Gee whiz, not a single thread on this year’s Triple Crown potential?
From the time Sir Barton had the first Triple Crown victory in 1919 until May of last year, when Seattle Slew died, there has been a living T.C. winner. Seattle Slew won in 1977, and the last T.C. winner, Affirmed (1978), died in 2001. This year will be the 25th since Affirmed did it, equalling the longest drought, 1948 (Citation) to 1973 (Secretariat).
I still remember the duel between Alydar and Affirmed as one of the best horse races I have witnessed (albeit on TV). If Funny Cide manages to pull it off, it’s a $5-million bonus for his owners. Since he’s a gelding, that means a lot.
So, how about it? Think the (relatively) local kid can do it? Or will Empire Maker get revenge for the Kentucky Derby upset?
I’m betting the farm (which right now consists of two tomato plants) on Empire Maker, although I will be rooting for Funny Cide to win the triple crown.
I don’t know why Funny Cide has me so capitaved, but I haven’t been so smitten with a race horse since Spendabuck. I really want to see this gelding win. I too say
I haven’t really been that interested in racing since I left Kentucky (where being interested in racing is a state law) but I have decided that I must root for Funny Cide this year.
This morning I heard an interview with one of the owners, who said that after the Preakness the horse “looked at me with those big brown eyes and said ‘you ain’t seen nothing yet.’”
How can you not root for an owner that knows Bachman Turner Overdrive? I’m sure that Funny Cide will be taking care of business and working overtime.
How about Dynever as a contender – if he is in fact for real & not hype.
When reading, I am a very casual racing fan brought in by the TC, I found it astounding how many horses won the first two legs and failed to win at Belmont. 8 times since Affirmed ; So we have been in this situation almost 1/3 of the time (8/25 times). In fact, we have seen this the case 4 of the last 6 years and the horse failed to win in Belmont each time.
If Funny Cide loses too, I will begin to wonder if in modern racing the kind of horse that wins in the KD and Preakness
is at a disadvantage in the Belmont? Maybe its the distance or travel time or something …
You gotta root for Funny Cide. The whole thing is just a fantastic story. But the hype and hope is insane. I remember being crushed when Charismatic, War Emblem and Silver Charm all lost their bids. It’s funny that I care so much about a horse winning a silly race, but I do. I hope he can do it.
Well, yeah. The Belmont is a mile and a half - usually the longest racing distance these horses have ever seen. The favorites either bite it at the beginning (remember last year’s stumble?) or fade at 1 1/8 or 1 1/4 miles. A horse needs good legs to last that distance.
I’ll put a quarter on Funny Cide (mostly because he was almost speeding up at the end of the Derby), but it’s still a crap shoot.
What chique said: the longest race of the three, and the third in a gruelling five week campaign. I’ll have to go back and look, but I’ll bet most of the ones who defeated the almost-champion were not entered in both of the previous races. The only other such entry this year is Scrimshaw. Not quite fair, but that’s horse racing.
On another note, Secretariat’s owner lent the cinch strap he wore for his races to Funny Cide’s stable. They won’t use it for the race – don’t trust 30 year old elastic – but it will be in the equipment bag they take to the paddock.
I will have to confess I paid little attention to Funny Cide for the Derby. My bet was an exacta box on Empire Maker and Scrimshaw. The Preakness made me a believer, though.
Since Funny Cide is a gelding, do you suppose that breeders are taking a real close look at whatever siblings he may have? Same sire and dam would be ideal, but half siblings would probably get the once over, wouldn’t they?
Funny Cide is from Distorted Humor’s first crop which is real unusual. You bet they’ll be looking. If Funny Cide pulls it off, it will be distorting the betting line on his sibs for at least the rest of the season.
Unfortunately, this NY gal will not be travelling to the Queens border today. With all the goddamn rain, my friends and I cancelled the excursion out, since we’d have been exposed to it all day. We’re gathering at a centrally located friend’s house instead.
I really want Funny Cide to win, it would be so cool. I like the detail that the stable colors, silver and maroon, are from the high school that the owners attended.
But I’m almost afraid to watch. The odds are so against a Triple Crown winner, and nobody wants a letdown. There goes the trumpets.
