Last year's Kentucky Derby (gr. I) and Preakness Stakes (gr. I) winner Funny Cide is one of six grade I winners among the 35 nominees for the grade II, $500,000 Massachusetts Handicap to be held Saturday, June 19 at Suffolk Downs. Funny Cide, owned by Sackatoga Stable and trained by Barclay Tagg, would be the first Kentucky Derby winner to compete in the MassCap since Real Quiet in 1999. The last Derby champion to win the MassCap was Riva Ridge in 1973. "We are pointing for the MassCap," said Jack Knowlton, managing partner of Sackatoga Stable. "Funny Cide will have one work prior to the race. If he continues to do well, he will be at Suffolk Downs for the MassCap on June 19." Also nominated is Evening Attire, who finished second to Macho Uno in the MassCap prior to winning the grade I Jockey Club Gold Cup in 2002. Evening Attire is owned by Joseph & Mary Grant of Quincy, Massachusetts, and T.J. Kelly. "We're going to try to get back there," said Patrick Kelly, trainer of Evening Attire. "With the owners being from the Boston area, it's a logical spot for us." The other grade I winners on the nominations list are: Peace Rules (2003 Blue Grass Stakes and Haskell Invitational), Gygistar (2002 King's Bishop), Sarava (2002 Belmont Stakes) and Southern Image ('04 Santa Anita Handicap and Pimlico Special, '03 Malibu Stakes). Weight assignments will be announced by Suffolk Downs Director of Racing Jim Pambianchi on Saturday, June 12. Final entries will be drawn at the MassCap post position draw and press conference on Wednesday, June 16. Here is the complete list of nominees:
Alumni Hall
Angelic Aura
Basil's Rhythm
Best Minister
Bowman's Band
Dynever
Evening Attire
Funny Cide
Gander
Geo Quercus (IRE)
Gift of the Eagle
Greenland
Ground Storm
Gygistar
Lion Tamer
Max Forever
Midway Road
Newfoundland
Offlee Wild
Ole Faunty
On the Game
Peace Rules
Prince Benjamin
Private Lap
Pro'sprodigy
Roaring Fever
Rogue Agent
Sarava
Seattle Fitz (ARG)
Shagraan (GB)
Sir Cherokee
Southern Image
Storm Gulch
Tanqueray (CHI)
The Lady's Groom