BALTIMORE – A year after he dominated the Preakness Stakes by 9 3/4 lengths, Funny Cide returns to the scene of that tour-de-force in today’s Grade 1, $500,000 Pimlico Special.

Ridden as usual by Jose Santos, Funny Cide is coming off a triumph in the Excelsior Handicap at Aqueduct, his first stakes score since the Preakness.

In the Special, the popular New York-bred gelding packs 118 pounds facing a tough band of veterans, led by 120-pound highweight Southern Image, whose four straight victories include the Santa Anita Handicap.

Dynever, making his first start of the year in the San Bernardino at Santa Anita, looked like a monster winning by 4 ½ lengths. Midway Road, runner-up in last year’s Preakness, romped by 11 1/4 in Keeneland’s Ben Ali. Evening Attire was second to Funny Cide in the Excelsior, beaten a half-length.

Throw in stakes winners Ole Faunty and Bowman’s Band, and the Pimlico Special shapes up as the year’s premier race for older horses.

With temperatures reaching the high 80’s today, Funny Cide could be a no-show, however, as trainer Barclay Tagg said he might scratch if it’s too hot.

Jack Knowlton, managing partner of the Sackatoga Stable that owns Funny Cide, said yesterday at Pimlico, “Every time my cell phone rings, I’m scared it’s Barclay.”