Wow, you just can't keep the legend More Than Ready (US) down and what a day he had Stateside on Saturday.
Not long after his 2yo son Sir Truebadour took his record to two from three starts with a 2-length romp in the Grade III Bashford Manor Stakes at Churchill Downs, his 4yo son Funtastic made his first stakes win count when grinding out a victory in the Grade 1 United Nations Stakes on the turf at Monmouth Park.
That makes it 22 winners at the highest level for the Vinery veteran who makes his 18th trip to Australia this spring.
The outsider of Chad Brown's 4-horse entry in the United Nations Stakes, Funtastic seemed to shock everyone other than his trainer when downing stablemate Money Multiplier by half a length.
"I was pleasantly surprised but not shocked," Brown told The Blood-Horse.
"I knew it would be a tough race and the owner Mr. (Goncalo Borges) Torrealba deserves all credit. He was sure this horse could stay a distance of ground in grade 1 class.
"I was thinking about the Manhattan (June 9 at Belmont), then decided to run in a long allowance race at Belmont, and if he ran well, then maybe the United Nations would be a better race for him. Then as this race approached, I thought this wasn't going to be easy, either. Mr. Torrealba said, 'I want to run. Let's just see how he stands.'
"Antonio (Gallardo) rode a wonderful race to take the initiative coming out the race. He used his horse a little bit to get position and then backed it down enough to carry him all the way. I thought it was a really, really superb ride. It was his first grade 1 win, and I was so happy to be a part of it. He's really a top rider.
"He (Funtastic) is an outstandingly bred horse. He's a half to (2005 Horse of the Year) Saint Liam," Brown said. "I know he was a dirt horse, but Funtastic was bred in the purple and had a right to be a grade 1 horse on some circuits."
Funtastic advances his record to 4 wins, 2 seconds and 1 third from 9 starts with earnings of $384,943.
This is a family really on the move as Funtastic is also a half-brother to another three stakes winners headed by the Grade II-winning Giant Causeway mare Quiet Giant who is the dam of reigning Horse of the Year Gun Runner (Candy Ride).
