PREAKNESS NOTEBOOK
BALTIMORE – Kentucky Derby winner Funny Cide was not going to travel to Pimlico for the Preakness until the day of the race, but his handlers had a late change of heart yesterday.
Funny Cide is going to head down to Pimlico tomorrow night from Belmont Park instead of Saturday morning.
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Champali, runner-up to budding supercolt Midas Eyes in the Derby Trial at Churchill Downs and a winner of 6 of 9 starts, would have taken a lot of money in the Preakness with Jerry Bailey on his back. But the Louisville-based colt was hit by a serious bout of colic right before shipping here.
After being treated for several hours, Champali is apparently out of danger, according to trainer Greg Foley.
“I think we’re out of the woods,” he said. “He’s eating and he acts good. That’s the main thing.”
With Champali out, Bailey bumped Pat Valenzuela off Ten Cents A Shine.
“Jerry has ridden for us many times and won many races,” said Ten Cents A Shine’s owner, Ken Ramsey. “When the greatest jockey in the world comes available, you try to get him. It’s no reflection on Pat Valenzuela at all.”
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Two big guns that ran their eyeballs out in the Derby, but are bypassing the Preakness to await the June 7 Belmont Stakes, had their first works yesterday since the Run for the Roses.
At Belmont Park, Derby runner-up Empire Maker breezed four furlongs in :48.3. At Churchill, Atswhatimtalknbout, who finished fast to be fourth in the Derby, zipped a half-mile in :47.2.