SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. (AP) – Funny Cide remains questionable for the $1 million Travers Stakes in two weeks as the gelding recovers from a fever following his recent loss in the Haskell Invitational.

The Aug. 23 Travers has been highly anticipated as a rematch between Funny Cide, the Kentucky Derby and Preakness winner, and Empire Maker, who denied the chestnut gelding the Triple Crown by winning the Belmont Stakes.

“If I had six weeks until the next race, I’d be optimistic,” trainer Barclay Tagg said. “If it was anything but the Travers, I’d say no.”

Tagg, one of the more cautious trainers in the business, said he does not want to push the New York-bred gelding because he has several more years of racing ahead of him. As a gelding, Funny Cide won’t be going to stud. “You can’t push them too hard or they can fall apart on you,” Tagg said. “I can run this horse for five or six years, but if the Travers kills him, I cannot.”

Tagg has his reasons for trying to make it to the Travers with Funny Cide, owned by Sackatoga Stable, a group of 10 friends from upstate New York.

“It’s the most historic race in America,” Tagg said.

“And all the owners are here … that doesn’t happen too often.”

After finishing a dull third in the Haskell at Monmouth Park last Sunday, Funny Cide was returned Monday to Saratoga, where he developed a fever. He also took a clump of dirt in his right eye during the race and the eye was “pretty closed up” after the race, Tagg said.

The horse’s temperature normally fluctuates between 99 degrees and 101 degrees. But it was 102 on Monday before returning to normal Wednesday.

Funny Cide was taken off medication Thursday and missed only one day of training. He jogged Friday morning.

Notes: Bird Town, winner of the Kentucky Oaks and Acorn, worked five furlongs in 1:01 2-5 Friday. The horse, owned by Marylou Whitney Stables, is scheduled to run in the Alabama on Aug. 16. … Zavata, winner of the Amsterdam, will make his next start in the King’s Bishop on Aug. 23. … With Anticipation, trained by Jonathan Sheppard, will try for his third straight victory in the $500,000 Sword Dancer Invitational on Saturday.

AP-ES-08-08-03 1951EDT