Coffee Boy foils D' Funnybone in Carry Back

MIAMI - Coffee Boy spoiled what figured to be D' Funnybone's triumphant homecoming when slipping up the rail to upset the prohibitive favorite by one length in Saturday's at Calder.

D' Funnybone, who made his first two career starts at Calder before being sold privately and turned over to trainer Rick Dutrow shortly after the 2009 Summit of Speed, was sent postward the 1-9 favorite in a scratch reduced field of four 3-year-olds. And after contesting a moderate pace and then disposing of Dream of Atlantis in early stretch, D' Funnybone appeared well on his way to his sixth Grade 2 win.

But Coffee Boy, who had to steady briefly awaiting racing room entering the stretch, had other ideas. Finishing strongly under jockey Jermaine Bridgmohan, Coffee Boy slipped inside D' Funnybone to challenge near the sixteenth pole and was edging clear at the wire. Peace At Dawn outfinished the tiring Dream of Atlantis for third.

Coffee Boy, who won the Unbridled Stakes in his final prep for the Carry Back, was timed in 1:11.55 seconds over a fast track and paid $10.80. A son of Yonaguska, Coffee Boy is trained by Marty Wolfson and owned by Gary Barber.

"I thought Jermaine rode a great race today," said Wolfson, who won the 2008 Carry Back with Golden Spikes. "He was patient and never came off the rail."

Azalea: Pica Slew continues to improve

Pica Slew, who began the meet a maiden, became a Grade 3 stakes winner on Saturday when rallying off a blistering pace to score a two-length decision over the more experienced Buckleupbuttercup in the .

Pica Slew, who finished off the board in her only try at 2, is now perfect in three starts since being switched to trainer Joe Calascibetta's barn for her 3-year-old campaign. A wire-to-wire winner of her previous two outings at the meet, Pica Slew had to alter tactics for the Azalea when Rapport opened up a seven-length lead after streaking through an opening quarter-mile in 21.31 seconds under jockey Robby Albarado.

Under patient handling from her regular rider, Manny Cruz, Pica Slew chased the leader into the stretch, forged to command nearing the eighth pole and, after edging clear, easily withstood a final surge from Buckleupbuttercup. Bronx City Girl finished another 3 3/4 lengths further back in third.

Pica Slew returned $6 as the tepid favorite in a field of seven 3-year-old fillies. Her final time for six furlongs of 1:11.12 was .43 seconds faster than the males covered the same distance 30 minutes later in the Carry Back.

"I was a little concerned at first but when I saw 21 and 1 for the opening quarter-mile I knew there was no way the horse in front was going to hold on," said Calascibetta. "Manny just sat chilly and waited for her to come back. What I like about this race is that our filly showed a new dimension today, coming from off the pace to win. I'm really excited about that."

Gomez Memorial: Little Drama romps

Little Drama stole the show earlier in the day when drawing off to a 9 length triumph over Alley Oop Oop in the $100,000 Frank Gomez Memorial. The race was marred when Grande Shores was pinched between horses and unseated her rider shortly after the start.

Little Drama($6.80) entered the race a maiden having finished a troubled second in his only previous start. The son of Burning Roma is the younger brother of the multiple graded stakes winner Big Drama, who would go on to win the Grade 2 Smile later in the day. Eibar Coa rode Little Drama to victory for trainer David Fawkes.

* Awesome Feather remained undefeated after outgaming the previously unbeaten Because I Like It to register a half-length triumph in the $100,000 J J'sdream Stakes for 2-year-old fillies. Sanchez rode Awesome Feather ($7.40) for trainer Stanley Gold.

* Tahoe Warrior ($6.80) finished full of run to register a 2 -length victory under jockey Edgar Prado in the $100,000 Bob Umphrey Turf Sprint Handicap. Chihulykee contested the pace and finished a game second over Lord Robyn.