RUFFIAN H. (gr. II ), Aqueduct , April 06, 2013 , $250,000 Added , value of race $250,000 , 3 yo's & up , 1 mile , 1:36.52 Dirt FT .

The Ruffian Handicap (gr. II), once a major fall fixture at Belmont Park, has been moved around over the years and was presented this year as one of the several undercard stakes on Wood Memorial Stakes (gr. I) day. The one-mile race for older fillies and mares attracted only six starters, including the one-two finishers of the Barbara Fritchie Handicap (gr. II), Funnys Approval and My Wandy’s Girl, and the Affectionately Stakes winner and Top Flight Handicap (gr. II) runner-up Twice the Lady.

But it was the Midlantic wanderer Withgreatpleasure at 14-1 who made one of her occasional forays to New York and went home with the $150,000 winner’s share. The 5-year-old daughter of Hold That Tiger—Doubleyourpleasure, by Double Negative, had spent most of last year running at Delaware Park, Monmouth Park, Hollywood Casino at Charles Town Races, Parx Racing, and Laurel Park. The David Nunn-trained mare managed a second in the Affectionately, but in her last visit to the Big Apple had a terrible start and was beaten 201/2 lengths.

Owned by David Blethen and bred in Kentucky by Blethen and his wife, Valerie, Withgreatpleasure broke from the rail under John Velazquez in the Ruffian and was moved up quickly along the inside after an opening quarter in :22.79 before settling into third behind Funnys Approval through a half in :45.81. When Velazquez asked her, she moved up to challenge on the far turn, cut the corner turning for home, and opened a two-length lead in the stretch. My Wandy’s Girl made a run at her in the final furlong, but she was able to hold on by three-quarters of a length.

“She was my first stakes winner, now she’s my first graded stakes winner,” Nunn said. “She was due to finally get a trip and win. I blew her out three-eighths of a mile the other day and I let her make the call. I was going to go to Charles Town for a race April 20. I had no intention of running here.”

She is a half sister to Sea of Pleasure, who won and placed in stakes in California, including the San Miguel and San Pedro stakes and holds the Santa Anita track record for two furlongs in :20.78. Second dam Joey’s Pleasure produced nine winners, including five that won more than $100,000.

Withgreatpleasure is one of 18 stakes winners by Hold That Tiger. Champion 2-year-old colt in Europe in 2002, Hold That Tiger stands at Haras de la Haie Neuve in France. His 2013 fee is €2,500.—S.H.

BARBARA FRITCHIE H. (gr. II ), Laurel Park , February 16, 2013 , $250,000 Guaranteed , value of race $250,000 , 3 yo's & up , 7 furlongs , 1:25.29 Dirt MY .

Central Kentucky breeder/owner Bobby R. Rankin Sr. has two reasons to celebrate the victory of his Funnys Approval in the Barbara Fritchie Handicap (gr. II) at Laurel Park Feb. 16. He is not only the owner/breeder of the filly but the owner/breeder of her sire, stakes-placed Outrageouslyfunny.

Rankin’s success has come despite his entering racing on a whim.

“He knew a little about Storm Cat,” said Rankin’s son Robby. “In 2001 he went out and bought a bunch of horses and didn’t know diddly-squat about them. He turned them out at the farm with the llamas, goats, and cattle.”

Outrageouslyfunny’s dam, Outreach, was one of that first group. By Quiet American, Outreach was unraced and was carrying Outrageouslyfunny, who is by multiple grade II winner Distorted Humor. Rankin bought Outreach for $6,700 at the 2001 Fasig-Tipton Kentucky December mixed sale from Rockwell Sales Agency, agent. The price proved a bargain considering Distorted Humor’s fee that year was $12,500.

Outrageouslyfunny raced three years and earned $74,103. He retired with a record of 2-2-4 from 23 starts, with one of those efforts a third in the 2007 Forego Stakes at Turfway Park. Outrageouslyfunny was beaten a length in an allowance race at Keeneland in which a track record was set.

“He’s good-looking and by a good sire, and his bloodlines are right,” Robby Rankin said. “My dad thought he’d breed everything to Outrageouslyfunny.”

Funnys Approval is the first stakes winner out of the winning Cherokee Run mare Cherokee Approval, whom the elder Rankin purchased for $7,000 at the 2002 Keeneland September yearling sale from Four Star Sales, agent. Cherokee Approval produced a full brother (Funnys Man Dream) to Funnys Approval in 2012 and was not bred back.

Outrageouslyfunny, who stood at the elder Rankin’s farm near Paris, has been relocated from Central Kentucky to Poplar Creek Horse Center near Bethel, Ohio.

“Slots are coming up there, and we think there’s going to be big money,” Robby Rankin said.

Outrageouslyfunny has sired four winners—and one stakes winner—from eight foals of racing age (excluding 2-year-olds).—D.S.