Saratoga: Scramjet is 2-for-2 after scoring in Funny Cide

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NYRA / Coglianese Photo / Chelsea Durand

Debut winner Scramjet ran his record to 2-for-2 on Monday when he turned a stalking trip into a powerful victory in the black-type, $200,000 Funny Cide Stakes for six New York-bred 2-year-old sprinters at Saratoga.

Bred and owned by Steve Barberino and trained by Linda Rice, Scramjet (2-1) was flanked just behind pacesetter D I Wire (7-1) through early splits of 22.30 and 45.58 seconds in the one-turn, six-furlong feature on closing day.

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With left-handed urging, Ricardo Santana Jr. got Scramjet even just before the first five-eighths went in 57.73. From there the Uncle Mo colt drew away to a two-length win and a final time of 1:10.15 on the fast main track.

Professor Plum (7-1) finished second under Manny Franco and returned $6.40 and $2.92. Post-time favorite Fullcup (8-5), with Júnior Alvarado up, finished third and paid $2.36. Mindfield (7-2), D I Wire and Midnight Raider (20-1) completed the finish in that order.

“He’s really trained well,” Rice said. “I liked our post position today. It’s not a huge field, which is always good, just let these young horses learn. Ricardo (Santana, Jr.) came and I had him work him in the morning, so he was familiar with him and (Race 7 debut winner) Dargham, and I think that was helpful because he could get a feel for the horse, and as he observed, I think this horse will probably be better going further, where he doesn’t have to be rushed. I think he had to go after that horse that was loose on the lead, make sure he didn’t get away from us, but I think he’ll be better off when he runs seven-eighths or a mile.”

“I breezed him last week, he’s such a classy 2-year-old,” Santana said. “I worked in company, I was outside. I let the one inside go and I sit outside of him and he gave me a nice kick that day. Today, I was trying to plan the same thing and that worked out today.”

Scramjet won his debut in an Aug. 15 maiden race over the same course and distance as the Funny Cide. He was 8-1 on the tote board with jockey José Ortiz riding.