Santos celebrates clinching the second leg of the Triple Crown Race report: Kentucky Derby

Ridden by Jose Santos, the favourite finished well ahead of second-placed Midway Road, with Scrimshaw back in third.

Peace Rules, who led for most of the race, finished fourth.

No horse has won the Triple Crown since Affirmed 25 years ago, but a $5m bonus awaits Funny Cide's owners if he can claim the Belmont Stakes on 7 June.

The gelding roared into the lead coming off the final turn and was never seriously tested in the home stretch.

Funny Cide dispelled a lot of the critics who said he got the perfect trip at the Derby Co-owner Jack Knowlton

"I never had anything but faith in this horse going the distance," said trainer Barclay Tagg.

"A lot of people questioned it. That made me a little tentative about bragging about it. But he has done a super job."

Co-owner Jack Knowlton added: "Funny Cide dispelled a lot of the critics who said he got the perfect trip at the Derby.

"He showed the world he is a real race horse.

"This is just an incredible trip. We really to go back to our home state with a chance to win the Triple Crown. We really would like to get it."