NEW YORK -- Funny Cide was made the even-money favorite to win the Belmont Stakes on Saturday and become the first Triple Crown champion since Affirmed in 1978.

The Kentucky Derby and Preakness winner will take on five challengers in the 1 1/2 -mile Belmont, one less than expected after Best Minister was withdrawn with a cough just before Wednesday's post position draw.

The six-horse field is the smallest since 1994, when Tabasco Cat won. Affirmed defeated four rivals in his Belmont victory.

"It's a very small field this time, but anything can happen when they open up the door," Funny Cide jockey Jose Santos said. "But I am confident we can win."

Funny Cide, trying to become the first gelding to win the Triple Crown, will leave from the No. 4 gate. But post position means little in the longest race in the series.

Empire Maker, the beaten favorite in the Kentucky Derby, was made the 6-5 second choice by Belmont oddsmaker Don LaPlace. The 3-year-old colt trained by Bobby Frankel skipped the Preakness and has been training well for the Belmont.

"I'm real anxious waiting for this race," Frankel said. "I think Empire Maker is dead-fit for this race.

"Funny Cide is a tough horse, though. He breaks out of the gate and he goes."

Dynever, winner of the Lone Star Derby and new to the Triple Crown trail, was the third choice at 5-1. Also entered were Ten Most Wanted (10-1), Scrimshaw (20-1) and Supervisor (50-1).

Empire Maker, who defeated Funny Cide in the Wood Memorial on April 12, drew the rail.

"Empire Maker has probably been the favorite most of his life," regular rider Jerry Bailey said. "So if he's the underdog it won't be by much and it won't matter once the gate opens."

The last Belmont favorite who was even money or better was Real Quiet in 1997. The Derby and Preakness winner went off at 4-5 and lost his Triple Crown bid by a nose to Victory Gallop.

Best Minister is trained by Ken McPeek, who saddled last year's Belmont winner, Sarava, a 70-1 shot. McPeek said the colt wasn't eating well and coughed after a morning gallop.

"In this game, timing is everything, and unfortunately this is very poor timing," McPeek said.