No Keeping Up With Jones

Smarty Jones, the indefatigable chestnut colt from Pennsylvania, tacked another chapter onto his fairy-tale saga Saturday in the 129th running of the Preakness Stakes.

The Kentucky Derby winner became the easiest winner in Preakness history, riveting a record Pimlico crowd of 112,668 with an 11 1/2-length cakewalk, to become the sixth horse in the last eight years to draw within one victory of a Triple Crown sweep.

Hardly feeling the touch of jockey Stewart Elliott’s whip, Smarty Jones routed nine rivals on a hot, steamy afternoon to extend his undefeated string to eight races. Win No. 9, should it come in the Belmont Stakes in New York on June 5, would forge a lot of wild-and-crazy things:

He’d join Seattle Slew (1977) as the only unstopped Triple Crown champions; he’d become the 12th Triple Crown winner and the first since Affirmed in 1978; and he’d win his second $5-million bonus in five weeks, rocketing him past Cigar as racing’s No. 1 career earner.

The 1 1/2 miles in the Belmont are farther than the 1 1/4 miles of the Kentucky Derby and the 1 3/16 miles in the Preakness, but neither Elliott nor trainer John Servis nor Smarty Jones’ owners, Roy and Pat Chapman, are anticipating anything but another victory.

“I don’t think the mile and a half will be a problem,” said Elliott, a minor league rider in the low-rent district of racing before Smarty Jones came along. “He’ll do whatever I want him to.”

After Smarty Jones moved past a broken-hearted Lion Heart leaving the quarter pole Saturday, the 39-year-old Elliott looked over his shoulder and didn’t see anyone emerging from the rest of the pack.

“I was pretty confident then,” Elliott said. “I never even turned my stick over. I just tapped him two or three times to let him know it was time to go, and that’s all he needed. I thought we had a good chance to win going into this race, but I didn’t think we’d win by 11 or so lengths.”

The record winning margin in the Preakness was held by Survivor, who won the first running of the stake in 1873 by 10 lengths. The distance then was a mile and a half. Funny Cide, who missed the Triple Crown last year when he ran third in the Belmont, won the Preakness by 9 3/4 lengths.

Hitting the wire in 1:55 2/5, Smarty Jones, who was a mild favorite in the Kentucky Derby, paid $3.40 for $2 as he became the first odds-on winner of the Preakness since Spectacular Bid in 1979. Smarty Jones earned $650,000, increasing his overall total to $7.4 million. Cigar, who once won 16 consecutive races, holds the earnings record with $9,999,815.

Two horses who didn’t run in the Derby finished closest to Smarty Jones on Saturday. Rock Hard Ten, in only his fourth start, was second, two lengths ahead of Eddington, who beat the fourth-place Lion Heart by a head. Lion Heart had a head on Imperialism, the fifth-place finisher, and the rest of the finish, in order, was Sir Shackleton, Borrego, Little Matth Man, Song Of The Sword and Water Cannon. The Cliff’s Edge, who might be one of Smarty Jones’ rivals in the Belmont if he recovers from a bruised foot, was scratched from the race Friday.

By now, even casual racing followers are familiar with the unlikely Smarty Jones story. The Chapmans’ trainer, Bob Camac, who arranged the mating of the sire Elusive Quality with the dam I’ll Get Along, was killed by his stepson -- who also murdered his mother -- but while almost divesting themselves of their horse interests, the despondent Chapmans kept the prospect Smarty Jones and sent him to Servis, one of the leading trainers at Philadelphia Park, where Elliott has also been a top rider.

Roy Chapman, who turned 78 three days after the Derby, is a Ford dealer who met Pat, his third wife, at an Alcoholics Anonymous meeting almost two decades ago. Chapman suffers from several respiratory problems and travels in a wheelchair with a portable oxygen tank.

Like Elliott, Roy Chapman was astounded by Saturday’s gaping victory margin.

“I had to hold tears back today,” Chapman said. “Emotionally, it finally hit me how good this horse is. I thought he would win, but I never thought he would blow them away.”

Mike Smith, who had finished second in the Derby with Lion Heart, broke on top in the Preakness as expected and appeared to try to carry Smarty Jones out into the center of the track on the first turn. Smarty Jones was a close second then, and down the backstretch he was still well out from the rail as Lion Heart increased his lead to 2 1/2 lengths after six furlongs. Smarty Jones began to whittle away at the lead on the final bend, and by the time he and Elliott reached the eighth pole, they were five lengths to the good. Elliott moved his mount to the inside, for the shortest route to the wire and to protect the rail in case another horse had any ideas.

Gary Stevens, in from his French racing gig to ride Rock Hard Ten, had moved into second place at the top of the stretch.

“I thought I might win,” Stevens said. “My horse hit another gear, but the trouble was that Smarty Jones had four more gears. Smarty reminded me of Secretariat the way he pulled away.”

Smith and Stevens had talked about their chances before the race.

“Smarty Jones is an amazing horse,” Smith said. “Gary and I thought we were riding some great colts. But it’s their bad luck that they were born in the wrong year.”

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(Begin Text of Infobox)

COPYRIGHT 2004 BY EQUIBASE

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129th PREAKNESS STAKES. Run as the 12th race on card at Pimlico Race Course. Distance: 1 3/16 miles. Weight: All carry 126 pounds. Purse: $1,000,000. 1st $650,000, 2nd $200,000, 3rd $100,000, 4th $50,000.

*--* No. Horse PP 1/4 1/2 3/4 Str Fin Odds (Jocke y) 7 Smarty 6 2- 1/2 2-2 2-2 1/2 1-5 1-11 1/2 0.70 Jones (Ellio tt) 10 Rock 9 7- 1/2 7-hd 6-1 2-hd 2-2 6.90 Hard Ten (Steve ns) 9 Edding 8 6-1 6-2 8-3 1/2 7-5 3-hd 13.20 ton (Baile y) 1 Lion 1 1-1 1/2 1-2 1/2 1-1 3-4 1/2 4-hd 4.90 Heart (M. Smith) 8 Imperi 7 3-1 4-hd 5- 1/2 4-2 5-1 6.60 alism (Desor meaux) 6 Sir 5 5- 1/2 5- 1/2 4-hd 5-hd 6- 3/4 37.50 Shackl eton (Bejar ano) 2 Borreg 2 8-2- 1/2 8-4 7-hd 6- 1/2 7-5 1/2 12.80 o (V. Espino za) 3 Little 3 10 10 10 8-2 1/2 8-2 45.00 Matth Man (Migli ore) 5 Song 4 4-hd 3-hd 3- 1/2 9-2 9-3 1/2 51.00 Of The Sword (Chave z) 11 Water 10 9-3 1/2 9- 1/2 9- 1/2 10 10 39.50 Cannon (Fogel songer )

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Fractions: 23.65, 47.32, 1:11.53, 1:36.44. Final Time: 1:55.59

Winner: Chestnut colt. Born Feb. 28, 2001. Bred by Someday Farm (Pa.)

Breeding: Elusive Quality - I’ll Get Along, by Smile

Trainer: John C. Servis. Owner: Someday Farm

Scratched: (No. 4) The Cliff’s Edge

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THE PAYOFFS

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7-SMA $3.40 $3.00 $2.60 $2 EXACTA (7-10) RTY $24.60 JONES 10-RO $5.00 $4.00 $1 SUPERFECTA CK (7-10-9-1) $230.70 HARD TEN 9-EDD $5.20 $2 TRIFECTA (7-10-9) INGTO $177.20 N $2 DAILY DOUBLE (4-7) $15.40 $2 PIM. SP.-PRK DBL (4-7) $10.40 $2 PICK 3 (7-4-4/7) $143.20 $2 PICK 4 (9-7-4-4/7) $1,506.40

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HOW THE RACE WAS RUN

* SMARTY JONES, away alertly, was taken in hand going past the wire the first time, tracked the leader while racing well off the rail into the backstretch, continued in hand to the far turn, launched his rally leaving the three-eighths pole, angled to the inside of LION HEART midway on the turn, drew on nearly even terms with that one approaching the quarter pole, took charge at the top of the stretch, quickly opened a commanding lead in mid-stretch, extended his advantage when struck twice right-handed leaving the furlong marker then drew off with authority under a vigorous hand ride.

* ROCK HARD TEN, fractious behind the gate delaying the start for several minutes, was strung out six wide around the first turn, raced in mid-pack while continuing wide down the backstretch, made a sharp move from outside to reach contention leaving the three-furlong marker, angled to the inside midway on the turn, followed the winner into the stretch but was no match for that one while clearly besting the others.

* EDDINGTON, unhurried for a half while racing well off the rail, gradually gained five wide nearing the far turn, moved inside IMPERIALISM at the three-eighths pole, circled five wide advancing into the stretch, altered course between rivals at the three-sixteenths pole but failed to threaten while improving his position.

* LION HEART was guided well off the rail while sprinting clear soon after the start, set a moderate pace while four wide down the backstretch, continued on the front while remaining well out from the rail around the far turn, relinquished the lead to the winner entering the lane, then tired from his early efforts.

* IMPERIALISM returned to the paddock before the post parade for a repair of his left front shoe, raced five wide around the first turn, continued wide in mid-pack for six furlongs, then lacked a late response when called upon.

* SIR SHACKLETON, between rivals the first turn, chased the pace down the backstretch, angled to the inside while racing within striking distance to the top of the stretch, then steadily tired thereafter.

* BORREGO broke outward then steadied on heels soon after the start, saved ground to the quarter pole, angled out at the top of the stretch, raced between rivals past the eighth pole and came up empty.

* LITTLE MATTH MAN was bumped and pinched back at the start, trailed for a good part of the way, then failed to mount a serious rally.

* SONG OF THE SWORD broke inward, raced close up for a half, made a run inside the winner to threaten nearing the far turn, then gave way.

* WATER CANNON failed to threaten.

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First Two Legs

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Horses that have won first two races of the Triple Crown (Kentucky Derby and Preakness) since the last Triple Crown winner, Affirmed in 1978. Smarty Jones can win the Triple Crown with a victory in the Belmont Stakes on June 5 (3 p.m. PDT, Channel 4).

*--* YEAR HORSE KDT KDM PT PM 2004 Smarty Jones 2:04 2 1/2 1:55 2/5 11 1/2 2003 Funny Cide 2:01 1 3/4 1:55 3/5 9 3/4 2002 War Emblem 2:01 4 1:56 1/5 3/4 1999 Charismatic 2:03 1/5 neck 1:55 1/5 1 1/2 1998 Real Quiet 2:01 1/5 1/2 1:54 3/5 2 1/4 1997 Silver Charm 2:02 2/5 head 1:54 4/5 head 1989 Sunday Silence 2:05 2 1/2 1:53 4/5 nose 1987 Alysheba 2:03 2/5 3/4 1:55 4/5 1/2 1981 Pleasant Colony 2:02 3/4 1:54 3/5 1 1979 Spectacular Bid 2:02 2/5 2 3/4 1:54 1/5 5 1/2

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Key: KDT-Kentucky Derby time; KDM-Kentucky Derby margin of victory (in lengths or body part); PT-Preakness time; PM-Preakness margin of victory (in lengths or body part).

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The Finish

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The Preakness Stakes -- the second leg of the Triple Crown -- at Pimlico Race Course in Baltimore. Three-year-olds over 1 3/16 miles. Purse: $1 million.

*--* # HORSE JOCKEY WIN PLACE SHOW 7 Smarty Jones Stewart Elliott $3.40 $3.00 $2.60 10 Rock Hard Ten Gary Stevens $5.00 $4.00 9 Eddington Jerry Bailey $5.20

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* Winning trainer: John Servis. Owner: Someday Farm. Time: 1:55.59

* Also ran (in order): Lion Heart, Imperialism, Sir Shackleton, Borrego, Little Matth Man, Song Of The Sword and Water Cannon. Scratched: The Cliff’s Edge.

* Exotics: $2 Exacta (7-10) paid $24.60; $2 Trifecta (7-10-9) paid $177.20;

$1 Superfecta (7-10-9-1) paid $230.70

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DOMINATING PERFORMANCE

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Largest margins -- in lengths -- of victory in the Preakness:

*--* 11 1/2 Smarty Jones, 2004 8 Buddist, 1889 7 Bold, 1951 10 Survivor, 1873 8 Count Fleet, 1943 7 Little Current, 1974 9 3/4 Funny Cide, 2003 7 Dauber, 1938 7 Hansel, 1991

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