Smarty Jones Goes for the Gold


Never has one race meant so much for a 3-year-old. If Smarty Jones captures the 136th Belmont Stakes on Saturday, he becomes the 12th Triple Crown winner, only the second unbeaten champion, and sets the all-time earnings North American record for thoroughbreds.

A surprisingly large field in the $1 million contest is challenging the son of Elusive Quality despite the colt defeating several of the them in either the Kentucky Derby, Preakness or other races en route to Elmont, N.Y.
If you believe in omens, Smarty Jones will triumph over eight challengers and surpass leading money winner Cigar, who banked a tad short of $10 million, by more than $3 million.

The morning line 2-5 favorite will break from post 9, seeking his ninth consecutive victory. After starting from post 7 in the Kentucky Derby, he won his seventh straight by 2 ¾ lengths. After breaking from post 8 in the Preakness, he scored by record-setting 11-½ lengths.

"I'm happy with the post," trainer John Servis said after Wednesday's post position draw. "We can sit outside of horses and he doesn't have to worry about what is going on outside of him. He just has to worry about what is going on inside of him. He will be able to secure a position going into the first turn."

That's most important, according to jockey Stewart Elliott. "The key is to have my horse relaxed going into the first turn (of the 1 ½ miles) so he can go the distance," Elliott said last week. "He's never been better."

Smarty's major competition is expected from Rock Hard 10, the Preakness runner-up, even though he's listed as the 8-1 third choice. He drew post 5.

Pat Valenzuela was lined up to replace Gary Stevens, who had to return to France for racing commitments this weekend. But Valenzuela's appeal of a suspension in California was denied and Alex Solis picked up the mount.

Purge, the 5-1 second choice, breaks from post 2. While he won the Peter Pan Stakes at Belmont on May 24, he chased Smarty in two stakes at Oaklawn Park earlier in the year.

The remaining horses, by post position, are double-digit longshots:

1. Master David, 12th in the Kentucky Derby, will be ridden by Jose Santos, who replaces Solis, 20-1.

3. Caiman, off the board in two stakes early in the year, he won an allowance and optional claimer in a row, Raymond Dominguez, 50-1.
The copyright of the article Smarty Jones Goes for the Gold in Horse Racing is owned by Greg Melikov. Permission to republish Smarty Jones Goes for the Gold in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.

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