Rinaldi dominates Cab Calloway Stakes

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. -- Any doubt who was boss of the 3-year-old New York-bred turf division was erased in 1:36.28 seconds Wednesday at Saratoga, the time it took Rinaldi to register a dominating 4 ¼-length victory over Funny Guy in the $150,000 Cab Calloway Stakes, part of the New York Stallion Series.

The win was the second in a row in the series for Rinaldi, a son of Posse, who had to work a little harder before holding off Funny Guy to post a three-quarter-length decision in the seven-furlong Mike Lee Stakes one month earlier at Belmont Park. Rinaldi, who picked up seven pounds off his previous victory and carried top weight of 123 pounds in the Cab Calloway, led throughout under clever handling by regular rider Luis Saez, who nursed the lightly raced gelding through relatively easy fractions before drawing away with complete authority through the stretch.

Funny Guy, forwardly placed while a bit wide throughout, proved no match for the winner despite getting a six-pound shift in weights in his favor from the winner in Wednesday’s rematch. He was easily second best, finishing another 3 ½ lengths clear of third place finisher Albie.

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Rinaldi is owned in partnership by his trainer, H. James Bond, and Craig Allen. He paid $8.10.

“His sister won at first asking at Gulfstream, and there’s another $800,000 winner in the family,” said Bond referring to Hollinger, who actually banked just over $700,000 in his racing career. “So he’s got the pedigree. He’s also got poise and class, so he’s legit. He’s just slowly stepping up the ladder, but his sister got better with distance and Dynaformer on the bottom is a pretty good influence too.”

Bond said he’ll tread lightly with Rinaldi down the road.

“We’re not going to be overzealous. We know we’re a New York-bred,” said Bond. “He’s worked well on the dirt as well, although I don’t know how far he’ll go on dirt.”