A stellar field of six has been entered for the $200,000 Excelsior Breeders' Cup H. (G3) at Aqueduct on Saturday. Champion FUNNY CIDE (Distorted Humor) probably won't offer much value, but we can't pick against the four-year-old.

The dual classic winner made his final start as a sophomore in the Breeders' Cup Classic (G1), finishing ninth, but still earned century-topping BRIS Speed and E2 Pace figures for his effort. He returned in 2004 with an easy five-length optional claiming win at Gulfstream Park, then proceeded to take on graded competition in the Donn H. (G1). The Barclay Tagg trainee ran third in that one, then filled that same spot in the New Orleans H. (G2) last out after encountering trouble in the first turn. Funny Cide has been working bullets at Palm Meadows recently and looks poised to earn his first stakes win since the Preakness S. (G1). Regular rider Jose Santos will be aboard.

LOVING (Brz) (Thundering Force) earned a career-best 111 Speed rating when winning the Gallant Fox H. over the inner track in late December. The Richard Dutrow-trained eight-year-old seems to have come to life again and, in his most recent, won an optional claimer over a stakes caliber field. Loving's numbers are competitive with the rest of this field, and the bay gelding could find himself getting his picture taken at the end of this nine-furlong event. Jose Espinoza has the call.

GROUND STORM (Summer Squall) finished third in this race two years ago and has placed off the board only twice in 13 starts since. Conditioned by Bill Mott, the eight-year-old chestnut won his past two, including the Stymie H., and posted Speed ratings of 107 and 106, respectively, for each. A winner at the both the distance and over the track, Ground Storm could surprise here with a win.

EVENING ATTIRE (Black Tie Affair [Ire]) is still looking for his first win of 2004 after recording a second and a third so far this year. The most recent of those, the John B. Campbell H. at Laurel Park, came when the gray six-year-old was moved up from third to second after being shut off, bumped and finally forced to angle out in the stretch when rallying along the rail. He loves Aqueduct's track (5-4-0-0) and the distance (10-4-3-1), and could finally break through here with Shaun Bridgmohan returning to the saddle.

HOST (Chi) (Hussonet) is still trying to earn his first U.S. victory after running second in his two prior attempts but was named Horse of the Year in Chile in 2003. He owns only one start on the dirt but won that race by 6 1/4 lengths. The front-running chestnut could threaten in the top three if he continues performing at his current level.

SNAKE MOUNTAIN (A.P. Indy) was fourth in the Excelsior 12 months ago but hasn't been the same since an off-the-board finish in the Pimlico Special H. (G1) right after that. The six-year-old did run fifth, only 1 1/2 lengths back of the winner, in an optional claimer last out, and might be returning to the form that saw him win five straight last year. Consider for the top three at a price.

1st-FUNNY CIDE
2nd-LOVING (Brz)
3rd-GROUND STORM