Undefeated Vino Rosso colt wins second straight stakes

The Wine Steward bests an obscured El Grande O in the 2023 Funny Cide S. at Saratoga – Susie Raisher/NYRA

The Wine Steward triumphed in the $200,000 Funny Cide S. Aug. 27 at Saratoga to run his record to a perfect three-for-three. The 2-year-old Vino Rosso colt won the Bashford Manor S. prior to Sunday’s victory, making Vino Rosso the only First-Crop sire with a multiple stakes winner.

The Wine Steward was a bit tardy out of the gate in the six-furlong contest, but recovered nicely to be just three lengths from the lead going into the turn. Despite his four-wide trip on the bend, he came into the stretch only a length from the leader El Grande O. The Wine Steward closed the margin through the stretch and hit the wire a head in front, getting the distance in 1:10.92 on a fast track.

“He kind of bobbled out of there a little bit,” said winning jockey Manny Franco. “I wanted to be forward and I had to stalk four wide, but I knew I was on the best horse. If he’s going to win, he’s going to win from here. I didn’t make things complicated, I just wanted to stay there and made my move when I thought it was the right time.”

The Wine Steward is owned by Paradise Farms Corp. and David Staudacher and has earned $274,010. The bay colt was bred by Sequel Thoroughbreds LLC, Lakland Farm and Mark Toothaker.

Pedigree notes from the TDN

A $340,000 OBS March 2-year-old, The Wine Steward is out of Call to Service, a half-sister to a trio of good horses in GSW/GISP Giant Game, MGSW/GISP Isotherm, and GISP Gio Game. His dam, purchased for $350,000 by Coteau Grove Farms at last year’s Keeneland January Horses of All Ages Sale, has a yearling colt by Authentic.