Funny Cide to Enter Haskell

Funny Cide’s next race will be in the $1-million Haskell Invitational at Monmouth Park on Aug. 3, almost two months after failing to win the Triple Crown.

Funny Cide won the Kentucky Derby and Preakness but finished third behind Empire Maker and Ten Most Wanted in the Belmont Stakes on Saturday.

“We’re planning to come with the horse,” trainer Barclay Tagg told Monmouth Park Vice President Bob Kulina on Thursday. “We just wanted to let you know if that helps you.”

Tagg and Sackatoga Stable will each receive a $50,000 bonus for running in the Haskell.

Tagg’s decision sets the stage for a Funny Cide-Empire Maker rematch in the Travers Stakes at Saratoga on Aug. 23.

Empire Maker, trained by Bobby Frankel, is scheduled to run next in the Jim Dandy at Saratoga, also on Aug. 3.

Also expected for the Haskell is Frankel’s Peace Rules, who defeated Funny Cide in the Louisiana Derby but was third in the Kentucky Derby and fourth in the Preakness.

Last year, War Emblem became the first Kentucky Derby winner to win the Haskell and first to run in the race since Alysheba in 1987.