HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. -- Kentucky Derby winner Funny Cide
failed to find the winner's circle again, finishing second behind
Sir Greeley in a $46,000 allowance race at Gulfstream Park on
Thursday.
Funny Cide, the 2003 Derby and Preakness winner, was 1½ lengths
behind the winner but 1\ lengths ahead of 3-5 favorite Sun King.
Even in defeat, the race was encouraging since the 6-year-old
gelding had finished out of the money in his previous five starts,
.
"Hopefully he's back," Funny Cide jockey Edgar Prado said.
"He broke sharp and was right with those horses from the go. ...
He never gave up. I was very happy with his race."
Funny Cide was hampered by various ailments last year. In his
first start this year, Funny Cide was seventh in the Mr. Prospector
on Jan. 7. His last victory came in the Jockey Club Gold Cup at
Belmont Park on Oct. 2, 2004.
Sir Greeley, ridden by John Velazquez, ran one mile in 1:34 2-5
and paid $7.20.
Funny Cide, who went off the 9-2 third choice in a field of six,
ran second for much of the race. Sun King moved into second briefly
in midstretch before Funny Cide rallied past him.
"I'm just happy he showed some life this time," Funny Cide
trainer Barclay Tagg said. "The biggest thing is that he proved he
could still run hard from the start and finish strong."
Funny Cide will likely run next in the Gulfstream Handicap on
March 4.