The world is in love with Funny Cide. People who had no interest in racing five weeks ago are getting swept up in the New York-bred gelding's quest for the Triple Crown. Many will make their first trip to a racetrack by attending Saturday's Belmont Stakes, which says everything about this unlikely saga's appeal.

Longtime horse people feel the same way, even those who have been part of a classics sweep.

On board Funny Cide's bandwagon is Steve Cauthen, who at 18 rode Affirmed in 1978. When asked if he would be willing to pass on the title of last jockey to win the Triple Crown, Cauthen said, "Absolutely, it's long overdue. I can't think of anything better than for Funny Cide to pull it off and, since he's a gelding, then be around for the racing fans for years to come."

Also pulling for Sackatoga Stable's star are Penny Chenery, who owned Secretariat, and Karen and Mickey Taylor, part of the Slew Crew that campaigned Seattle Slew in 1977.

"We just need to get this process going again," Chenery said. "And Funny Cide is a great candidate."

Added Mickey Taylor: "I hope he gets it done. And it's great for New York."

Enter the heavies.

Trainer Bobby Frankel and jockey Jerry Bailey are the best at what they do, and this pair of merciless mercenaries will try to write an unhappy ending with Empire Maker.

You think these cold-hearted businessmen wouldn't hate being the fall guys again in the Belmont as they were in the Kentucky Derby? Take another painful hit for the good of the game? Yeah, they'd be honored. Frankel and Bailey would like nothing better than to humble the upstart who stole the spring that was supposed to belong to them and their regally bred colt.

As Jack Knowlton, head of the group that owns Funny Cide, said after the Preakness, "Everybody thought there'd be a Triple Crown winner, but nobody thought it would be Funny Cide."

He's right, but I don't think Funny Cide will get the job done in the 135th Belmont.

I don't see him joining Secretariat, Seattle Slew and Affirmed in the thoroughbred pantheon. Funny Cide's sire is Distorted Humor, and tripping up this 3-year-old hero would be just the type of nasty joke that the perverse racing gods love. Besides my gut feeling, there are plenty of logical reasons why it would be no surprise if Funny Cide were to lose Saturday.

After three consecutive career tops, he's being asked to run another at 1 1/2 miles, the most grueling assignment he'll ever have. As his trainer, Barclay Tagg, told The Blood-Horse, "He's doing everything the right way, and he's strong as iron. His demeanor may look fine, but it's still constant stress, and after week after week of it, you wonder are they going to fall apart on you when it's crucial?"

The foot problem that bothered Empire Maker during Derby week is gone, and even though he was wide all the way around he lost by less than two lengths in Louisville to a horse that had a perfect trip. Frankel is the best layoff trainer in the country, and his colt is training brilliantly off a five-week layoff. He also has the best distance pedigree in the field.

"I think he's dead-fit for this race," Frankel said Monday. "I didn't baby him. I think he's ready now. There's nothing I'd like better than to win the Belmont."

Then there's the tension factor.

Jose Santos has had a glorious spring with Funny Cide but he still makes more tactical mistakes than he should. Can he handle all the attention and monstrous expectations?

In 1987, Chris McCarron was going for the Triple Crown on Alysheba. McCarron, a Hall of Famer and one of the smartest, coolest riders ever, got in serious traffic trouble twice and finished a distant fourth.

"It was pressure like I'd never felt before and never felt since," McCarron said last year. "It was incredible pressure, and unfortunately, I felt myself succumb to the pressure."

Nobody is more at ease at nervous time than Bailey, and he'll be stalking Santos from the start, trying to force a mistake, such as going too fast early or moving to the wrong part of the track. Don't be surprised if that happens and Funny Cide hits the wall in the stretch. He'll also be a horrible underlay at around even-money and presents a fine betting opportunity if you agree that he's vulnerable.

Besides the nuts and bolts of handicapping, there are the overriding cosmic vibes.

Whenever too many people want something too badly, it has a tendency not to happen. Look at the legions of eternally tormented Red Sox and Cub fans.

Fate doesn't like to be pushed too hard. Silver Charm, Real Quiet, Charismatic and War Emblem, get ready for some company. The blue-blooded colt who was expected to sweep the Triple Crown will be the one who denies immortality to the people's horse. Empire Maker wins their rubber match as Funny Cide bounces.

"I think my horse is the best horse," Bailey said. " ... I'm frustrated in the sense that I think had Empire Maker been on his game, it could have been and probably would have been a different story at Churchill."

This time, it will be. Sorry, America.