Smarty Jones

[desdemona]

Smarty Jones romps to record-setting Preakness victory

By Reid Cherner, USA TODAY

BALTIMORE — Smarty Jones, a horse with some history to him, is now poised to become a horse of history. The 3-year-old chestnut colt who damaged his face so badly in a training accident as a 2-year-old that it was unclear if his left eye could be saved, now has his sights set on becoming the first Triple Crown winner since Affirmed in 1978.

And a trainer and jockey who had never run in a Triple Crown race prior to the Derby, now are 2-0 together.

And if there were any doubts lingering about the colt after his impressive win in the Kentucky Derby, there shouldn't be any now after he won Saturday's Preakness Stakes by 11½ lengths, the largest margin in the race's storied history.

Even without a Triple Crown, the Pennsylvania-bred colt can already claim comparisons to one of the greatest Thoroughbreds of all-time. Smarty Jones is the first horse since Seattle Slew to be an undefeated Derby and Preakness winner.

The concern prior to Saturday's race was whether Lion Heart, the pacesetter and second place finisher in the Derby, would be able to run away with the 1 3/16 mile Preakness. Or if jockey Stewart Elliott would use too much of Smarty Jones to catch the pacesetter and set up one of the late runners for victory.

Neither came close to happening.

Smarty Jones broke out of the gate quicker Saturday than he did in the Derby and Elliott was determined to stay closer to Lion Heart than he had two weeks ago. As they approached the turn for home, Elliott let his colt out a notch and he didn't pass Lion Heart as much as blow by him.

Gary Stevens on Rock Hard Ten was the latecomer who would make a run. It would get him second place but he was never within shouting distance of the winner.

"He was sharp leaving the gate," trainer John Servis said. "Stewey did a great job waiting for his chance."

"I'm so impressed with his effort," Servis added. "I knew he had to bring his best game. I knew this was the toughest race he was going to be in in a long time. And he brought it. He brought it big time."

Jockey Mike Smith on Lion Heart said after the Derby he thought for a time he was riding the winner. He had no such illusions Saturday.

read the entire article here:

http://www.usatoday.com/sports/horses/trip...preakness_x.htm

Edited May 16, 2004 by desdemona

[DudeAsInCool]

I saw the race. Smarty Jones was in second place for most of the race and then he borke out, ultimately winning by more lengths than any horse in history - and he still wanted to run. The amazing thing is that this horse looked like he barely broke a sweat. In all the years Ive seen the Triple Crown races, this is by far the fastest horse Ive ever seen. Don't miss the Belmont Stakes...you must see this horse run.

[Ken]

Well, the Preakness is actually shorter than the Derby.

The Belmont is the long bastard (1 and 1/2 miles).

It's the ultimate test.