In a heart-stopping, breathtaking duel in deep stretch that will be etched in the memories of racing fans for years to come, Funcaandun, ridden by Robert Halledeen, outbattled favourite Legacy Isle to win the prestigious Mouttet Mile (invitational) at Caymanas Park on Saturday.

The stage was set for a thrilling showdown, with a US$250,000 ($39 million) purse on the line — the largest in the English-speaking Caribbean. The atmosphere was electric, and the stakes were higher than ever. No one was giving anything away, and the excitement was palpable.

Those in attendance were filled with anticipation, sensing that they were about to witness something truly special. And special it was, as Funcaandun, trained by Jason DaCosta, upset the apple cart at odds of 17-1.

The three-year-old American bay colt got home in the Graded Stakes contest for three-year-olds and upward by a long neck, leaving favourite Legacy Isle, ridden by visiting jockey Emisael Jaramillio, in second place. Legacy Isle, trained by Rohan Crichton, did nothing wrong, moving at the right time, but was simply outdone by a better horse on the day.

Crichton’s other runner, Commandant, ridden by Dane Nelson, finished third by one and a quarter lengths in the event. After splits of 23.2 x 46.4 x 1:12.1 x 1:25.0, the final time was recorded at 1:38.4.

The victory was a testament to the skill and determination of Halledeen, who rode a masterful race to get the best out of Funcaandun. DaCosta’s training expertise also played a crucial role in preparing the colt for the big race.

DaCosta was over the moon with Funcaandun’s victory, and he’s hopeful that the three-year-old colt will continue to improve next year.

“He’s peaking at the right time, and I hope he continues to improve next year,” DaCosta said.

DaCosta also took the opportunity to pay tribute to his late father, Wayne DaCosta, who taught him everything he knows about horse racing. However, he dedicated the win to owner Carlton Watson, who has invested heavily in the sport.

“This couldn’t have been possible without my dad, but I want to dedicate this win to owner Carlton Watson, who has done and invested so much in the sport,” DaCosta said.

Halledeen was equally ecstatic about the win, and he struggled to put into words the emotions he was feeling.

“I’m feeling wonderful, I mean, words can’t explain the feeling right now,” Halledeen said.

Halledeen said he was confident going into the race, knowing that he had a good horse underneath him.

“If you’re not confident, it doesn’t make sense being out here,” he said.

Halledeen says that he had a good feeling about Funcaandun’s chances after his previous performances in the Gold Cup and the Jamaica Cup.

“After the Gold Cup win and the Jamaica Cup third-place finish, I knew
Funcaandun was the perfect miler,” he said. “All I had to do was get a clean break and a safe trip, and that was it.”

As the starting gates burst open for the Mouttet Mile Race, the crowd erupted into cheers. Pack Plays, ridden by Kevin Krigger, shot to the front, followed closely by
Banadura (Jerome Innis) and Desert of Malibu (Raddesh Roman). As the field approached the seven-furlong marker, Banadura surged to the front, with Desert of Malibu, Pack Plays, Legacy Isle, and Funcaandun hot on their heels.

Down the backstretch, Plack Plays regained the lead, prompting jockey Emisael Jaramillio to send Legacy Isle into pursuit. Meanwhile, Funcaandun drew alongside
Desert of Malibu, with Commandant looming large.

As the field entered the half-mile mark, the race intensified, with Legacy Isle seizing the lead and carrying the field into the lane. Funcaandun positioned himself perfectly in the middle, while Commandant went wide, setting the stage for a heart-stopping finish.

In the final furlong, it seemed to be a three-horse battle, but Funcaandun and
Legacy Isle eventually pulled away from Commandant. In a thrilling conclusion,
Funcaandun got up in time to claim victory, sending the crowd into raptures.

As the dust settled, the racing community was left buzzing with excitement, still trying to process the stunning upset. Funcaandun’s victory will go down in history as one of the greatest upsets in the Mouttet Mile, and it will be remembered for years to come as a testament to the unpredictability and thrill of horse racing.

It was the second winner on the day for Halledeen, who earlier won aboard Milos for trainer Gregg Fennell in the IPRINT Trophy.

Also with two winners was Nelson. Nelson won the $1.25-million ROK Rendezvous Trophy aboard Kem for trainer Paul Swaby and the $3-million Bruceontheloose Sprint aboard Atlantic Convoy for trainer Patrick Lynch. Atlantic Convoy won the six-and-a-half-furlong event in 1:18.4 a new Stakes record time.

Also setting a new Stakes record was Run Julie Run in the $3-million Chairman’s Plate over nine furlongs and 25 yards (1,820m). Trained by Ian Parsard and ridden by Reyan Lewis, Run Julie Run won in 1:54.2.

Racing continues on Saturday and Sunday.