Funny Cide shows improvement at Gulfstream

By: SPORTS NETWORK

Hallandale, FL (Sports Network) - Former champion three-year-old Funny Cide returned to the races Thursday with a second-place finish in a $46,000 allowance race at Gulfstream Park. The former Kentucky Derby and Preakness winner was coming off a poor performance in a stakes race last month.

Six older horses were entered in the mid-week race with stakes quality credentials. Sun King, the 2005 Pennsylvania Derby winner, was the odds-on favorite and Funny Cide was the second choice by the public.

Sir Greeley won the race by 1 1/2 lengths over Funny Cide, who was 1 1/4 lengths ahead of Sun King. The time for the one-turn mile was 1:34.42.

Funny Cide was looking for his first win since the Jockey Club Gold Cup at Belmont Park in October, 2004. The six-year-old broke well from the starting gate and settled into third up the backstretch.

Kennel Up set the pace with Sir Greeley pressing in second. Funny Cide ran third and Sun King raced in fourth. Sir Greeley took the lead down the home stretch as Funny Cide and Sun King battled for second place.

Funny Cide is best remembered for winning the 2003 Run for the Roses as well as the Preakness. He finished third in the Belmont Stakes behind the highly- touted Empire Maker.

By running on Thursday, Funny Cide avoids this Saturday's $500,000 Donn Handicap for older horses. The nine-horse field for the Donn includes Clark Handicap winner Magna Graduate and Suave, who finished second in that race.

Also entered is New Orleans Handicap winner Brass Hat and Super Frolic, winner of the 2005 Hawthorne Gold Cup.

The Donn Handicap will be contested at 1 1/8 miles.