Funny Cide to Face Talented New Shooters in Belmont

If Funny Cide sweeps the Triple Crown he will have earned it. Not only is a large field expected for the Belmont Stakes, but several of them will be talented newcomers to the Triple Crown scene, as well as some fresh horses who ran big in the Kentucky Derby.

Awaiting the son of Distorted Humor will be Empire Maker, winner of the Florida Derby and Wood Memorial, who finished a game second in the Derby after suffering a foot bruise the week of the race. Also from the Derby field is Atswhatimtalknbout, who closed a ton of ground to finish fourth after a rough trip. The son of A.P. Indy was closing so fast he was second a jump past the wire. The colt will train at Churchill Downs, shipping to Belmont the Tuesday or Wednesday before the race.

Another Derby horse who could pose a threat in the Belmont is Ten Most Wanted, who was the wiseguy horse in the Derby after training brilliantly and doing just about everything perfectly leading up to the race. But the son of Deputy Commander was bumped hard at the start and did little running, returning with a sore back. He's worked well since the race and could be ready to bounce back with a big effort. Pat Day will be back aboard. Finally, there is Outta Here, who came from 16th in the Derby to finish seventh off only one start in 2003, a fourth-place finish in the Dubai World Cup. The son of Dehere will be ridden by Kent Desormeaux.

One horse who will command a great deal of attention is the Chris Clement-trained Dynever, sensational winner of the Aventura Stakes and Lone Star Derby. The son of Dynaformer has unleashed three devastating moves in his last three starts and is bred to run all day. He'll be ridden by Edgar Prado.

The beaten horses from the Preakness who likely will try Funny Cide again are Midway Road (second), Scrimshaw (third), and Ten Cents a Shine (ninth). The remaining probable starters are Most Feared, second in the Lone Star Derby, and Pretence, an Irish-bred son of the great Danehill who has won three straight races over the all-weather dirt track at Lingfield for trainer Jeremy Noseda.