Funny Cide Crosses Border to Win Dominion Day

(from Woodbine report)
Dual Classic winner Funny Cide made his first race outside of the United States a winning one, taking Saturday's $200,000 Dominion Day Stakes (Can-III) at Woodbine by 1 1/2 lengths.

The Barclay Tagg trainee, sent off as the 8-5 favorite, became the first Kentucky Derby (gr. I) winner to triumph at the Toronto oval since Secretariat achieved the feat in 1973. Funny Cide won both the Derby and Preakness (gr. I) in 2003.

Under Richard Migliore, Funny Cide, who broke from the inside post, took command of the 1 1/4-mile Dominion Day from the outset, clicking off uncontested early fractions of :23.62, :47.14, and 1:11.48 while well in hand.

The gelded son of Distorted Humor   was engaged by Cryptograph and Todd Kabel in mid-stretch, but dug in gamely along the rail and resisted a strong bid from last year's Durham Cup and Woodbine Slots Cup champion.

The final time for the race was 2:02.41 over a fast main track.

"I kind of figured we'd be on the lead," said Migliore, who has been aboard Funny Cide for his past four starts. "I knew I had horse. When the challenge came, he met it. He likes to fight. As long as he can see them, they weren't going to beat him."

Jack Knowlton, managing partner of Sackatoga Stable, was thrilled with the effort of the chestnut, who now has two wins in his past three starts and 22 top-three finishes.

"We've been all over the country, now we've been international with him," said Knowlton. "He's taken us places we never thought we'd go. It's great being in the winner's circle, and it's a real thrill to be a winner at Woodbine."

It was the tenth win from 31 starts for Funny Cide, the highest-earning New York-bred in history.

Originally purchased at the Fasig Tipton New York bred yearling sale in Saratoga Springs for $22,000 in August 2001 by Tony Everard, Funny Cide was bought by Sackatoga Stable from New Episode Training in Ocala, Florida, for $75,000 in a private transaction in March 2002.

Funny Cide returned $5.20, $3.70, $2.60. Nolan's Cat and Patrick Husbands ($6.10, $3.20) rallied for second by a nose over Cryptograph ($2.50).

Scipion finished fourth, followed by Arch Hall, Just in Case, and Summer Book.

(Chart, Equibase)