New York ? Preakness planning was the order of business Tuesday for Funny Cide trainer Barclay Tagg.

The weekend furor over jockey Jose Santos, cleared Monday of any wrongdoing in his Kentucky Derby-winning ride, had dwindled to what Tagg called “that idiocy” as he prepared the chestnut gelding for the second leg of racing’s Triple Crown.

With Tagg watching from atop his own pony and Santos looking on from the grandstand at Belmont Park, Funny Cide worked a half-mile in 47.20 under exercise rider Robin Smullen — the fastest time of the day.

Both Tagg and Santos were delighted with what they saw.

“He worked a little fast, but all good horses work fast,” Santos said.

“If things go right, I think he can win the race,” Tagg said.

So far, Tagg’s planning has been on target — and he won’t allow himself to be knocked off course in the aftermath of an investigation stemming from a single photograph that seemed to show something in Santos’ right hand besides the whip at the finish line.

After examining hundreds of other photographs and enhancing the one in question, the Churchill Downs stewards ruled there was nothing in Santos’ hand besides his whip.

By Tuesday , the firestorm of publicity died down, and Smullen said “it hasn’t affected us — not even worthy of conversation.” Santos will travel to Baltimore Thursday and said he was more determined than ever to win because of the bad publicity.