Funny Cide-Travers

[Two_Toofs]

<BLOCKQUOTE class=“ip-ubbcode-quote”><font size="-1">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by Heather:
He ran a hell of a race to finish third. <HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

Onlyin racing can a horse purchased for mere pennies (relatively speaking) win the KY Derby, the Preakness, run 3rd in the Belmont all just weeks apart, then come back after a short layup and finish 3rd in a G1 with million dollar purse, be the TOP money earner in the country for the year to date, have over $2 million in earnings at age three and still be criticized!

Two Toofs
(formerly - but still - NDANO)

[drifting_cloud]

<BLOCKQUOTE class=“ip-ubbcode-quote”><font size="-1">quote:</font><HR>If Fc is not quite 100% why would you chance running him at all.<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>
Himbo, this is what we Tagg supporters have been saying!! I guess the difference is that we believe Tagg when he says FC might be a little off, and you don’t believe him.

Empire Maker looked very strong in the Belmont and in his last race. Maybe he has improved enough that he is better than Funny Cide now (but FC was sure better on Derby day and I don’t think EM would have beaten him in the Preakness either). We won’t find out who is the better horse now until they run against each other again (with both of them at 100% and peaking).

“There are three kinds of men. The ones that learn by reading. The few who learn by observation. The rest of them have to pee on the electric fence for themselves.” - Will Rogers

[Heather]

And if he ran the horse and something bad happenend then everybody would be screaming and yelling and jumping up and down that he ran a sick horse, the cruelty, etc. etc.

I fear Funny Cide and his connections can’t win. They’ve gotten scant respect from racing insiders since the beginning, and probably too much respect form “the fans”. The insider’s will always be looking for a reason to prove he’s not good enough, despite all the evidence to the contrary (sorry, Empire Maker will NEVER be as good in my book, because he skipped one leg of the triple crown–if was so superior, then he should have run all three legs–otherwise, he’ll always be an also ran to me). And the “outsider” public will always believe he’s better because they can find an excuse like being sick.

The horse is/was sick. He ran a hell of a race to finish third. Now why not let the people who see the bloody horse take care of him and make the best decisions for THE HORSE, and not accuse them of nefarious chicken hearted scheming.

[Glimmerglass]

This is the first article I’ve seen that suggested anything about Empire Maker not running in the Travers - and of course Bobby says its 100% false.

New York Post 8/20/03 “‘Funny’ Stuff Continues”

If Funny Cide does race he looks to be going up against Frankel’s arsonal:

Frankel, speculating on the source of whispers that Empire Maker might not run, said, “I did walk him an extra day after he worked [Saturday], but I do that all the time. He’s fine right now. I think he’ll be 4-5, maybe lower. But I might enter [Haskell winner] Peace Rules as a back-up.”

[DMK]

<BLOCKQUOTE class=“ip-ubbcode-quote”><font size="-1">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by Ash:
Do you think he would have run if FC didn’t beat him in the Derby?<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

Ash, you have to admit, that is a an almost pointless question. I mean of course you run your horse in the Preakness if he won the Derby, but once he doesn’t win the derby and you know you have a distance horse, then why opt for the shorter race and those Pimlico turns?

Especially when in the big scheme of things, if the horse comes in 2nd in the Derby, wins the Wood, Belmont, Travers, and a BC race, then he pretty much has the votes for the Eclipse (mind you, that is still a tall order).

Himbo, No kidding about Saratoga!

Call your village. Their idiot is missing…

[DMK]

<BLOCKQUOTE class=“ip-ubbcode-quote”><font size="-1">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by Glimmerglass:
I’d love Funny Cide to race if he is physically and mentally ready. That horse without being romantic or sentimental beat Empire Maker fair and square in the Derby and would’ve done the same on the fast track at the Preakness had Bobby entered him. <HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

Not to put too fine of a point on it, but so far the only two times these two horses have met up AND their trainers were not hanging crepe about the physical condition of their horses prior to the race happened to be in the Wood and the Belmont. Frankel was on the record about his concerns with the foot bruise before the Derby. Now maybe he was overstating the case, but if you are going to give Tagg credit for saying FC isn’t right, I think you need to belly up to the bar and give Frankel credit for the same.

And I confess, I do get a grin about everyone running around saying FC isn’t ready to race, thank goodness Tagg is doing the right thing for the horse, but Frankel was just about burned in effigy for following the same protocols when opting to not run in the Preakness.

Call your village. Their idiot is missing…

[buryinghill1]

Just watch Robin’s face. When she smiles around FC she knows he’s hot…he’s fast…
When she’s frowny he runs badly. She knows that horse so well.

[Glimmerglass]

Daily Racing Form 8/21 late edition “Empire Maker doubtful for Travers”

excerpt: “Belmont Stakes winner Empire Maker will probably be scratched from Saturday’s $1 million Travers Stakes, trainer Bobby Frankel said Thursday morning.”

[Glimmerglass]

I respectfully disagree with suggestions of using the elevated temps as a crutch.

The fever is long gone and blood tests have been positive since Friday night. But the tracks at the Spa are a mess so getting a really good workout isn’t there.

Today’s paper: Times Union 8/12: " Funny Cide ready to get back to work"

From all that I’ve seen, Tagg and Smullen haven’t made excuse one about his performance. Rather it’s the media in their craving for something to print doing all the speculating. It will be Tagg’s decision alone to either put Funny Cide in or not according to his condition right up until the last minute. He will use that time wisely and breeze him to see if the horse that won the Preakness by the 2nd greatest margin and the Derby by the 10th fastest time is back.

Personally I think the issue isn’t physical but mental - you have to make certain that Funny Cide wants to win. A lot of the outcome rests with Jose in any race - hold him in check or let him get into the race immediately.

There is a chance that if he’s not good to go, then there may be an option: DRF 8/12/03: “A richer derby could lure stars” ready for the Travers then maybe an alternate could be the Pennsylvania Derby on Sept 1st.

[DMK]

Yup, I’m not a fan of D. Wayne, but I pretty much think that Baffert or Lukas’s horse just isn’t all the horse that day, they pretty much owe up to it. Now you might not like D. Wayne’s eternal arrogance or the fact tha tto Bob, life is a joke, but I never thought they ducked the truth in that regard.

As for Funny Cide’s slight temp, yes, I have to say that it doesn’t seem like that big of a deal. Even 102 is reasonable for some horses post work. But every horse is his own animal, and if FC runs a lower temp normally, what might be 1 degree for another horse is 2 degrees for him. I have the same problem - my regular temp normally is below average, which explains why for years I couldn’t understand why I felt like I had a low grade fever when it was within .2 of “normal.” Then I took a baseline for grins and giggles one day, and low and behold, it made sense. When my temp is 99 it’s way up for me and I feel down right ill.

But more likely I suspect Tagg is using the temp as an excuse. Not because he is ducking Empire Maker, but because something is wrong and he doesn’t know exactly what just yet. EM might be the better horse in my eyes, but it was too obvious that wasn’t the real FC running in the last race.

Call your village. Their idiot is missing…

[Glimmerglass]

<BLOCKQUOTE class=“ip-ubbcode-quote”><font size="-1">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by Himbo:
Now why would you not think the man does not want to go against Empire Maker after all those quotes?<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

From this afternoon: Thoroughbred Times 8/19: “Funny Cide breezes at Saratoga, but Travers Start Still Unlikely”

“I’m not anxious to meet Empire Maker or any of the horses, with the problems he’s had,” Tagg said. “It’s not Saturday yet.”

[snip]

Tagg: “He’s had one little half-mile work since the Haskell and he’s supposed to run against the best horses in the world?”

[snip]

Since there is a virus circulating through the Saratoga backstretch, Tagg said he wants to keep Funny Cide’s Travers options open in case any race contenders (Empire Maker, Sky Mesa, Strong Hope, Ten Most Wanted, and Wild and Wicked) drop out.

[DMK]

OK, actually I have to say that it isn’t a given that you run your horse in the Preakness if you win the Derby. We have Spend A Buck’s connections to thank for that precedent. But the Cherry Hill Mile is no longer a threat to Triple Crown stake money…

Call your village. Their idiot is missing…

[Himbo]

The only problem EM might have in the Travers is that it might not be a long enough race for him but I still stand by my opinion that hes the better horse, I predicted he would beat FC in the Belmont now I hope he takes the Travers. I think I’am so not keen on jumping on the Fc band wagon because I grew up watching horses like Secretariet,Alydar,Affirmed,Ruffian,etc run so I really dont see what the big deal is with this horse. What exactly did he do that Silver Charm did not do, he also won 2 legs of the Triple Crown? Is it because hes a NY bred?? I understand completely why Tagg does not want to run him- if the horse keeps losing the people may not want to buy all the Funny Cide beer,t shirts,etc and there goes all that extra $$. FC is a good horse but a great horse nope not yet hes got a long ways to go to be called great but since hes a gelding theres hope just remember John Henry and Forego they did not become great until they were older.

[Himbo]

If Fc is not quite 100% why would you chance running him at all. Tagg is playing the waiting game to see what Frankel will do. FC is a nice horse but I put him in the same class as Silver Charm-if you went by his breeding he should not be able to run as fast nor as far as he does. Empire Maker is the better horse in more ways than one-Class breeding,better conformation,and he can run further than FC. I owned Silver Charms 1/2 sister (Club Car Lady) and if you looked at that pedigree you would have sold her for $1500 like I did and cried after the people who bought her got offered 100 grand after he won the Derby so it goes to show you luck has a lot to do with things

[Himbo]

Tagg quote “Concerned about latest blood work being a hair off. The blood count is in the normal range but not where I would like it” Dr. Celeste Kunz head vet “Blood work is nothing to get excited about, saying its a hair off would not bother me at all”. Blood work in the normal range,eating,drinking,temp normal----What is the problem??? Tagg needs to get over himself. I know hes not used to having a big time winning horse but jeez enough already!!!

[Jumphigh83]

<BLOCKQUOTE class=“ip-ubbcode-quote”><font size="-1">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by Linny:
I had a friend tell me right after the Jim Dandy that he heard Frankel in a screaming fight with Terry Meyocks. One thing Frankel said was that there was NO WAY that EM would sdtart in the Travers. There is clearly some very heavy stuff going on behind the scenes. I don’t dare venture a guess as to what they might be.

Resident racing historian
Founder of the Mighty Thoroughbred Clique<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

Now Linny…we BOTH know there were ALOT more eplitives in that conversation!! Every other word I think!! Frankel is a blow hard and playing a game…I seriously doubt the horse is “sick” I think Frankel is trying to make NY racing look sick and he is doing a great job at hurting the industry…not everyone likes to think of the game as all about $$ …(it IS) alot of us LIKE the notion of a Seabiscuit, fairy tail racing industry…Hurting the track and the fans is a dangerous game and it WILL come back to bite the great Mr “F” on the butt…

Betsy
www.threewindsfarmny.com

Lead, follow, or get out of the way…

[Himbo]

Frankel said he did not have EM ready for the Preakness and if you remember EM went into the derby with a quarter crack which is like you or I running with sneakers on with a bad hangnail but who really knows what the truth is I just hope the two duke it out in the Travers and remember Saratoga is the graveyard of Champions so one of the “lesser” horses could win the whole shabang and make everyone look like an idiot.

[Glimmerglass]

If not in some earlier match - like the Penn. Derby which is now doubtful - then it will be at Santa Anita in October for the Breeder’s Cup Championship.

[Ash]

When will FC and EM meet again???

---

Momma Mia, here I go again…

[Two_Toofs]

My first thought when hearing of the fever was that it wouldn’t be that unusual for a horse to have a slightly elevated temp after running on a hot day.

However, both AP and TTimes reported that his temp was 102 the following morning. I do believe that is cause for a little TLC & rest to see what comes of it. I also seem to remember reading that they would wait a few days before drawing blood, etc. It all seems as it should be in my opinion.

Two Toofs
(formerly - but still - NDANO)