The forecast has turned ugly for today’s epic 136th Belmont Stakes, which is a beautiful thing for Smarty Jones as he bids to become the first Triple Crown winner in 26 years.
Rain is projected to begin this morning and continue all day, with a high of 64 degrees, much like the weather at Churchill Downs five weeks ago when the “Philly Flash” splashed to a 23/4-length victory in the Kentucky Derby.
The cold and damp figure to keep the crowd below the 120,000 or so expected to pack Belmont Park if it were warm and sunny, but attendance will top the record 103,222 set two years ago when War Emblem’s stumbling start put an end to his Triple Crown dream. From Smarty Jones’ home at Philadelphia Park to Oaklawn in Arkansas, where he prepped for the classics, “Smartymania” mesmerized the country after his popular victory in the Derby, then really snowballed after his monstrous 111/2-length victory in the Preakness.
“The worst thing that could go wrong is if Smarty Jones just wakes up on the wrong side of the bed,” said retired Hall of Fame jockey Chris McCarron, who spoiled Silver Charm’s Triple Crown quest in the 1997 Belmont aboard Touch Gold.
“If Smarty Jones runs the way he did in Kentucky and Maryland, nobody’s got a chance.”
Favored at 2-5 on the morning line facing eight other 3-year-old colts in the mile-and-a-half “Test of the Champion” (post time 6:38 p.m.), Smarty Jones was bet down to 1-9 (pool of $45,306) yesterday.
“Smarty” completed his final preparations in the morning. After briefly schooling in the gate, he galloped like a locomotive for two miles as trainer John Servis, riding alongside aboard stable pony Butterscotch, held on for dear life.
“He was very strong,” Servis said. “He knows what’s coming, and he’s getting his game face on. It’s time to dance. When we put the bridle on and lead him over to the paddock, he becomes a beast. He’s just a machine.”
Undefeated in eight starts dating back to November, Smarty Jones has won all his races but one by daylight margins. The lone time he was challenged down the stretch came in the Southwest Stakes at Oaklawn on Feb. 28, by coincidence Smarty’s birthday. He hadn’t raced in nearly two months, and Servis didn’t have him cranked up to full throttle.
“The Southwest was the race that showed me the integrity and heart this horse has,” Servis said. “He was a tired horse when those horses ran to him at the head of the lane, and you could see him lay his ears back, kick off again and give another burst. There’s no doubt in my mind that Smarty Jones is very competitive and will fight all the way to the wire.”
Smarty Jones will break from the far outside, post 9, under Stewart Elliott, who rode him like Arcaro in the Derby and Preakness.
“I’m happy with the post,” Servis said. “Stewie doesn’t have to worry about what’s going on outside of him, just what’s going on inside, and secure a good position by the time he gets to the first turn.”
Purge, coming off an eye-popping romp in the Peter Pan here two weeks ago, will show speed under John Velazquez, and look for Jerry Bailey to put Eddington into the race early. Rock Hard Ten, who made a nice late rally before settling for second in the Preakness, could change tactics and make an early run at “Smarty” under new rider Alex Solis.
The previous three Triple Crown winners (Secretariat, Seattle Slew and Affirmed) led gate-to-wire in their Belmont victories, and there’s a good chance Elliott will send Smarty Jones right to the lead.
“Once the gates open, depending on his break, it looks like he could very well be in front, which is fine,” Elliott said. “Getting him to relax is the main thing. As soon as we come away from there and start into the first eighth of a mile, I’ll know what the pace is, and if he’s relaxed underneath me or not.
“He has plenty of natural speed, but he’s learned to control it, so that will help. He finished the Preakness very easily and galloped out very strong. When he pulled up after the race, he wasn’t even really tired, so the extra distance should be fine.”
Smarty Jones is the 10th horse to seek a Triple Crown sweep since Affirmed in 1978, and the sixth in eight years. Unlike the others, all of which found different ways to lose, Smarty only knows how to win: He’s a perfect eight-for-eight, and a horse of destiny.
STAFF PICKS
ED FOUNTAINE
Smarty Jones, Purge, Eddington
RAY KERRISON
Smarty Jones, Rock Hard Ten, Purge
JOHN DaSILVA
Master David, Smarty Jones, Eddington
TOM VALLEDOLMO
Smarty Jones, Purge, Eddington
GREG GALLO
Rock Hard Ten, Smarty Jones, Purge
ANTHONY STABILE
Eddington, Royal Assault, Smarty Jones
VIC CANGIALOSI
Birdstone, Smarty Jones, Purge
BILL SMITH
Smarty Jones, Purge, Rock Hard Ten
DEBBIE LITTLE
Smarty Jones, Rock Hard Ten, Eddington
DICK KLAYMAN
Smarty Jones, Eddington, Purge
BATTMAN
Birdstone, Smarty Jones, Rock Hard Ten
FORECAST: 64 degrees – Rain, chance of precipitation 60 percent, high of 64.
Today’s race
5:30 p.m., Ch. 4
Post time: 6:38
11th race
Gates open 8:30 a.m.; first race noon
General admission $2; clubhouse, $5. All reserved seats sold out. Coolers allowed in back yard of grandstand only, are subject to search.
Parking fields open at 8:15 a.m. General parking $5; preferred, $15.
Fans are encouraged to use mass transit (see schedule on Page 78)
