Funny Cide Returns

The feature race on Gulfstream Park’s card today is the $100,000 Spectacular Bid, a Grade III for 3-year-olds at six furlongs.

However, the Spectacular Bid isn’t the most significant event on the 11-race card. Rather, it is the 10th, a $46,000 optional claimer at seven furlongs.

Why? Because it has attracted 2003 Kentucky Derby and Preakness winner Funny Cide, who hasn’t raced since finishing ninth in the Breeders’ Cup Classic on Oct. 25, Today’s race is a prep for next month’s Donn Handicap for the gelding.

Trained by Barclay Tagg for Sackatoga Stable, Funny Cide hasn’t run in a one-turn race since he won the Sleepy Hollow against fellow New York-breds on Oct. 19, 2002, at Belmont Park.

In the Spectacular Bid, Wynn Dot Comma will take on six opponents, including three-time winner Smokume, Ghost Mountain, Saratoga County, Heart of Jules, Excellent Band and Fortunate Buy.

Race of the day: Skipaslew, who won the Gold Rush at nearly 9-1 on Dec. 13, is one of only five 3-year-olds scheduled to go 1 1/16 miles in today’s Golden Gate Derby at Golden Gate Fields. Eric Saint-Martin will again ride the Skip Away colt for owner Merv Griffin and trainer Doug O’Neill.

One for the road: Leading The Parade is a half-brother to the precocious Storm Flag Flying and could be live at first asking for trainer Shug McGaughey in the seventh at Gulfstream Park. Rene Douglas will ride the son of A.P. Indy in the seven-furlong race.

Exotically speaking: Late doubles from Anziyan Royalty in the eighth to Memo House, Feature Story and Storm Lord in the ninth.

Winners: Previous day/meet total: 2/36. Money: Previous day/meet total: $9.20/$184.60. Total money bet: $208.