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Kentucky Derby Winner Funny Cide Dies

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – Funny Cide (Distorted Humor), the popular New York-bred gelding, who flirted with the 2003 Triple Crown and was the 3-year-old champion and Horse of the Year, died Sunday from complications of colic.

Owned by Sackatoga Stable, formed by Jack Knowlton and based in upstate New York, Funny Cide won the GI Kentucky Derby and the GI Preakness S. His bid to become the first Triple Crown winner since Affirmed in 1978 ended in the GI Belmont S., when he finished third behind Empire Maker (Unbridled) over the sloppy course.

Funny Cide's unlikely rise to the top of the 3-year-old male division and his enthusiastic group of owners–who rode from their hotel to Churchill Downs for the Derby in a yellow school bus they rented–became a national story that transcended racing. He was the first New York-bred and the first gelding since Clyde Van Dusen in 1929 to win the Derby.

After being notified of Funny Cide's passing by officials at the Kentucky Horse Park–where he was a featured resident for 15 years–Knowlton drove over to Barclay Tagg's barn at Saratoga Race Course for what was a teary conversation to tell the news to the veteran trainer and his assistant Robin Smullen, who was his exercise rider.

“It's sad,” Knowlton said. “Obviously, life-changing for me, personally.”

Tagg has saddled 1,613 winners and developed five millionaires during his 40 years as a trainer. Funny Cide was his first Classic race winner and is his leading earner.

“He's one of the best and he just did a lot for us in every way,” Tagg said. “Some horses are great race horses. Some of them are good friends. He just had a lot of charisma with him.”

Smullen noted that Funny Cide knew he was good.

“And he'd remind you of it, too,” Tagg said.

Knowlton said he was told that Funny Cide appeared to be fine Saturday, but began showing signs of distress in the evening. He underwent surgery, but could not be saved.

Tagg purchased Funny Cide privately for Sackatoga for $75,000 as a 2-year-old. A member of Distorted Humor's first crop, he showed promise later that year, winning all three starts against New York-bred company and was the state's juvenile male champ. He emerged as a Triple Crown series-caliber runner early in his 3-year-old season, though he was winless in three starts before the Derby. He had a troubled trip starting from post 13 in the GIII Holy Bull S. and finished fifth on Jan. 18 at Gulfstream Park. On Mar. 9 at Fair Grounds, he ended up third, but was moved up to second on the DQ of Kafwain, in the GII Louisiana Derby. One month later, he turned in a strong performance in the GI Wood Memorial at Aqueduct, ending up a half-length behind Empire Maker.

At Churchill Downs, the Bobby Frankel-trained Empire Maker was the Derby favorite and Funny Cide was nearly 12.80-1. Frankel was dealing with a hoof issue with Empire Maker, but decided to start the colt. Under future Hall of Fame jockey Jose Santos, Funny Cide prevailed over Empire Maker by 1 1/4 lengths. Two weeks later in the Preakness, Funny Cide was much the best in the 10-horse field and won by 9 3/4 lengths.

Sackatoga's memorable Triple Crown run ended at Belmont Park against five other runners. Funny Cide went to the lead early, but could not maintain his advantage against consistent pressure and ended up five lengths behind Empire Maker, who had skipped the Preakness.

“I tell everybody, I will go to my grave wondering what if it didn't rain five inches on Belmont Day what would have happened?” Knowlton said. “That's not to say that Empire Maker was probably more likely to win the Belmont, but Funny hated that racetrack. So, who knows? We'll never know.”

Funny Cide competed in six seasons and was retired in 2007 with a record of 11-6-8 from 38 starts and purse earnings of $3,529,412. At the time of his retirement, he was the top New York-bred in purse earnings. Besides the Derby and the Preakness, he also won the GI Jockey Club Gold Cup as a 4-year-old.

Though Funny Cide had strong ties to Saratoga, he was foaled a McMahon of Saratoga Thoroughbreds, and Knowlton ran the stable in Saratoga Springs, he only made two starts at Saratoga Race Course: second to Evening Attire in the 2004 GII Saratoga Breeders' Cup H. and an eighth in the 2006 GI Woodward S. He was being aimed for the 2003 GI Travers S. at Saratoga, but was sick after running third in the GI Haskell Invitational on a very hot day and missed Saratoga's marquee race. Seventeen years later, Sackatoga and Tagg won the 2020 Travers with Tiz the Law (Constitution).

A street sign bearing the names of Funny Cide and 2003 GI Kentucky Oaks winner Bird Town owned by Marylou Whitney is at the intersection of Union Ave. and East Ave. in Saratoga Springs, near the main entrance to the famous track.

Funny Cide made three appearances at Saratoga Race Course after he was retired, most recently in 2015.

Knowlton said part of his annual trip to the Kentucky Derby was a visit to the Horse Park to see Funny Cide. He also saw the horse the three times Keeneland hosted the Breeders' Cup.

“The last couple of years he looked better than he had in a while,” Knowlton said. “He had lost some weight, but the right way. His coat was shining. Everything was good. They would bring him out in a grassy area. People could take pictures. Kids could feed him peppermints. It was all good.”

Knowlton said the Kentucky Horse Park was the ideal retirement venue for Funny Cide.

“It was fabulous. He had 15 years there,” Knowlton said. “People got access. He was the star of the show down there, without any question. The most popular horse. The biggest draw.”

Knowlton grew up in the tiny village of Sackets Harbor on the eastern end of Lake Ontario. He developed an interest in racing as an adult and during one reunion convinced five of his high school buddies to form a small stable. It was named Sackatoga by blending Sackets Harbor with Saratoga Springs, where Knowlton and his family lived. Funny Cide gave the everyman stable of the original Sackets Six and four other investors a memorable ride.

“There was the whole experience of the Sackets guys,” Knowlton said, “and winning the Kentucky Derby. Then all the hoopla.”

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Mage Decision On Haskell Coming Tuesday

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y.–A decision will be announced Tuesday on whether Kentucky Derby winner Mage (Good Magic) will run in the GI Haskell S. July 22 or train up to the GI Travers S. Aug. 26, co-owner Ramiro Restrepo said Friday.

Mage was given a break from training by trainer Gustavo Delgado after his third-place finish in the GI Preakness S. May 20. He had his fourth timed work Friday–six furlongs in 1:13.40–at the Thoroughbred Training Center in Lexington, Ky.

“Gustavo just wants to watch the horse until Tuesday,” Restrepo said. “There is no injury. No setback. Nothing negative. We just want to make sure that he is ready to go against horses like Tapit Trice (Tapit) and Arabian Knight (Uncle Mo). There are some serious horses in the Haskell. We want to make sure he makes a good account of himself. The horse has to say to us, 'I'm good.'”

The summer goal for the colt has been the historic $1.25 million GI Travers S. at Saratoga Race Course. Delgado and Mage's connections have been considering whether to have him make his first start back in the Haskell or the GII Jim Dandy at Saratoga July 29. They have focused on the Haskell in recent days, Restrepo said, because it is five weeks before the Travers. However, Delgado may elect to send Mage to Saratoga to train and skip a prep.

Mage did not race as a 2-year-old and has made five starts this year. He broke his maiden Jan. 28 at Gulfstream and finished fourth in the GII Fountain of Youth S. March 4. He secured his Kentucky Derby qualifying points with a second in the GI Florida Derby April 1 and delivered in the Derby at odds of 15-1.

Delgado did not immediately commit to run in the Preakness two weeks after the Derby, but did decide to try him in the Middle Jewel of the Triple Crown. He promptly was sent off to a vacation after the Preakness.

“The break did him wonders,” Restrepo said. “That's what caught our attention. You're so focused from the Derby to the Preakness, there's such a small window, you're really trying to make sure he makes it into the Preakness well, and there's no hiccups that you don't have a chance to step back and kind of view a bigger picture.”

Restrepo said that after being away from the colt for a few weeks, it was apparent that Mage benefitted from what he called a mini off-season.

“We all come back and we're like, 'Whoa. He's put on muscle. He's put on weight. He's matured,'” he said. “You could see it in his bones, in his body. It's crazy how that time off helped him kind of refill his gas tank. It was a wonderful break for him.”

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Op/Ed: In Extending Baffert Ban, Churchill Downs Has Gone Too Far

With the Churchill Downs spring meet, which was moved over to Ellis Park, winding down, it appeared that Bob Baffert would soon be able to put the worst of his problems behind him. Baffert was serving a two-year suspension from Churchill Downs that came in the aftermath of Medina Spirit (Protonico) testing positive for a substance banned on race day after crossing the wire first in the 2021 GI Kentucky Derby. The suspension forced Baffert to sit out the 2022 and 2023 runnings of the Derby, the race that is at the core of his operation. It was a huge price to pay. The end of the meet on Sunday was supposed to mark the end of his ban and give Baffert the green light to run at Churchill, the other tracks owned by the company, and in the 2024 Derby.

Instead, Churchill announced Monday that Baffert's ban had been extended through the calendar year 2024. The decision, Churchill said in a statement, was “based on continued concerns regarding the threat to the safety and integrity of racing (Baffert) poses to CDI-owned racetracks.”

It was a stunning announcement, and not just because it was unexpected. To extend the ban, based on what are best described as flimsy accusations, is overkill. Baffert served his time, his punishment was up and it was time for him to prepare for his return to the Kentucky Derby next year. Justice was not served here.

Baffert's problems began before the 2021 Derby. He had accrued a number of positives over a short period, including one with Gamine (Into Mischief) in the 2020 GI Kentucky Oaks. When Medina Spirit tested positive for betamethasone, Churchill Downs clearly had had enough.

“Failure to comply with the rules and medication protocols jeopardizes the safety of the horses and jockeys, the integrity of our sport and the reputation of the Kentucky Derby and all who participate. Churchill Downs will not tolerate it,” read a statement issued by the track at the time.

A two-year suspension followed. Baffert's problems only mounted. He received a 90-day suspension from the Kentucky Horse Racing Commission and New York Racing Association banned him for what turned out to be a year.

Baffert vowed to fight the charges “tooth and nail,” and that's what he did. He and his legal team based their defense on the supposition that the betamethasone got into Medina Spirit's system, not through an injection. but through an ointment used to treat a skin rash. That, they contended, meant that the positive should have been excused. That never seemed like a winning argument. The betamethasone was in the horse's system. That's all that mattered, and not how it got there. But Baffert kept fighting and contested every one of the suspensions as what seemed like a never-ending series of appeals worked their way through the legal system. As late as this year's GI Belmont S., Baffert was still out there stating his case. In an interview with Fox he said that if he had to do things over again regarding the Medina Spirit matter he wouldn't have done anything differently and that he didn't break any rules.

That apparently didn't go over well in the Churchill Downs corporate suites.

“Mr. Baffert continues to peddle a false narrative concerning the failed drug test of Medina Spirit at the 147th Kentucky Derby from which his horse was disqualified by the Kentucky Horse Racing Commission in accordance with Kentucky law and regulations,” Monday's statement from Churchill read. “Prior to that race, Mr. Baffert signed an agreement with Churchill Downs which stated that he was responsible for understanding the rules of racing in Kentucky and that he would abide by them. The results of the tests clearly show that he did not comply, and his ongoing conduct reveals his continued disregard for the rules and regulations that ensure horse and jockey safety, as well as the integrity and fairness of the races conducted at our facilities. A trainer who is unwilling to accept responsibility for multiple drug test failures in our highest-profile races cannot be trusted to avoid future misconduct.”

There's no doubt that Baffert could have been handled the situation better and that a more prudent strategy would have been to shut up, take his lumps and wait patiently on the sidelines for his suspension to run its course. Had he done so, it's likely that Churchill Downs would have reinstated him Monday rather than extending the ban.

Whether Baffert “peddled a false narrative” or not, no one deserves to be penalized–and penalized severely–for exercising their right to defend themselves. And that's what Churchill has done to Baffert. Put in the same situation, most anyone would have done the same. By no means does anything he did constitute a case of “continued disregard for the rules and regulations that ensure horse and jockey safety…”

Another troubling aspect to this latest twist in the Baffert-Medina Spirit saga is that there's no telling what Churchill will do next. In its statement, Churchill gave no assurances that it will drop the ban at the end of 2024. Rather, it said that it will re-evaluate Baffert's status at the time. Do we know that they will ever welcome Baffert back at their tracks? We don't.

Baffert is far from perfect and he never deserved to get a free pass for what he did. He should have been far more careful, not only with Medina Spirit, but with all the horses he had that tested positive. Instead, and at the very least, he was sloppy and took his eye off the ball. How did he and his veterinarian not know that treating Medina Spirit with the ointment Otomax could result in a positive? All of this would have been an issue with any trainer in any race, but when it comes to the biggest name in racing and the sport's marquee race, you definitely have a problem.

So maybe Baffert deserved some of the penalties, especially the one handed down by the Kentucky Horse Racing Commission. But at some point, the crime and the punishment need to fit. We no longer need to debate whether or not Churchill Downs was justified in banning Baffert for two years. That ship has sailed. The relevant issue now is the extension of the ban and for what reason. Since the original suspension was announced, Baffert has done nothing wrong and has not violated any rules or had any more positives. He should be on his way back and that he's not suggests that Churchill Downs has a vendetta against him. It's not right.

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Bob Baffert Suspension Extended Through 2024 At Churchill Downs

Churchill Downs Incorporated is extending the suspension of Bob Baffert through calendar year 2024 based on what Churchill Downs called “continued concerns regarding the threat to the safety and integrity of racing he poses to CDI-owned racetracks.” Churchill released the following statement:

“Mr. Baffert continues to peddle a false narrative concerning the failed drug test of Medina Spirit at the 147^th Kentucky Derby from which his horse was disqualified by the Kentucky Horse Racing Commission in accordance with Kentucky law and regulations. Prior to that race, Mr. Baffert signed an agreement with Churchill Downs which stated that he was responsible for understanding the rules of racing in Kentucky and that he would abide by them. The results of the tests clearly show that he did not comply, and his ongoing conduct reveals his continued disregard for the rules and regulations that ensure horse and jockey safety, as well as the integrity and fairness of the races conducted at our facilities. A trainer who is unwilling to accept responsibility for multiple drug test failures in our highest-profile races cannot be trusted to avoid future misconduct. Mr. Baffert will remain suspended from entering horses at all racetracks owned by CDI through 2024. After such time, we will re-evaluate his status.”

Baffert told the TDN, “I am at a loss to understand Churchill Downs's latest action to suspend me. From the moment I learned of Medina Spirit's post-race positive–now more than two years ago–I committed to find out how it could have occurred, given that we had never injected Medina Spirit's joints with betamethasone, which the veterinary records confirm. A review of our treatment records showed we used a topical ointment called Otomax for a skin infection, and post-race testing of the sample confirmed the positive test came from a topical application.

I have been open, honest and forthcoming about these events. I have acknowledged that our treatment led to the positive and I informed the Kentucky Racing Commission that we had treated Medina Spirit this way.

I have been advised by my attorneys that the use of Otomax is permitted under the rules, and this issue is presently being adjudicated by the Racing Commission in a case presently before them. In no way does this involve a “disregard for the rules”.

In the interests of the sport we all love, I have made no public comments on this unfortunate episode for an extended period of time so the suggestion that I `continue to peddle a false narrative' is patently false..”

Clark Brewster, who represented Bob Baffert in the Medina Spirit case, added: “This has nothing to do with anything that Bob has done or said. Bob simply has come forward and said he used this particular topical and that the rules permitted it. He felt that the rules dealing with betamethasone involved with injecting a horse within 14 days of the race. He's been open and transparent and hasn't been in any way accusatory. The words in this release are shocking and don't deal with the reality in any way.”

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