The Associated Press

NEW YORK - By now, who hasn't heard of the Sackatoga Six? They're the high school buddies from upstate New York whose gelding, Funny Cide, will try to win the elusive Triple Crown today. But Funny Cide also has four other owners, a low-profile group that includes two retirees, a caterer and a health-care executive.

Jack Knowlton, manager of Sackatoga Stable, leads the merry band of pals who pitched in to cover Funny Cide's $75,000 price tag.

Knowlton, caterer David Mahan and retiree Augustine "Gus" Williams have the biggest stake with 20 percent each.

Eric Dattner, a retired mechanical engineer, and Lew Titterton, the health-care executive, own 10 percent apiece. Five of Knowlton's high school pals from Sackets Harbor have 4 percent shares.

The Sackatoga Six have gotten most of the attention following Funny Cide's victories in the Kentucky Derby and Preakness. They charmed Katie Couric during a Today show appearance Friday, and in rotating shifts have hosted the nation's media in their Sackets Harbor, N.Y., homes.

"They're getting a lot of the hype, and that's OK," Mahan said.

Some of the residual fame has filtered down to Dattner, Mahan, Williams and Titterton.

"I was on the front page of the Little Neck Ledger, which is not exactly The New York Times," Dattner said, laughing. "We haven't been totally overlooked."

If Funny Cide wins the Belmont Stakes today, he will become the first Triple Crown champion in 25 years.

"I didn't realize it would be this big," Mahan said as he was driven into Manhattan for lunch at the 21 Club. "Everywhere we go, people are shaking our hands and saying, 'Good luck.' People really do want our horse to win."

Maybe it's because all the owners are regular folks and none is rich like the sheiks, princes and Kentucky bluebloods who usually participate in the Triple Crown.

"It's a prince-and-the-pauper kind of thing," said Mahan, who caters weddings and banquets in Watertown, Conn. "It's hard for people to relate to a Saudi prince. I can't do that."

At 77, Williams is the oldest member of the group, and easily the most recognizable. The retired house builder has a penchant for wildly patterned sport jackets. He carries a business card proclaiming himself "Professional Italian."

Dattner, 67, got in through his relationship with Barclay Tagg, who previously trained one of Dattner's horses and is in charge of Funny Cide.

Mahan had his own small stable for several years. Then he decided to expand his catering business.

"I had to sell my toys, so to speak, and I sold a '63 Corvette to come up with the money," he said.

Mahan was invited into the burgeoning partnership by longtime pal Knowlton.

"That was a great move," Mahan said. "I'm sure glad Jack asked."