Funtime Bayama has made himself right at home

Multiple-stakes-winner Funtime Bayama (He’s Watching) moved to harness racing trainer Andrew Harris’ stable less than two weeks ago, but the Meadowlands Pace hopeful seems to have made himself at home.

Funtime Bayama was purchased by Bill Pollock, Bruce Areman, and Harris on June 20, five days after the 3-year-old gelding’s third-place finish in the million-dollar Pepsi North America Cup at Woodbine Mohawk Park. Previously owned by Quebec’s Bayama Farms and trained by Richard Moreau, Funtime Bayama has hit the board in all 13 of his career races, winning eight and earning $381,948.

On Saturday, Funtime Bayama will meet seven foes in the second of two $50,000 Meadowlands Pace eliminations for 3-year-old pacers at The Meadowlands. He is 3-1 on the morning line, the second choice behind North America Cup champion Nijinsky at 5-2.

“He’s doing good; he’s adjusted well,” said Harris, who is based in central New Jersey. “He goes out in the field, runs around and eats some grass, and then he wants to come in. He’s already a proven top-quality animal, so I didn’t have to worry about trying to change anything. It was more or less just trying to keep him happy, healthy and sound.

“In the barn, he’s just been a sweetheart. He loves attention. It makes it nice when you can really love on one like that. He’s just a gorgeous animal and great to be around. Everybody in the barn loves him. He just seems so easy going. He’s a gelding, so he’s a lot more laid back. He’s a pretty low-key level-headed pacer.”

Action from The Meadowlands and Scioto Downs will be featured on America’s Day at the Races from 8-11 p.m. (EDT) Saturday on Fox Sports 2 (FS2). The Meadowlands card also features the $230,000 Graduate Series finals for 4-year-old pacers and trotters.

Funtime Bayama is a son of 2014 Meadowlands Pace winner He’s Watching out of the mare Tymal Sugrbabydoll. He is a five-time winner on the Ontario stakes circuit and three-time winner on the Grand Circuit, including his North America Cup elimination on June 8. His start in Saturday’s Meadowlands Pace elim will be his first since the Cup final on June 15.

Dexter Dunn will drive Funtime Bayama, who will leave from post six.

“We took him to The Meadowlands on Saturday and trained him a trip up there with Dexter so he could get a feel for him,” Harris said. “We trained him another slow trip (Wednesday). He seems good. He’s coming into the race as good as I’d want.”

Harris said Funtime Bayama’s ability to get away quickly from the starting gate was a key factor in wanting to buy the pacer. Funtime Bayama was first to the opening quarter in each of his past three starts, and first to the half in the eight races prior to those three.

“In this day and age of racing, closers are fun when you’re close enough to get into it, but I’ve realized it’s a lot easier when you have horses that can leave the gate and put themselves in play,” Harris said. “It just makes it a little bit easier to foresee what’s going to happen and take your fate into your own hands.”

The top-five finishers from each of Saturday’s Meadowlands Pace eliminations will advance to the final on July 13 at the Big M.

In addition to Funtime Bayama and Nijinsky, the second elim includes 2023 Dan Patch Award winner Captain Albano, who was fourth in the North America Cup, and 2023 Governor’s Cup winner Captain Luke.

Nijinsky, who leaves from post five with Louis Roy driving for Anthony Beaton, will be taking his first step toward trying to join Gallo Blue Chip (2000), Rocknroll Hanover (2005), Well Said (2009), Captaintreacherous (2013), and Tall Dark Stranger (2020) as horses to win both the North America Cup and Meadowlands Pace this century.

The first elim includes North America Cup runner-up Captain’s Quarters, the field’s 5-2 morning-line favorite, as well as 2023 O’Brien Award winner Legendary Hanover, 2023 Breeders Crown champ Gem Quality, and Grand Circuit winner Mirage Hanover, who is entering the race off a 1:49.1 victory with a :24.3 last quarter.

“It’s tough racing in both eliminations, but that’s what you expect when you’re in these types of races,” Harris said. “It’s a year where it seems six or seven of these guys can win. Mirage Hanover has interjected himself back into the conversation. Captain Albano was locked in for his life in the North America Cup. Nijinsky and Legendary Hanover look great. Captain’s Quarters, you can’t knock anything he’s done this year or last year.

“It’s a stout bunch. It’s nice we have a horse that’s already proven he can go with these guys. The best trip is usually going to be the one that wins it. A trip just means so much more now because there are that many so close to each other in ability.”

In the Graduate Series final for 4-year-old trotters, Winner’s Bet is the 2-1 morning-line favorite after his 1:49.3 score on June 22 at the Big M. Ken Hanover, who won in 1:47.4 on June 22 and was third last week in the Dave Brower Memorial, is the 5-2 choice in the final for the pacers.

Racing begins at 6:20 p.m. (EDT) at The Meadowlands. For free TrackMaster programs for the Big M, click here.

by Ken Weingartner, for the USTA