PREAKNESS Funny Cide to start from No. 9 position

Only two horses have ever won from that post, the last one in 1971.
BALTIMORE (AP) -- Funny Cide will have to break from the outside to win the Preakness.
The Kentucky Derby winner will start the 10-horse race from the No. 9 gate Saturday after getting the final pick in Wednesday's post position draw. Only two horses have won the Preakness from that post -- Layminster in 1910 and Canonero II in 1971.
Undeterred by such minor details, Funny Cide co-owner Jack Knowlton spoke excitedly about the potential for the biggest homecoming in the history of New York horse racing. If his chestnut gelding fulfills the role of the 7-5 morning-line favorite, Funny Cide will head home with a chance to become the first Triple Crown winner since Affirmed in 1978.
Belmont Stakes June 7
The Belmont Stakes, the final leg of the Triple Crown, will be run June 7.
"This is a New York-bred horse stabled at Belmont. There were 102,000 people there last year to see [War Emblem] go for the Triple Crown," said Knowlton, general partner of the three-horse Sackatoga Stable that owns Funny Cide.
"If this horse happens to win the Preakness, I think all of New York will be out at the track. They'll break every attendance record that's ever been set, and those records may never be broken again."
First, Funny Cide must survive the Preakness.
Peace Rules, an early 8-5 choice who will break from the No. 7 gate, has beaten Funny Cide before. The horses raced against each other twice, with Peace Rules taking the Louisiana Derby two months ago, and Funny Cide prevailing in the Kentucky Derby on May 3.
"Now we'll see who wins the next race," said Peace Rules jockey Edgar Prado, who had Peace Rules in the lead at Churchill Downs before the horse tired and finished third -- just two lengths behind.
Betting favorite
After winning the Derby at 12-1 odds, Funny Cide now will operate as the betting favorite.
"I've been around racing for 20 years now, and I can't ever remember not wanting to be the favorite," Knowlton said. "It's nice when people think your horse is going to win. It shows that people have a lot of respect for this horse."