Funny Cide-Peace Rules Rivalry to be Renewed in New Orleans 'Cap

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Three grade I winners, headed by Kentucky Derby (gr. I) winner Funny Cide and Blue Grass (gr. I) and Haskell Invitational Stakes (gr. I) winner Peace Rules, are among the nine horses likely for Sunday's $500,000 New Orleans Handicap (gr. II) at Fair Grounds in New Orleans.

Ten Most Wanted, last year's Travers Stakes (gr. I), has been assigned high weight of 120 pounds as he makes his 2004 debut. Peace Rules was assigned 119 pounds and Funny Cide received a 118-pound assignment.

Other graded stakes winners expected to run in the Handicap (with weights) include Sir Cherokee (115), Seattle Fitz (115) and Comic Truth (114).

The remaining probables for Sunday's race are Spanish Empire (115), Saint Liam (113) and Country Be Gold (113).

If both Funny Cide and Peace Rules start, the race will mark the fifth time they have faced each other, with each winning two of the four races. The rivalry began one year ago at Fair Grounds when Peace Rules beat Funny Cide in the $750,000 Louisiana Derby (gr. II).

Funny Cide then defeated Peace Rules in the Kentucky Derby and Preakness (gr. I), and Peace Rules evened the score in the Haskell at Monmouth Park.

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