Funny Cide Preps for Woodward With Bullet Work

Edited NYRA report
Funny Cide, who has been the pride of Sackatoga Stable, New York and Saratoga, put in the best workout for five furlongs over Saratoga's main track in 1:00, breezing, Thursday morning.

The 2003 Kentucky Derby (gr. I) and Preakness (gr. I) winner is expected to run in next Saturday's grade I, $500,000 Woodward Stakes for 3-year-olds and older horses at 1 1/8 miles.

Trainer Barclay Tagg was impressed with Funny Cide's workout since he thought it done over a below-par track.

"I thought the track was slow, but safe," Tagg said. "He really worked well over it. I thought it was a serious workout for him. But we wanted to be safe with him because he's going to run for big money next Saturday."

Those nominated for the Woodward include the second- and third-place finishers of the grade I Whitney -- Sun King and West Virginia -- last year's Travers (gr. I) and Jim Dandy (gr. II) winner Flower Alley, and last year's Saratoga Breeders' Cup Handicap (gr. II) winner Suave.

Next Saturday, the New York Thoroughbred Breeders will have 10,000 Funny Cide posters available to fans at their booth near the paddock.