Funny Cide Stakes

Notes:
Five promising New York-breds will square off in this 200,000 event named for the 2003 Kentucky Derby and Preakness champion. While it s too early to tell if any of these can become the second horse from the Empire State to wear roses on the first Saturday in May, it seems likely that some in this group can compete successfully in open company. Bustin It is the only one to have faced unrestricted company so far and also the only stakes winner in the field. The son of Bustin Stones was best of the rest behind Nonna s Boy in a muddy maiden race at Belmont Park on June 13. He followed that up with a runaway score against statebreds in the Rockville Centre S. there a month later. The 94 BRIS Speed figure Bustin It earned in his stakes debut puts him in elite company within the juvenile division, and a repeat of that would likely land him in the winner s circle again. Upstart looks like the biggest threat to Bustin It as the ridgling wheels back from a sharp debut on nine days rest. A son of Flatter, he should appreciate the added ground here and can hopefully avoid traffic problems that he overcame in his victory. Bullheaded Boy recovered from bumping at the break to win his initial outing by half a length as the odds-on favorite. Tax Package collected the winner s share of the purse when he stalked and pounced in route to victory here on July 20. Good Luck Gus has yet to race on a fast track in his two starts. He settled for second in his debut then dusted five rivals in an off-the-turf maiden race in the Saratoga slop.