Pedigree Look: Funny Cide

 Note: I've been blogging for four years now, and have always said that Funny Cide is my all time favorite horse. I've been trying my best to not do a Pedigree Look post on him for a few months now, and can no longer hold back. So here it is!

Name: Funny Cide

Year Born: 2000

Color: Chestnut

Sex: Gelding

Sire: Distorted Humor

Dam: Belle's Good Cide

Broodmare Sire: Slewacide

Profile: He wasn't supposed to win the Derby, heck he came up just short of being the first gelding to win the Triple Crown. Funny Cide (Distorted Humor) brought in new fans to horse racing thanks to his humble beginnings and rag tag owners. One of those new fans was a 14 year old, soon to be 15 year old girl who was living in Delaware, but was born and raised for eight years in his home state of New York (aka me). His rags to riches tale helped set up for horses like Smarty Jones (Elusive Quality), Afleet Alex (Northern Afleet) and Rachel Alexandra (Medaglia d'Oro) who would all go on to be fan favorites throughout their careers.

Funny got his start at 2 in New York bred company winning all three of his races, including the Sleepy Hollow on New York Showcase Day. He was named the NYB 2yo Champion Male over future graded stakes winner Spite the Devil (Devil His Due). He then made his Open debut in the 2003 Holy Bull where he could only manage a fifth place finish. After that he ran in the Louisiana Derby where he finished third, but was moved up to second at a later date due to a Dq. He then headed to the Wood Memorial where finished just behind Empire Maker (Unbridled). Then it was time for the Kentucky Derby. Sent off at 12/1 odds, Funny sat off the pace setter Brancusi (Deputy Commander). As they turned for home, Funny was right there with Peace Rules (Jules) and a charging Empire Maker. He would pull away with less then 2 furlongs to go to win the Derby. Thus becoming the first gelding to win in 75 years, but more importantly, the first New York bred ever to win the race. Even though his Derby came under question after a photo from the Miami Harald appeared, he was able to keep the win. However, that minor controversy did not deter him as he won the Preakness before finishing third to Empire Maker and Ten Most Wanted (Deputy Commander) in the Belmont. He would race two more times that year finishing third in the Haskell to Peace Rules and 10th in the Breeders' Cup Classic. Still he did enough to win the Eclipse 3yo Champion Male and was named NYB of the year. Here is his Derby win, http://youtu.be/iB9f3zIjHj4. 

Funny would pick up wins as an older horse in the Jockey Club Gold Cup, Excelsior Handicap and Dominion Day Handicap. He would end his career with a win in the Wadsworth Handicap at Finger Lakes, the closest track to where the majority of his connections, Sackatoga Stable grew up. He retired shortly afterwards at the age 7. He was his trainer Barclay Tagg's pony for a year before retiring to Kentucky Horse Park. He resides there with Cigar (Palace Music) and Da Hoss (Gone West). 

Sire

Distorted Humor (Forty Niner) won the Salvatore Mile, Ack Ack, and Churchill Downs Handicap during his career. His best finish in a G1 race is a 3rd place finish in the 1998 Cigar Mile which was also his career finale. Other then Funny Cide, he is the sire of G1 winners Drosselmeyer, Commentator (who like Funny is a NYB and fan favorite), Awesome Humor and Rinky Dink (AUS), among many others. 

His sire Forty Niner (Mr. Prospector), finished second in the 1988 Derby to Winning Colors (Caro (IRE)). He would win the Haskell, Travers and NYRA (now Cigar) Mile that same year and was the 1987 Two Year Old Champion male. He is the sire of horses such as G1 winners Nine Keys and Coroando's Quest, G2 winner Utopia (JPN) as well as sires Jules and Roar (sire of Roar Emotion and Broodmare Sire to Rach A.). His dam File (Tom Rolfe) won the 1979 Cinderella Stakes at Arlington. She is a 1/2 sister to G3 winner Tuerta (Foli (ARG)) who is the dam to Kentucky Derby and Belmont winner Swale (Seattle Slew), G3 placed List (Herbager (FR)) and G1 winner Yamanin (Herbager (FR)). 

His dam Danzig's Beauty (Danzig) is G1 placed. Other then DH, she is the dam to Validate2 (Alysheba), who according to Pedigree Query was the last horse to run for Hall of Fame trainer Woody Stephens. Her dam, Sweetest Chant (Mr. Leader) is a G2 winner and is the dam to stakes placed Miss Importance (Forty Niner). This is the same female family as G3 placed Play Smart (Fast Play).

Dam

Belle's Good Cide (Slewacide) only won twice in her twenty six starts. She also finished as high as 4th in stakes races. Funny is her best foal of her four foals (she passed away in 2003 shortly before Funny's rise). Her lone filly, Rockcide (Personal Flag) is the dam to G1 placed Rule (Roman Ruler). 

Her sire, Slewacide (Seattle Slew) started only once in his career and finished third. His top foal is Slew of Damascus. However, it's as a broodmare sire where he made his name. Other then Funny, he is the broodmare sire to BC Dirt Mile winner Caleb's Posse (Posse).

Her dam, Belle of Killarney (Little Current) was unraced in her career. Other then Belle, she is the dam to stakes winners Quackerbell (Quack), Zee Oh Six (Alphabet Soup) and G3 winner Belle of Cozzene (Cozzene).