On a sunny Saturday, May 16, 2026, the 2024 Horse of the Year and Mouttet Mile champion Funcaandun reaffirmed his status as one of the most formidable thoroughbreds in modern racing, delivering a breathtaking, dominant performance to claim the $1.75-million Seeking My Dream Trophy by a commanding 3½-length margin. The five-year-old American-bred runner now has a highly anticipated berth in the $10-million Diamond Mile, scheduled for July 17, firmly within his reach.
Trained by elite horse trainer Jason DaCosta and ridden by veteran jockey Robert Halledeen, Funcaandun covered the 7½ furlong (1,500-meter) course in a blistering time of 1:30.10, coming within less than a second of Sky Train’s 43-year-old standing track record of 1:29.2 set back on May 7, 1983. The race’s split timings were recorded as 23.2 seconds for the first quarter, 45.4 for the half-mile, 1:11.3 for the six-furlong mark, and 1:24.0 heading into the final furlong.
From the starting gate, Halledeen stuck to the pre-planned race strategy, settling Funcaandun comfortably in third position as front-runners California Crown (ridden by Aaron Chatrie) and Neo Star (ridden by Tajay Suckoo) set an early heated pace down the backstretch. As California Crown attempted to accelerate and extend his lead entering the half-mile turn, Halledeen remained perfectly in control of Funcaandun, biding his time for the optimal moment to strike.
As the field approached the final stretch, Halledeen gave the signal to advance, and Funcaandun responded with immediate, explosive speed. He swept past the leading rivals turning for home and powered away from the pack, leaving his competitors far in his wake. In an extraordinary result for the stables, California Crown held on to secure second place, while Girvano (ridden by Jaheim Anderson) rallied from the back of the field to claim third—completing a full sweep of the top three finishing positions for owner Carlton Watson and trainer DaCosta.
In a post-race interview, DaCosta praised his team and the trio of horses for the perfectly executed race plan. “Everything went exactly as we mapped it out,” he said. “We had California Crown out front setting the pace, and he held on strong to finish second— I couldn’t be prouder of how he performed today. Funcaandun sat right off the pace just as we planned, and Girvano came from behind to take third. It couldn’t have played out better for us.”
Addressing the upcoming Diamond Mile, DaCosta noted, “Once Funcaandun hits the front at the furlong pole, no one is going to catch him. The $10-million Diamond Mile in July is definitely a possibility, but we’ll monitor how he recovers from this race before making a final decision.”
Halledeen echoed his trainer’s comments, explaining that the race instructions were straightforward: hold third behind the two early leaders and wait for the right moment to make a move. “He pulled so effortlessly from the half-mile to the quarter, I barely had to guide him through the turn,” Halledeen said. “When I asked him to go up the straight, it was almost effortless. Even with the hot sun, he handled every step of the 7½ furlongs like the champion he is. People say he’s getting older, turning into what you might call an old man now, but he’s still here competing at the highest level. He proved he’s still the same champion that took Horse of the Year honors back in 2024.”
Following the race, DaCosta posed for photos with Halledeen aboard Funcaandun and Chatrie aboard second-place finisher California Crown. The photograph was captured by photographer Garfield Robinson.