NEW YORK -- Funny Cide's bid for the Triple Crown at the Belmont Stakes produced the highest overnight rating for any horse race since the 1990 Kentucky Derby.

The 10.4 rating was also the highest overnight rating for the Belmont Stakes since at least 1987, when Alysheba's attempt at the Triple Crown produced a 9.2 overnight rating. It was also a 13 percent increase from the 2002 race.

Funny Cide, a New York-bred gelding ridden by Jose Santos, finished third Saturday in the Belmont behind Ten Most Wanted and champion Empire Maker.

Last year's Belmont, which featured War Emblem's failed bid for the Triple Crown, drew a 9.2 rating. Sarava won the 2002 Belmont, with War Emblem finishing eighth.

Overnight ratings measure the 55 largest TV markets in the United States, covering nearly 70 percent of the country. Each overnight rating point represents about 735,000 TV homes.