Minorinconvenience romps in the Funny Cide (NYRA/Coglianese)
Keith McCalmont/NYRA Press Office
SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – Minorinconvenience made his stakes debut a winning one with a prominent effort under Ricardo Santana, Jr. in Wednesday’s $150,000 Funny Cide, a six-furlong sprint for New York-bred 2-year-olds, at Saratoga Race Course.
Trained and co-owned by Amelia Green with Amanda Gillman and Upland Flats Racing, the Mendelssohn grey went to post as the 5-2 third choice in a compact field of four that featured a strong pair from conditioner Jeremiah Englehart in 4-5 favorite Toga Twist and 5-2 first-time starter Fourth and One.
Minorinconvenience helped his chances with a sharp start from the outermost post as impressive debut maiden winner Toga Twist was majorly inconvenienced after breaking slow and inward to spot the field several lengths.
While Minorinconvenience led the field out of the gate it was Fourth and One, who was off a step slow and bumped at the break by Rumblyoungmanrumbl, that took over to mark the opening quarter-mile in 23.07 seconds over the fast main track.
The Manny Franco-piloted Toga Twist rushed up into contention on the backstretch as Minorinconvenience pressed Fourth and One through a half-mile in 46.56.
Minorinconvenience had a half-length lead at the stretch call as Fourth and One battled on gamely and Toga Twist persevered with his bid on the outside before flattening, but a determined Minorinconvenience grew stronger down the lane and opened up late to score by four lengths in a final time of 1:11.56.
“I was really impressed with how he broke today. He was much the best,” Santana, Jr. said.
It was 2 1/4-lengths back to Toga Twist in third with Rumblyoungmanrumbl rounding out the order of finish. Essentially Fast was scratched.
Green said she was a little concerned about a slight cutback in distance for her charge after graduating at second asking traveling seven furlongs in an off-the-turf state-bred sprint over muddy and sealed going on July 31 here.
“I thought it was [a concern] going in,” Green said. “But with how sharp he broke – I told Amanda after the race that when he put his nose in front, I was quietly confident because I knew the further distance would be better for him.
“So, I was pretty confident when he found his stride at the top of the lane, but maybe I didn’t look like it,” Green added, with a laugh. “I was still nervous – in a stakes race, you never know.”
The victory provided Green, a former assistant to Hall of Fame trainer Todd Pletcher, with her first stakes win at the Spa and second stakes score overall following a win with On Command in the Listed License Fee in May at Belmont at the Big A.
“He’s one I still don’t think has actually clicked yet. He’s still a big baby and I still think he has a lot of learning to do,” Green said. “To see him run like this when he still seems like a horse that is figuring things out is very exciting.”
Green selected Minorinconvenience with co-owner Gillman, also a former Pletcher employee, for $20,000 at the Fasig-Tipton Kentucky Fall Yearling Sale.
“It’s very cool. I can’t say we ever expected to be here, but it’s very special. It means a lot,” Gillman said.
Bred in the Empire State by Steve Barberino, Minorinconvenience banked $82,500 in victory while improving his record to 3-2-0-0. He returned $7.10 for a $2 win bet.
Live racing resumes Thursday at Saratoga with an 11-race card, highlighted by the Grade 3, $175,000 With Anticipation in Race 7. First post is 1:10 p.m. Eastern.
