Funny Cide, Shake You Down On Track in Florida

From Gulfstream Park notes

Funny Cide Back on Track with Donn Still in Sights

Kentucky Derby and Preakness Stakes-winner Funny Cide worked Tuesday in his first drill for trainer Barclay Tagg since a triumphant allowance victory Jan. 10.

Palm Meadows clockers caught the 4-year-old Eclipse Award-finalist going a half-mile in :48 4/5 over a fast track.

"He's doing fine, really good. I'm happy with the work," said Tagg. "I don't do too much in their first move after a race. I like to let all of them go a half-mile in 50 seconds so I'm fine with how he worked."

Tagg's plans for Funny Cide continue to be on course having won the allowance race at seven furlongs in an effort to hone the gelding's speed. Tagg indicated there would be one or two more workouts leading up to the Donn Handicap (gr. I) Feb. 7.

Day to Return to Riding Sunday at Gulfstream

Hall of Fame jockey Pat Day will return to the saddle Sunday afternoon for his first mounts of 2004 after taking a month break.

"He'll gallop a couple starting Thursday and I've lined up a mount on Sunday's card," said Day's longtime agent Doc Danner. "He wanted to make sure he had his air and his winds and his legs under him before getting back out there. Pat is never going to go out there unless he can give 100 percent."

Day underwent shoulder surgery after riding through November in Kentucky.

Shake You Down Signals Strength for Sunshine Millions Sprint

Shake You Down put on a powerful display for trainer Scott Lake in a workout Tuesday, five days ahead of his scheduled start as the favorite in the $300,000 Sunshine Millions Padua Stables Sprint.

Robert Cole's 6-year-old gelding worked five furlongs in 1:01 3/5 at Gulfstream Park in his final tune-up before taking on six foes in Saturday's East vs. West showdown.

"It was a fantastic work," said Lake. "He was going really easy. I caught his half in 48 seconds, and the [jockey Roberto] Alvarado said if he had let his head go he could have gone in 45."

Shake You Down last won the grade III Gravesend Handicap at Aqueduct and comes off a seven-win season in 2003. He is the 8-5 morning line favorite for the Sprint.