the day: Snake Mountain, who has never lost in five starts on Aqueduct’s inner track, will try to keep the streak alive in today’s eighth, a $56,000 optional claimer at a mile and 70 yards.

Mike Luzzi will ride the 7-year-old A.P. Indy gelding, whose latest win was a 2 1/4 -length score as the 17-10 favorite on Dec. 3. Kissin Saint, Upturn, Private Lap, Jersey Giant, Region Of Merit, Personal Touch and Tales Of Glory will provide the opposition.

One for the road: Roses Are Blue has trained as if he has some talent for trainer Rick Dutrow Jr. and can win at first asking in today’s fourth at Gulfstream Park. Edgar Prado will ride the 3-year-old Allen’s Prospect colt in the $32,000 maiden affair at six furlongs.

Exotically speaking: A pick three using Latin Luminosa, Heighchai and Apolla in the sixth, Tialinga and Saxony in the seventh and One Bad Housewife, San Miguel River and Slew La La In the eighth.

Winners: Previous day/meet total: 2/24. Money: Previous day/meet total: $7/$133.80. Total money bet: $138.