Gelding Funny Cide Takes Derby

Funny Cide was close to staying home for the Kentucky Derby. It's a good thing his trainer had a change of heart.

Funny Cide had the last laugh Saturday, rolling to victory in the Derby and becoming the first horse bred in New York to win America's greatest race with an upset of favorite Empire Maker.

With the surprising win, Funny Cide became the first gelding since Clyde Van Dusen in 1929 to win the Derby. Since then, 74 geldings tried and failed.

But not this one.

Ridden by Jose Santos, Funny Cide held off 5-2 top choice Empire Maker by 1 3/4 lengths, making his decisive move midway on the final turn.

The win turned the tables on the Bobby Frankel-trained Empire Maker, who beat Funny Cide by a half-length in the Wood Memorial at Aqueduct on April 12.

After that race, trainer Barclay Tagg wasn't thrilled with the prospect of leaving New York and making the trip to the Derby.

So he waited until Wednesday to bring his 3-year-old to town.

It turned out to be well worth the journey.

Tagg made Derby history of his own, becoming the first trainer to win on his first Derby try since Cam Gambolotti won with Spend a Buck in 1985.

"People just didn't believe in this horse because he is a gelding," said Santos, winning his first Derby in his seventh attempt. "This is an excellent horse. I can't believe we won the Kentucky Derby."

Funny Cide, who went off with odds of 12-1, was third down the backstretch, behind a speed duel between Brancusi and Peace Rules. When Brancusi began to tire entering the final turn, Santos moved Funny Cide off the rail to go after Frankel's other colt.

As they turned for home, Funny Cide was between Peace Rules on the inside and Empire Maker on the outside. With Santos urging him on, Funny Cide began to draw clear and covered the 1 1-4 miles in 2:01.19, a relatively fast time.

"We're coming back with the Kentucky Derby trophy, back to New York, back home," Santos said.