Funny Cide returns to winner's circle at Aqueduct

Funny Cide returned to his wining ways on Saturday (Debra Kral/Horsephotos.com)

Sackatoga Stable's champion FUNNY CIDE (Distorted Humor) set slow splits

while alone on the lead, faced a challenger and was headed in the stretch, but

proved gamest late in taking the $68,875

Kings Point H. for New York-breds at Aqueduct on Sunday.

The Barclay Tagg charge, who was winless in eight starts going back to 2004, set

splits of :24 2/5 and :49 for the half-mile before being tested by second choice

Gold and Roses (Gold Token) throughout the stretch. Ridden by Richard Migliore,

the six-year-old gelding was dead game and proved he still has plenty of fight in him,

completing the 1 1/8 miles in 1:50 2/5 as the 3-5 choice while keeping his

challenger at bay.

"I'm more tired from trying to pull him up," Migliore stated. "I thought I

was going to have to go around again."

The winner paid $3.20 and $2.10, while the exacta with Gold and Roses

three-quarters of a length back paid a skimpy $5. It was another 3 1/4 lengths

farther back to Win With Beck (Personal Flag), who was followed by Delta Sea (Sea

Hero). Mike's Greenfields (Slew City Slew) was withdrawn.

Funny Cide boosted his bankroll to $3,314,144 from a 29-9-6-5 lifetime

record. The chestnut amassed wins in the 2003 Kentucky Derby (G1) and Preakness

S. (G1), and also came out victorious in the following year's Jockey Club Gold

Cup S. (G1), which was his last win prior to Sunday. The gelding was second in

the Excelsior Breeders' Cup H. (G3) most recently.

Also at Aqueduct on Sunday, Brian and Kerry Novak's NO REASON (Precise End)

moved three-wide turning for home and outkicked pacesetter Little Miss Zip (City

Zip) to the wire en route to a three-quarters of a length win in the $100,000

Park Avenue Division of the New York Stallion S. Trained by Steve Asmussen and

piloted by Channing Hill, the three-year-old lass was in hand while wide early

but proved who was best on this day with a sharp run from off the pace,

finishing off six furlongs in a swift 1:10 3/5. Disregarded at 14-1, the heroine

paid $30, $12 and $6.70 while topping the $149.50 exacta and $2,319 trifecta.