"He ran in the heat and humidity in the Haskell last year and that knocked him out for the rest of the year," Knowlton said. "Of course I'm disappointed. We've been pointing to this race all spring."Without Funny Cide, it appears Dynever and Southern Image will vie for the favorite's role. The race also includes grade I winner Evening Attire, last year's Preakness runner-up Midway Road, Bowman's Band and Ole Faunty.
Funny Cide, winner of the 2003 Kentucky Derby and Preakness (both gr. I), was scratched Thursday from today's Pimlico Special (gr. I).Trainer Barclay Tagg made the decision after conferring with Jack Knowlton, managing partner of Sackatoga Stable. Funny Cide has a respiratory condition that worsens in hot weather. It was 92 degrees at Pimlico Race Course."Nobody wanted to run him more than I did," Tagg said. "I can't help it if we're having a heat wave. When you run a sound horse who can't breathe, that's when they get hurt."