SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – After defeating open stakes company, and doing so impressively, last month at Ellis Park, The Wine Steward figures to be heavily favored when returning against statebreds in Sunday’s $200,000 Funny Cide Stakes at Saratoga. The Wine Steward was certainly no secret when debuting against New York-breds on May 28 at Belmont Park, going postward a prohibitive 2-5 favorite and winning like one at first asking. He rallied from off the pace to a six-length victory while having speed to spare at the end. Trainer Mike Maker showed plenty of confidence in The Wine Steward, as well he should have off his first performance, shipping him to Kentucky to compete in the six-furlong Bashford Manor. The son of Vino Rosso used similar tactics as in his debut to wear down the early leaders and win by 2 3/4 lengths over Wilson Q, a well-graded maiden special weight winner at Churchill Downs in his only prior start. The Wine Steward will break from the extreme outside in a field of six 2-year-old New York-breds assembled for the six-furlong Funny Cide with Manny Franco substituting for the injured Luis Saez, who rode the colt to victory in the Bashford Manor. “Both his races have been very impressive and he hasn’t missed a beat since he’s been here,” Maker said. “I like the fact we’re coming back with statebreds, although it looks like there are some quality horses in the field. I’m also pleased he is drawn outside. It will give him a chance to settle. :: Get Saratoga Clocker Reports from Mike Welsch and the Clocker Team. Available every race day.  “He’s pretty precocious but I think the farther the better. I’m really waiting for a route race for him.” El Grande O proved no match for The Wine Steward when he debuted at Belmont on May 28, finishing a distant third following an unlucky start. El Grande O won his maiden in his third start, going gate to wire on the turf. He returned to the main track to finish second over a muddy strip despite another unlucky trip when facing open competition here just nine days earlier in the Skidmore Stakes. Trainer Linda Rice will equip El Grande O with blinkers for the first time in the Funny Cide. Trust Fund was an impressive 2 1/4-length winner of his only previous start here on Aug. 11 while posting the best last-out Beyer Speed Figure in this lineup, a 74.. He figures to prompt the early running in the Funny Cide along with Works for Me, another well-graded last-out maiden winner, and Always a Warrior. Seeking the Ante The $200,000 Seeking the Ante Stakes, filly counterpart to the Funny Cide, also lured a field of six, all of whom come into the race with only a single start. Caldwell Luvs Gold was particularly impressive at first asking, checking back at the start, taking a ton of kickback and rallying from about 10 lengths off the pace under a full drive for the final 3 1/2 furlongs to register a 2 3/4-length victory going six furlongs here on July 27. She will break from the rail in her stakes bow with Florent Geroux aboard once again. “She performed really well first time out,” said trainer Brad Cox. “I don’t know if the post means a whole lot the way she ran in that race. She’s got some stamina; she’s meant to go a little longer. Obviously this is the logical spot with her being a New York-bred and I like what I’ve seen of her since she’s shipped up here. Obviously she won and has had two good works since.” Caldwell Luvs Gold will need some pace to run at in the Seeking the Ante and should get just that with Cara’s Time and Concerti in the lineup. Both were gate-to-wire winners, the former at Belmont, the latter graduating locally. Cara’s Time will have an equipment change despite coming off a winning effort, adding blinkers for the occasion. :: DRF's 2023 Saratoga headquarters: Previews, past performances, picks, recaps, news, and more. Both My Shea D Lady and Stellamaris will compete for the first time against statebred opposition, both fillies showing well with open company in their only previous tries. My Shea D Lady won a maiden special weight dash at Gulfstream Park as the 9-5 favorite, going five furlongs on July 1, rallying from mid-pack to an easy 3 1/4-length decision. Stellamaris is the only maiden in this lineup but sports the highest Beyer Figure of the group, having earned a 71 in a losing cause when finishing second after a bit of an eventful trip going seven furlongs on Aug. 13. :: Want to learn more about handicapping and wagering? Check out DRF's Handicapping 101 and Wagering 101 pages.