Sackatoga Stable's Funny Cide turned in another sharp drill Wednesday morning, working 5 furlongs in :59 2/5 over a muddy track in preparation for the Belmont Stakes, in which he will attempt to become racing's 12th Triple Crown winner.
With exercise rider and assistant trainer Robin Smullen aboard, the son of Distorted Humor went his opening quarter in :23 and the half in :46 3/5. He completed the work with a final eighth in :12 4/5, before galloping out 6 furlongs in 1:13 3/5.
Funny Cide was the first horse to work following the renovation break, at approximately 8:45. Trainer Barclay Tagg had said late Tuesday there was a chance he would work the gelding at 5 a.m. because of the prediction for more rain, but decided to keep to his original schedule.
"I was happy with his workout," Tagg said. "He's a superior work horse who always works good. We'll do the same thing next week. He'll walk tomorrow. Gallop once around on Friday, and twice around on Saturday. I want to breeze him again next Tuesday.
"We're fine. It's always a bit riskier when you're working in the mud, but there is nothing I can do about it. Nothing has gone off schedule yet. He's sound, healthy and happy."
Tagg was heading to Fair Hill, Md. to check on some other horses, and was scheduled to run at Monmouth, N.J. on Thursday.
"He was fun to ride today," smullen said. "Somedays, he can be unbearable when he works. But today, he was fun because he wanted to be out there. He enjoyed himself and he looked forward to being on the track."
Also on Wednesday, B. Wayne Hughes' and Biscuit Stables' Atswhatimtalknbout breezed a mile in 1:46 4/5 over a fast Churchill Downs track.
