Smarty Jones

Anyone catch the race? I can't believe how he just walked away from the pack. Amazing.

 

Hopefully, he can go the distance. It has been a long time since Affirmed won it.

DL

 

Smarty Jones is the Cinderella Story of a lifetime.

 

Couple of hrs. till race time. Its amazing how much the city of Philadelphia has embraced this horse. Hope he can win the Belmont today to snap the 26yr. old Triple Crown drought.

 

If you've checked, amazing to see how overloaded various Websites are today.

 

I am sick........At 1/5,its not pretty........So close.........

 

They say that horse racing's Triple Crown is the hardest accomplishment in sport. After this year, I tend to believe it.

DL

 

I wonder how he will taste? I always love a good steak. How will they kill him when he's done racing? High power rifle?
Do you know how much coin I lost to that horse??? $350 If the horse goes up for sale after it's done racing, I'm buying it. Then well, it won't be pretty.

 

I'm sure you're aware that the part of that horse that $350 will get you is something you won't like!!

DL

 

I aint buyin' poop. Or horse knawer

 

Was at the Belmont yesterday... right behind Jesse Palmer during the race, actually.

I thought SJ was going to do it. I really did. The pace was too quick though... 24 at the first turn was dangerous, then he opened up too soon in the notoriously long stretch at Belmont. Amazing experience... the crowd was going nuts when he took the lead, then there was an audible groan throughout the crowd when Birdstone overtook the outside, then stunned silence. It was actually quieter for a few seconds at the end of the race than when they had the moment of silence for Pres. Reagan earlier in the day.

I've been a big horseracing fan since college, but I've never been to a triple crown race prior to yesterday. Totally different than normal race days, and I'd go again in a second. I'll probably end up going to the Haskell at Monmouth (which Smarty Jones may race in) and Saratoga in August.

It wasn't a total wash though... I hit the exacta and my gf hit Birdstone to win, place, and show.

I kept telling people that Birdstone was the "value" horse; he was the only G1 stakes winner in the field (at Belmont, no less!) besides SJ. He ran GREAT as a 2yo, and had the chance to come in the money. I had him in all my exotics.

Ah, the sport of kings~!

 

I was at the Polo grounds n Dallas watching and it was heart breaking for everyone.

 

It was a true heartbreak. I wonder though why the horses don't win the triple crown. I mean in 97/98 couple of horses came close. I think Silver Charmed, and I forget the other horses name. Why do you think that is? I mean do horses understand they won two and they have to win the third to get a triple crown? Or do they treat it like another race? Or do they jockeys tense up, and the horses realize that?

I mean I don't understand how the third leg of the crown is any different to a horse.

Wished he had won.

 

Kentucky Derby ..: Churchill Downs = 1 1/4 miles
Preakness Stakes: Pimlico ............= 1 3/16 miles
Belmont Stakes...: Belmont Park ....= 1 1/2 miles

The 1 1/2 got to him. Longest previous race had been 1 1/4.

Though Birdstone was 8th in the Derby, had won at Belmont before (Champagne) - though a longshot, record is now 4 wins in 7 races.

Hindsight:
BIRDSTONE: Was unhurried while between horses on the first turn, swung out entering the backstretch, settled in the middle of the pack while racing five wide along the backstretch, took up chase after the winner from outside on the far turn, moved around EDDINGTON while gaining ground midway on the turn, circled five wide while launching his bid at the top of the stretch, drifted out in upper stretch, straightened his course when struck right handed nearing the furlong marker, closed steadily under steady right hand encouragement a sixteenth out then wore down SMARTY JONES in the final seventy yards.
SMARTY JONES: Moved up from outside to contest the early pace, pressed the pace while four wide entering the backstretch, surged to the front just after going a half mile, battled heads apart while continuing wide to the far turn, shook off ROCK HARD TEN to get clear leaving the three-eighths pole, extended his lead approaching the quarter pole, drifted out when struck left handed with the whip in upper stretch and again nearing the eighth pole, maintained a clear lead inside the furlong marker, fought gamely into deep stretch then yielded grudgingly while weakening in the late stages.

Then again... that's horse racing.

 

That's why I had him in all my exotic bets. That race was a Grade 1 stakes race, too. I believe the old saying is somthing to the effect of, "Grade 1 horses win Grade 1 races."

He was GREAT as a 2 year old. His races this year prior to the Belmont weren't, and that's why people discounted him.