Triple Crown Rivals Have Preps for Travers Today

Before Funny Cide and Empire Maker renew acquaintances in the $1-million Travers Stakes on Aug. 23 at Saratoga, the country’s top two 3-year-olds have some business to take care of today.

The winner of the Kentucky Derby and Preakness, Funny Cide will make his first start since he finished third at the Belmont Stakes on June 7, running in the $1-million Haskell Invitational at Monmouth Park in Oceanport, N.J.

Meanwhile, at Saratoga, Empire Maker, who avenged his defeat in the Derby with a win in the Belmont, will return in the $500,000 Jim Dandy Stakes.

Owned by Sackatoga Stable and trained by Barclay Tagg, Funny Cide will be meeting a strong group in the 1 1/8-mile Haskell. The main threats are Peace Rules, the winner of the Louisiana Derby who will be making his first start for trainer Bobby Frankel since he ran poorly in the Preakness on May 17, Sky Mesa, who will have a new rider in Robby Albarado, and unbeaten Wild And Wicked.

Trained by Ken McPeek, Wild And Wicked has won all three of his races, including the Ohio Derby several weeks ago. A half-brother to The Wicked North, McPeek calls him “the best horse I’ve ever had my hands on” and said he doesn’t fear anyone in the Haskell field.

Empire Maker, who has been training well for Frankel and Juddmonte Farms, will face a group that includes During, the Bob Baffert-trained colt who was the upset winner of last month’s Swaps Stakes at Hollywood Park, Dwyer winner Strong Hope, Nacheezmo, Tafaseel and Congrats.

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Medaglia d’Oro, who won last year’s Jim Dandy and Travers, made a successful return with a one-length win over Volponi in the $750,000 Whitney Handicap on Saturday at Saratoga.

Making his first start since he won the Oaklawn Handicap on April 5, the 123-pound highweight and 4-5 favorite stalked the pace set by longshot Northern Rock, took the lead early in the stretch, then held on to win.

Owned by Ed Gann and trained by Frankel, the 4-year-old El Prado colt won for the seventh time in 13 starts and completed the 1 1/8 miles in 1:47.69. The win was the fifth of the day for jockey Jerry Bailey, who also won the $150,000 Amsterdam Stakes with 3-1 second choice Zavata.

The victory was especially sweet for Frankel, who took exception to comments made by Phil Johnson, the trainer of Volponi, prior to the Grade I. Johnson had been quoted as saying although Medaglia d’Oro was getting most of the attention, the horse he feared most in the Whitney was the Allen Jerkens-trained Puzzlement. The second longest shot in the field of seven at 21-1, Puzzlement finished fourth.

“I wanted to win this race and then I wanted to win it more when I read in the papers that my horse was ‘All hype’,” Frankel said.

“I’ve learned that winning is the best revenge. If you win, you don’t have to say anything.”

Volponi, who finished 6 1/2 lengths in front of runner-up Medaglia d’Oro in winning last year’s the Breeders’ Cup Classic, has been second in all four of his races in 2003.

“He’s a natural mile and a quarter horse and I wouldn’t duck Medaglia d’Oro again going a mile and a quarter,” said Johnson.

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Katdogawn ($12.20) made it three wins in her last four starts with a come-from-behind victory in the $150,000 San Clemente Handicap at Del Mar.

Owned by a partnership that includes Jim Ford and trained by Jim Cassidy, Katdogawn, a 3-year-old, English-bred filly, beat favored Atlantic Ocean and seven others. Ridden by Julie Krone, she completed the mile on turf in a stakes record 1:33.62.