Funny Cide, Empire Maker to race

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. -- It's the talk of the town, from the bars to the backstretch: Funny Cide and Empire Maker renewing their rivalry during the biggest racing meet of the summer at the nation's oldest track.

"That's all the buzz you hear," said Mike Badgett, who works with his brother, trainer Billy Badgett. Next door to Badgett's barn at Saratoga Race Course is the one where Funny Cide will stable for the next six weeks.

The Kentucky Derby and Preakness winner is pointed toward a rematch with Empire Maker, the Belmont champion, in the $1 million Travers Stakes on Aug. 23. The anticipation of another showdown began building as soon as the Belmont ended, with Empire Maker spoiling Funny Cide's bid to become the first Triple Crown winner in 25 years.

Funny Cide, the Saratoga-born gelding owned by a group from upstate New York, was scheduled to arrive Tuesday afternoon.

Ten Most Wanted, who finished a close second in the Belmont, is also expected in the 134th running of the Travers, the nation's oldest race for 3-year-olds.

"Hopefully, all three of those horses will go in the Travers and we'll have some real excitement up here," Mike Badgett said.

The annual summer move from Belmont to this upstate racing Mecca continued Tuesday, with horse trailers moving in and out of the backstretch while workers unloaded equipment and made last-minute preparations for Wednesday's opening day.

Zeke Badgett, the Badgetts' 74-year-old father, has been coming to Saratoga since 1948 and was as excited as anyone about Saratoga' 135th season.

"I think it's going to be one of the best meetings you've ever had," he said.

Funny Cide's handlers have opted for the $1 million Haskell Invitational at Monmouth Park as a Travers prep. Empire Maker is scheduled to run in the $500,000 Jim Dandy Stakes at Saratoga on Aug. 3, the same day as the Haskell.

If both come out of those races with no problems, the next stop is the Travers. And if that happens, the highlight of Saratoga's season could attract more than 60,000 fans and break the track's attendance records. Two years ago, the Saratoga season topped the 1 million mark for the first time, aided by a 60,000-plus turnout for the Travers.

Funny Cide will have the home field advantage in the Travers. He was born and raised just outside the city limits, then later sold at a Saratoga yearling sale.