Funky Munky Mama Nailed at the Wire in Small Wonder Stakes at Delaware

by Sarah Mace

Funky Munky Mama, two-year-old protégé of Funky Munky Stable, became a two-time stakes performer on Saturday – and very nearly a stakes winner – in her fourth career start, leading a field of eight in the $75,000 Delaware Bred or Certified Small Wonder Stakes for two-year-old fillies at Delaware Park through 5 ½ furlongs, only to be nipped at the wire by closer Table Talking.

A dark bay daughter of Lion Hearted, Funky Munky Mama broke her maiden at second asking for trainer Gary Gullo at Saratoga on August 20^th, taking a $50,000 maiden claiming race for New York-breds by more than seven lengths, and earning a Beyer Speed Figure of 75 after stopping the clock at 1:05.15 for the 5 ½ furlongs.  Next time out, the filly went straight to state-bred stakes company, finishing third as the odds-on favorite in the six-furlong Lady Finger Stakes at Finger Lakes on September 6^th. Seven days before going to the post for the first time outside the state on Saturday in the Small Wonder, Funky Munky Mama posted an interim four-furlong bullet drill, running the distance “handily” over a surface labeled “good” at Belmont (in 47 and change).

Third choice in the wagering, and with Fernando Jara aboard, just as in her prior three starts Funky Munky Mama forged to the front from the get-go, carving out a swift first quarter in 22.02. She had company on the front end, however, in the form of recent Delaware Park maiden-breaker Full Moon Frolic, who pressed Funky Munky Mama the length of the backstretch and through the turn, virtually glued to her flank.

After cornering nicely, Funky Munky Mama was freed from immediate pressure when Full Moon Frolic began to run out of steam, but by the time she had opened two lengths of daylight on the field at the furlong marker, Table Talking was on the move. Table Talking had stalked the pace for the first half mile (run in 45.76), moving from fourth to third in the turn under urging, and angling out four wide going into the stretch. After inheriting second place from Full Moon Frolic, the eventual winner began run to whittle away steadily at Funky Munky Mama’s lead under strong handling, and, in the final two strides, managed to get a head in front. Funky Munky Mama finished 4 ¼-lengths in front of the show horse. The final time for the 5 ½ furlongs was 1:05.09, and Funky Munky Mama matched her high Beyer mark of 75 for Saturday’s performance. The placing improved her record to 4-1-1-1 and gives her a tally of $43,773 in career purse earnings.

Bred by Candyland Farm and foaled at Gallagher’s Stud[1] in Ghent, Funky Munky Mama is the first foal to race from black type-placed earner of $151,188 The Rodeo Express, a Candyland Farm homebred by Rodeo campaigned by Humberto Morales. Funky Munky Mama sold as a yearling to Crupi’s New Castle Farm at the Saratoga New York Preferred sale for $12,000, and earlier this year failed to meet her reserve at the OBS Select sale at Calder when bid up to $22,000. The Rodeo Express has a yearling filly by Freud, a Hook and Ladder weanling colt and was bred this spring to Posse.

Source URL: https://www.nytbreeders.org/news/2010/10/17/funky-munky-mama-small-wonder/

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