BELMONT, N.Y., June 4 (UPI) -- A mere six horses will break from the gate on Saturday when Funny Cide tries to become just the 12th winner of the Belmont Stakes.
It is the last leg of horse racing's Triple Crown.
When Funny Cide won the Preakness on May 17, it appeared that the field for the Belmont would be in double digits, but a steady stream of defections has left the 135th running with just a half dozen horses, the smallest field since Tabasco Cat won against a field of the same size in 1994.
"I thought there would be about 12," said a relieved Barclay Tagg, the trainer of Funny Cide. "The problem with having the extra six horses is there are more horses out there, maturing at different times, who can beat you. I'd rather have one of six than one of 12."
Funny Cide, again with Jose Santos aboard, drew the fourth post, and was installed as an even-money morning-line favorite.
The toughest competition is expected to come from Empire Maker, who finished second as the favorite in the Kentucky Derby, and skipped the Preakness. Empire Maker will break from the rail as the 6-5 second choice with Jerry Bailey aboard.
The post positions for the draw are not nearly as important in the Belmont Stakes because of the grueling 1 1/2-mile distance, and the expansive turns at Belmont Park.
"Our position is fine," Bailey said of breaking from the rail. "It's really not relevant here. We could have been 10 of 10."
The field was expected to include Best Minister, who won the Sir Barton Stakes on the Preakness undercard, and was expected to provide a challenge to Funny Cide. Best Minister is trained by Ken McPeek, who last year saddled Sarava, the biggest long shot winner in Belmont Stakes history.
Best Minister was coughing Wednesday morning, and a scope did not come up clean, prompting McPeek to withdraw the horse.
"In this game, timing is everything," McPeek said. "Unfortunately, this is very poor timing."
Dynever, a lightly-raced colt who has won three straight stakes races in impressive fashion, is the third choice at 5-1. The horse will break from the fifth post with Edgar Prado aboard.
Outside of Funny Cide, the only other horse who will race in all three Triple Crown races is Scrimshaw, a 20-1 choice from the third post with Gary Stevens aboard.
Ten Most Wanted, who was ninth in the Kentucky Derby, is 10-1 from the sixth post with Pat Day aboard. Supervisor, a 50-1 long shot, completes the field. The horse has the second post with John Velazquez aboard.
The improbable ride by Funny Cide has set the stage for one of the most anticipated running of the Belmont Stakes in history. The storyline is perfect -- a New York-bred horse returns to his home track and tries to become the first horse to win the Triple Crown since Affirmed in 1978.
"This is a dream world we're talking about," said Jack Knowlton, the managing partner of Sackatoga Stable, which owns Funny Cide.
Should Funny Cide fall short, it would ensure the longest Triple Crown drought in history.
There was a 25-year gap between the wins by Citation in 1948 and Secretariat in 1973. Historically, a small field has been an advantage. None of the 11 Triple Crown winners faced more than seven opponents in the Belmont. Sir Barton and Count Fleet each beat two horses; Gallant Fox and Whirlaway three; Omaha, Secretariat, and Affirmed four.
War Admiral and Assault each beat six horses, and Citation and Seattle Slew each bested seven.
The Belmont Stakes has had a recent streak of good luck.
Funny Cide is the fifth horse in the last seven years to win the first two legs of the Triple Crown. Sixteen horses have failed in the Belmont after winning the first two legs. The most recent case was War Emblem, who never recovered after stumbling out of the gate.
The main question will be if Funny Cide can handle the mile-and-a-half race, a distance rarely run on any track.
"I've done everything I can for this horse," Tagg said. "We'll see what he can do."
Funny Cide can become the first New York-bred horse and the first gelding to win a Triple Crown. A victory on Saturday will bring a $5 million bonus for Funny Cide, and push his all-time earnings to $7,489,385, which would make him the winningest gelding in history.
Standing in the way will be trainer Bobby Frankel, who failed in the Preakness with Peace Rules, and will come back with Empire Maker for the Belmont. Empire Maker was second to Funny Cide in the Kentucky Derby, but beat Tagg's horse in the Wood Memorial at Aqueduct on April 12.
"Funny Cide beat him twice, and I know Empire Maker is coming for revenge," Santos said.
Post time is 6:38 p.m. Eastern time.
