Krone Is Picked to Ride Funny Cide

Julie Krone will ride Funny Cide in the Breeders’ Cup Classic at Santa Anita on Oct. 25, one of the owners of the Kentucky Derby winner said Tuesday.

Jack Knowlton, managing partner of the 10-man Sackatoga Stable that races Funny Cide, said that trainer Barclay Tagg hired Krone after Jose Santos, the horse’s regular rider, was not available. Santos, who had anticipated that Funny Cide wouldn’t run, accepted the mount on Volponi for the Classic. Volponi, with Santos aboard, won the Classic last year at Arlington Park.

Funny Cide was not expected to run in the Breeders’ Cup until Tagg changed his mind last Sunday.

A woman has never won a race in the Breeders’ Cup, which started in 1984. Krone, who has ridden in 14 of the races, had her best finishes when Darby Shuffle ran second in the 1988 Juvenile Fillies and Mr. Greeley was second in the 1995 Sprint.

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