Defunded Stumbles Early, but Pulls Away in Native Diver
Image:
Description:
Photo: Benoit Photo
Defunded and jockey Edwin Maldonado win the Native Diver Stakes at Del Mar
The Bob Baffert-trained Defunded came into the 1 1/8-mile, $150,000 Native Diver Stakes (G3) at Del Mar a heavy favorite. The 3-5 shot at post time survived a gallant upset attempt by 35-1 Go Joe Won to pick up his second consecutive win Nov. 27.
Defunded stopped the clock at 1:50.12 on a fast track, winning by 4 3/4 lengths.
Out of the gate, Go Joe Won set himself apart from the six-horse field of 3-year-olds and up. Defunded stumbled out of the gate and fell behind. Jockey Edwin Maldonado collected himself and his horse, quickly looking to make up lost ground.
"No, not concerned," Maldonado told FanDuel TV of the poor start. "He went off the pace before, second, third. He's won over here by eighth lengths and he was four wide, so I was very comfortable with him."
Coming around the first turn, Go Joe Won was setting the pace with Newgrange and Defunded sticking nearby. Go Joe Won posted the early lead at :23.52 with Defunded off by a head and then the half-mile in :46.41. With sights squarely set on an upset, Jose Valdivia Jr. had his mount neck and neck with Defunded through the first half-mile. But then the Baffert trainee made his move with three furlongs remaining.
Defunded still trailed the upstart narrowly at the three-quarter pole with a fraction of 1:10.34 but never looked back, taking the lead and hitting the mile mark in 1:36.72.
Go Joe Won faded down the stretch, finishing fourth. Another Baffert trainee, Azul Coast took second, and Newgrange was third.
A $2 win bet paid $3.40.
Maldonado earned his first grade 1 victory on Defunded their last time out in the Awesome Again Stakes Oct. 1 at Santa Anita.
"It's very special. I've been riding 21 years waiting for that moment," he said of the accomplishment.
Earlier this year, Defunded finished second in the Hollywood Gold Cup Stakes (G1) at Santa Anita before a seventh in the San Diego Handicap (G2) and seventh in the Pat O'Brien Stakes (G2), both at Del Mar.
Owned by Michael Pegram, Karl Watson, and Paul Weitman, Defunded improves to 5-3-1 in 13 starts with career earnings of $608,100. Bred by Athens Woods, the son of Dialed In and the Touch Gold mare Wind Caper was sold to the ownership group also known as the Three Amigos for $210,000 at the 2019 Keeneland September Yearling Sale out of the Eaton Sales consignment.
Wind Caper has five starters—all winners—from eight foals. Among those that have raced is Terry's Charm, a gelding by Quality Road who has 16 wins in 85 starts with career earnings of $416,035. Dialed In stands at Darby Dan Farm for $15,000.