Champion trainer Jason DaCosta's local-based American, FUNCAANDUN, at decent odds of 17-1, outbattled Gulfstream Park invader, LEGACY ISLE, to win Saturday's US$250,000 Mouttet Mile by a half-length at Caymanas Park.
Ridden by Robert Halledeen for champion owner Carlton Watson, FUNCAANDUN, a three-year-old son of Klimt, by the Empire Maker mare, Fiftyshadesoffun, sat fourth along the rail down the backstretch while stablemate BANADURA led to the half-mile market.
Rohan Crichton's race-favourite, LEGACY ISLE, quickly pounced, evoking memories of his trainer's 2023 victory with ROUGH ENTRY.
However, LEGACY ISLE, who left quarantine at Plumb Point, Port Royal, 11 days before the event, was worn down by FUNCAANDUN within shades from the wire, going down in a driving finish under Florida-based jockey, Venezuelan Emisael Jaramillo.
Funcaandun, with jockey Robert Halledeen, is led to the winners' enclosure after securing victory in the US$250,000 Mouttet Mile.
A tearful Halledeen afterwards described winning the event as "a wonderful feeling. I can't even express it."
DaCosta, who watched his late father, 18-time champion Wayne DaCosta, win Diamond Mile events—the predecessor to the Mouttet Mile—with SEEKING MY DREAM and SHE'S A MANEATER, was also teary-eyed.
"It means everything. It's a lot of hard work. This is just icing on the cake," said DaCosta, who returned to Jamaica in 2021 after his father passed during the COVID-19 pandemic, finishing second in the trainers' championship to Anthony Nunes that season before taking charge with back-to-back titles, 2022-2023.
DaCosta said FUNCAANDUN, who finished a well-beaten third behind ATOMICA and RUN JULIE RUN in the November 9 Jamaica Cup, delivered on the day that mattered.
"I always had high hopes for him. He had a very good campaign this year. He's a three-year-old, always improving. For him to win this race, cements what I expected of him."
Crichton's other American invader, COMMANDANT, ridden by Dane Nelson, finished third, earning $3.45 million, looming large on the outside in the stretch run but was outfinished by FUNCAANDUN and stablemate LEGACY ISLE.
Racing continues at the weekend with Saturday-Sunday meets.
