Funny Cide, the champion 3-year-old male of 2003, winner of two thirds of the Triple Crown, and one of the greatest ambassadors for the Kentucky Horse Park, died Sunday morning at the age of 23 due to complications of colic, the Horse Park announced via Twitter.
The New York-bred Distorted Humor gelding, who at 12-1 odds captured the 2003 Kentucky Derby, becoming the first New York-bred to do so, and Preakness (G1) and finished third in the Belmont (G1), had resided at the Kentucky Horse Park's Hall of Champions in Lexington since 2008 following his retirement the previous year. He was one of the Horse Park's biggest attractions.
Trained by Barclay Tagg for New York-based Sackatoga Stable, Funny Cide's career line stood at 11-6-8 record from 38 career starts and $3,529,412 in purse earnings. At the time of his retirement he was the highest-earning New York-bred in history. In addition to his pair of classic triumphs, he also won the prestigious Jockey Club Gold Cup (G1) in 2004.
“We are heartbroken at the news of Funny Cide's passing.” Sackatoga Stable posted on Twitter. “What a ride The Gutsy Gelding took us on winning the @KentuckyDerby and @PreaknessStakes. We are so grateful to the @KyHorsePark for giving our guy a wonderful retirement. To say we will miss him is an understatement.”
Funny Cide, who was produced by Belle's Good Cide, by Slewacide, was bred by WinStar Farm in a collaboration with McMahon of Saratoga Thoroughbreds, where he was foaled and raised. McMahon of Saratoga Thoroughbreds, agent, sold him as a yearling to Ocala horseman Tony Everard for $22,000 at the 2001 Fasig-Tipton New York Preferred Yearling Sale. Sackatoga Stable, led by Jack Knowlton, later purchased him privately as a 2-year-old for $75,000.
At the time of Funny Cide's move to the Horse Park, Doug Cauthen of WinStar Farm said the chestnut gelding helped put the Versailles, Kentucky farm on the map.
“He proved we could breed a top horse, and that we were willing to sell our best to promote our stallions,” Cauthen said. “He was the first classic winner for his sire, Distorted Humor, who is the foundation stallion at WinStar Farm, and who has proven to be one of the top sires in the world. Watching Funny Cide win the Kentucky Derby was a surreal moment, and a game-changing event for WinStar Farm. We owe him big.”
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