Five-year-old American-bred Funcaandun reminded everyone why he was 2024 Horse of the Year and Mouttet Mile winner, crushing the field by 3½ lengths in the $1.75-million Seeking My Dream Trophy on Saturday, May 16, 2026. Now, a shot at the $10-million Diamond Mile on July 17 is firmly on the table.

Trained by Jason DaCosta and ridden by Robert Halledeen, Funcaandun stopped the clock in 1:30.10 for 7½ furlongs (1,500m), just shy of Sky Train’s track record of 1:29.2 set on May 7, 1983. The splits read 23.2, 45.4, 1:11.3, and 1:24.0.

Funcaandun settled in third behind California Crown (Aaron Chatrie) and Neo Star (Tajay Suckoo) down the backstretch, tracking comfortably as the pace heated up. California Crown tried to up the tempo going into the half-mile turn, but Halledeen was always in control.