Posted on 06/07/2003 7:01:47 AM PDT by nwrep
| Funny Cide bids for Triple Crown and history |
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By BETH HARRIS, AP Sports Writer June 7, 2003
Only 11 horses have ever swept the Kentucky Derby, Preakness and Belmont Stakes, and none since Affirmed 25 years ago. ``It's certainly the gift of a lifetime to have a chance like this, but I've got to produce, too,'' said Barclay Tagg, who trained for years in anonymity until Funny Cide emerged. A year after a record 103,222 fans showed up to see War Emblem's failed Triple Crown bid, an even bigger crowd was expected Saturday at Belmont Park. ``We have more advantage than any horse running in the race,'' jockey Jose Santos said. ``He's run three times here and he won all three times. I know the track very well. Everything is working in Funny Cide's favor.'' Maybe even the weather. Saturday's forecast calls for a 60 percent chance of late afternoon rain around post time. Funny Cide has trained on a muddy track in recent days at Belmont, and his main rival Empire Maker can handle a soft track, too.
The weather wouldn't dampen the celebration if Funny Cide wins and earns the $600,000 purse and a $5 million Triple Crown bonus to be shared among the New York-bred gelding's 10 owners, and Tagg and Santos. The owners are six high school pals from tiny Sackets Harbor, N.Y., two retirees, a caterer and a health care executive who pooled their limited resources to buy Funny Cide for $75,000. ``Even the Hollywood guys couldn't come up with this one. It's a great story,'' said D. Wayne Lukas, who seeks his fifth Belmont victory with 20-1 shot Scrimshaw. Funny Cide's feel-good story took a turn for worse when Santos was investigated for allegedly using an illegal electrical device to prod the horse to victory in the Derby. The accusation was based on a photograph, and it was later found to be baseless. ``I respect him,'' said Jerry Bailey, who will ride Empire Maker. Funny Cide was an upset winner in the Derby, then put away the Preakness field to win by 9 3/4 lengths three weeks ago. Five rivals will try to stop Funny Cide's roll in the 1 1/2 -mile Belmont, the longest of the Triple Crown races. Whether Funny Cide can sustain his ability to race at or near the lead over a distance rarely run by most horses is the big question.
If he does, Funny Cide would join Secretariat, Citation, Seattle Slew, Affirmed and seven others in the exclusive Triple Crown club. A loss, and Funny Cide becomes the 17th Derby-Preakness winner to fail in the Belmont -- and fifth in the past seven years. ``It looks like he's coming up to this race the way he did the Preakness,'' said co-owner Jack Knowlton, managing partner of Sackatoga Stable. ``He goes out there and just keeps shooting those bullets. This horse is just incredibly consistent.'' None of the opposing trainers is willing to concede the race to Funny Cide, especially Hall of Famer Bobby Frankel, a Brooklyn native who has yet to win a Triple Crown race. He trains Empire Maker, who was second in the Derby despite a bruised foot and skipped the Preakness. ``There's nothing more I'd like to do better than win the Belmont,'' Frankel said. Even if it means preventing a Triple Crown? ``I'd love it,'' he said. ``I want everybody that's going to hate me to hate me. I want to be the villain.'' Funny Cide is the even-money favorite on the morning line. Empire Maker is second choice at 6-5. Dynever, who missed the Derby and Preakness, is the third choice at 5-1. The 25-year gap between Triple Crown champions is the longest, and the same span between Citation's success in 1948 and Secretariat's in 1973. ``It would be wonderful if we could pull off the Triple Crown, but I don't think life will be over if we don't,'' Tagg said. The Belmont field, from the rail out, is: Empire Maker, Supervisor, Scrimshaw, Funny Cide, Dynever and Ten Most Wanted. The race, televised by NBC, goes off at 6:38 p.m. EDT.
Updated on Saturday, Jun 7, 2003 2:00 am EDT Email to a Friend | View Popular
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| 2003 Belmont Stakes Entries and Post Positions |
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June 6, 2003
3-year-olds - Grade 1 - 1 1/2 miles - Dirt PP Horse Jockey Trainer Odds -- ----- ------ ------- ---- 1 Empire Maker Jerry Bailey Bobby Frankel 6-5 2 Supervisor John Velazquez Linda Rice 50-1 3 Scrimshaw Gary Stevens D. Wayne Lukas 20-1 4 Funny Cide Jose Santos Barclay Tagg even 5 Dynever Edgar Prado Christophe Clement 5-1 6 Ten Most Wanted Pat Day Wally Dollase 10-1 Note: All carry 126 pounds. Race 11 of 13 - 135th running - Purse: $1,000,000 Site: Belmont Park - Elmont, New York Post time: 6:38 p.m. EDT (NBC) 2002 winner: Sarava Stakes & Track Record: Secretariat - 2:24 (1973)
Updated on Friday, Jun 6, 2003 10:04 am EDT Email to a Friend | View Popular
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Horsemen and horseplayers are a superstitious lot who never let an omen go unnoticed. Earlier this week, Tagg and Smullen got a powerful one when a well-wisher lent them an overgirth, or leather strap that holds a saddle atop a horse. This one happened to be the one worn by Secretariat when he captured the Belmont Stakes by an otherworldly 31 lengths. It was signed by Big Red's connections: the jockey, Ron Turcotte; the trainer, Lucien Laurin; and the owner, Penny Tweedy.Go, Jose! Go, Funny Cide!Tagg and Smullen will not put it on Funny Cide, but they will carry it over to the paddock when they saddle the first New York-bred to seek racing immortality.
When is the actual post time?
6:38 pm Eastern
RUN SMARTY RUN
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