Go, Funny Cide, Go


The Belmont Stakes often proves the biggest stumbling block to winning the Triple Crown. Since 1944 when Pensive finished a half-length behind Bounding Home, another 15 horses lost their bid for racing immortality at the New York track.

Pensive was one of seven 3-year-olds who finished second in the Belmont after sweeping the first two legs of the Triple Crown. Others included Tim Tam, '58; Forward Pass, '68; Majestic Prince, '69; and Sunday Silence, '89.

In the last six years, two horses were runners-up in the Belmont, including Real Quiet -- a nose short of the coveted prize in '98 behind Victory Gallop.

Now Funny Cide attempts to become 12th wearer of the Triple Crown, a term coined in 1930 by Charles Hatton while writing about Gallant Fox's three victories in the Daily Racing Form.

It won't be easy for Funny Cide. Two horses chomping at the bit for revenge are Empire Maker and Ten Most Wanted, second and ninth respectively in the Kentucky Derby, who bypassed the Preakness.

Others in the six-horse field on June 7 are Dynever, winner of the Lone Star Derby; Supervisor, third in the Peter Pan Stakes at Belmont; and Scrimshaw, third in the Preakness.

Funny Cide comes off an awesome triumph by 9 ¾ lengths at Pimlico. The winning margin was only a quarter-length shorter than the record victory in the initial Preakness by Survivor in 1873.

It was a magnificent performance by the son of Distorted Humor considering winning jockey Jose Santos and trainer Barclay Tagg had to be unsettled about accusations that the Kentucky Derby victory was tainted.

I'm a little embarrassed that my journalistic alma mater, The Miami Herald, stirred up the controversy based on a single photograph. The paper, where I was an editor for more than three decades ending in the 20th Century, always demanded two sources. I'm puzzled why it published this fiasco that in part said:

"The photo, which ran in several newspapers the morning after the race, depicts a dark area in the space between Santos' right hand and his whip.

"Two Kentucky Derby stewards termed the photo 'suspicious,' and Bernie Hettel, the state's steward at the race, said the photo could lead to further investigation."

Thank the racing gods the probe was quick, thorough and crystal clear that Santos was victimized by an absurd claim. Hettel obtained 280 photos shot at a rate of eight frames per second from the camera of photographer Jamie Squire of Getty Images that was the basis of The Herald's story. Stewards also looked at other photos and brought in an independent expert to analyze all of them.
The copyright of the article Go, Funny Cide, Go in Horse Racing is owned by Greg Melikov. Permission to republish Go, Funny Cide, Go in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.

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