Trio of Breeders' Cup hopefuls breeze in New York

Last updated: 10/21/04 9:09 PM

Trio of Breeders’ Cup hopefuls breeze
in New York

Two horses pointing toward the Breeders’ Cup Classic (G1) and
another likely for the Breeders’ Cup Distaff (G1) breezed over a
fast track at Belmont Park on Thursday.

Funny Cide was back on his game in the Jockey Club
(Vincent Dusovic/Horsephotos.com)

Dual classic winner FUNNY CIDE (Distorted Humor), last
year’s champion three-year-old who has earned more than $3.1
million, breezed six furlongs in 1:12 4/5. Trained by Barclay
Tagg, the popular gelding gamely captured the $1 million Jockey
Club Gold Cup S. (G1) by three-quarters of a length in his last
start and is a contender for the 1 1/4-mile Classic.

Grade 2 winner BOWMAN’S BAND (Dixieland Band), also pre-entered
in the Classic, breezed seven furlongs in 1:27 4/5 for
conditioner Allen Jerkens. The six-year-old is winless in 10
starts this season, but has placed in several top races,
including the Woodward S. (G1), Whitney H. (G1), Metropolitan H.
(G1) and Pimlico Special (G1). He exits a fifth-place effort in
the Jockey Club Gold Cup.

SOCIETY SELECTION (Coronado’s Quest), also trained by
Jerkens, breezed seven furlongs in 1:31 in advance of the Distaff.
The bay filly swept both the Test S. (G1) and Alabama S. (G1) at
Saratoga and exits a runner-up effort to the recently retired
multiple Grade 1 winner Sightseek (Distant View) in the nine-furlong
Beldame S. (G1) on October 9.

Bowman’s Band and Society Selection are scheduled to travel to
Texas on Sunday. Funny Cide will ship on Wednesday.

In Kentucky:

Grade 1 winner HONOR IN WAR (Lord At War [Arg]), who is
hoping to draw into the Breeders’ Cup Mile (G1), breezed five
furlongs around the “dogs” in 1:04 4/5 over a soft turf
course at Keeneland. The Paul McGee-trained chestnut exits a
runner-up effort to Mile contender NOTHING TO LOSE (Sky Classic)
in the Shadwell Turf Mile S. (G1) at Keeneland.

“I thought he breezed really good,” McGee said.
“It was nothing flashy, but I think he got something out of
it. I caught him the last quarter in :24 flat. He came back great
and scoped good. We’re just hoping he gets in the NetJets
Breeders’ Cup Mile. Right now we’re third on the also-eligible
list.”