Trot Insider has learned that talented sophomore pacer Funtime Bayama has been sold to stateside interests.
A homebred developed by Hall of Famer Yves Filion as Bayama Farms, Funtime Bayama sports a career summary of 8-3-2 from 13 lifetime starts, including a 4-1-1 summary from six sophomore appearances, with $519,570 in earnings. Most recently the son of Hes Watching - Tymal Sugrbabydoll finished third in the 2024 Pepsi North America Cup, pacing his own mile in 1:48.3.
The gallant gelding was sold for an undisclosed amount to the connections that have recently put some serious green into the game by acquiring horses such as Abuckabett Hanover and Seven Colors.
‘Funtime’ will now be trained by co-owner Andrew Harris for his primary owners William Pollock and Bruce Areman.
“His name came up the other day when we were having a conversation about top three-year-olds,” Harris told Meadowlands Media. “But I never thought they’d actually sell him.”
Harris, who acquired Seven Colors at a similar point in time last year, knows how fortunate he is to be connected with Pollock and Areman.
“I sit there and see these amazing horses and they become available and with the support of guys like Bill Pollock, I literally get to sit here and play with all of these fancy ponies; I’m a little kid in a candy store,” said Harris, adding with a laugh, “I’m sure I’m the most hated guy in all of the sport when it comes to the other trainers but at the same time, I’m literally getting to live the dream.
"At the end of the day, I mean, I was a kid on the backstretch at Flamboro Downs whipping the side of race bike shafts, dreaming of horses like this," Harris told Trot Insider. "And now I actually get to go to behind them."
Sylvain Filion, who has driven the sophomore in all but two of his 13 career outings for his owner-father Yves, is both happy and sad about the sale.
“My father had already been approached twice before about possibly selling the horse,” said Sylvain Filion. “I have mixed emotions but they made an offer we couldn’t refuse. At the end of the day, I think my dad is pretty happy.”
Funtime Bayama has never raced outside of Ontario in his career, but will in a few weeks in the Meadowlands Pace, which will have its eliminations on July 6.
“He’ll get here sometime this weekend once the paperwork goes through,” said Harris. “And now we have two weeks to prep him for the Meadowlands Pace. We know we are buying a ready-made horse.”
As for who will drive the horse, Harris said: “We are in conversation about that right now.”
"I hope I might have a chance someday to drive him again here," Filion told Trot Insider. "But even if I don't I'll be happy to watch him race. He gave us so many thrills."
(with files from Meadowlands Racetrack)
Sorry to see him go
Now I wish Sylvain would've pulled him going to the half in the NA Cup. Sylvain looked like he was contemplating a move at this time. That probably would've been a good idea because of a long season, but I believe the horse was good enough that night to overcome that move. I've watched the replay numerous times, and what really caught my eye was watching this horse come through the lane for home. He looks like he just blew up, like I mean he just looked like a monster. All the best to the new connections, I'm hoping for the connections that he enters the Meadow Lands final in the same shape or better as he looked going into the NA Cup final. At this point of this young horse's career, I hoping he sold for at least $1.6 million. It's been a pleasure watching this horse race this far.