Funny Cide triumphs in debut as 4-year-old
HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. -- Kentucky Derby and Preakness winner Funny Cide easily won an allowance race at Gulfstream Park yesterday, the gelding's first race since finishing ninth in the $4 million Breeders' Cup Classic 11 weeks ago.
Funny Cide won by 5 lengths over American Style, finishing 7 furlongs in 1:22.83 under Jose Santos, its rider during last year's Triple Crown quest.
"He was very strong all the way," Santos said. "I did hit him once but it wasn't necessary. . . . He's back on top of his game."
The appearance in a $46,000 allowance race was Funny Cide's first time racing outside stakes company in his last nine starts. The son of Distorted Humor, owned by Sackatoga Stable, boosted his career earnings to $2,126,985 with six wins in 12 starts.
"He did exactly what we hoped he'd do," Sackatoga managing partner Jack Knowlton said. "It was a good race for him. We're thrilled to get 2004 off to a good start."
The race was Funny Cide's prep for the $500,000 Donn Handicap at Gulfstream Feb. 7.
"Seven furlongs sets him up perfectly for the [Donn], without knocking him out," trainer Barclay Tagg said.
Funny Cide returned $2.80, $2.40, and $2.10. American Style paid $3.80 and $2.10 while Wacky for Love was $2.10 to show.
Funny Cide finished third in Belmont Stakes, failing in a bid to become the first Triple Crown winner in 26 years, and only raced twice more in 2003. He was third in the Haskell Aug. 3, then ninth at the Classic.
Funny Cide's connections decided to race the gelding lightly after last year's Triple Crown grind, saying they hope to keep him racing for several years -- a plan Tagg reiterated.
"I hope to keep him going four or five years," Tagg said. "My main objective is to keep him famous and happy."
Outside of the Donn, no schedule for Funny Cide has been set in stone, Tagg said. 