He survived the murder of his very first trainer and a fractured skull at age two, later to emerge as an undisputed racing champion. This is not Hollywood but the true account of one amazing horse who, a year after the release of the movie Seabiscuit, made real-life history in horse racing. This is the story of Smarty Jones. Click here to read our Smarty Jones tribute story
Birdstone wins 136th Belmont Stakes
Birdstone carries jockey Edgar Prado past tiring Smarty Jones in the last 70 yards of the 136th Belmont Stakes held on June 5, 2004 at Belmont Park in New York. Smarty Jones suffered the first defeat of his career and failed to become horse racing's 12th Triple Crown Champion.
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.
ROYAL ASSAULT checked in tight while being bothered by ROCK HARD TEN at the start, raced well back through the opening half mile, moved up a bit between horses along the backstretch, launched a mild rally three wide on the turn then failed to threaten while improving his position in the stretch.
EDDINGTON was hustled up from outside in the early stages, stalked the pace while five wide along the backstretch, raced just outside SMARTY JONES leaving the far turn, dropped back a bit leaving the three-eighths pole then steadily tired thereafter.
ROCK HARD TEN fractious behind the gate at the start, broke outward causing crowding leaving the gate, moved up between horses on the first turn, pressed the pace inside SMARTY JONES along the backstretch, made a run along the inside to threaten on the far turn, forced the issue to the turn then tired from his early efforts.
TAP DANCER never reached contention while five wide throughout. MASTER DAVID steadied along the inside on the first turn, lagged behind between horses entering the backstretch then failed to mount a serious rally while four wide throughout. CAIMAN showed brief speed along the inside, saved ground along the backstretch and faded before going a mile. PURGE rushed up while rank in the early stages, set the pace along the rail for nearly a half, dropped back on the far turn and steadily tired thereafter.
Official Order of Finish & Final Odds
#
Horse
Jockey
Odds
4
Birdstone
Prado Edgar S.
36.00
9
Smarty Jones
Elliott Stewart
*0.35
6
Royal Assault
Day Pat
27.75
8
Eddington
Bailey Jerry D.
14.20
5
Rock Hard Ten
Solis Alex O.
6.70
7
Tap Dancer
Castellano Javier
40.50
1
Master David
Santos Jose A.
24.50
3
Caiman
Dominguez Ramon A.
49.75
2
Purge
Velazquez John R.
9.60
Offical Payouts
#
Horse
Win
Place
Show
4
Birdstone
74.00
14.00
8.60
9
Smarty Jones
3.30
2.60
6
Royal Assault
6.10
Belmont Stakes
Race & Pace Analysis, Betting Recommendations
Smarty Jones is 2/3 of the way to becoming the 12th Triple Crown winner, but he won't have it easy at Belmont. While only several of his prior Kentucky Derby and Preakness rivals have surfaced so far to try and stop him on June 5th at Belmont Park. Here is the latest list of probable starters for the Belmont, but expect it to change over the next few days, so keep checking back to see what's going on. Final entries will be taken and post positions selected on June 2, 2004.
# Horse Jockey Odds
7 Smarty Jones Elliott Stewart *0.70
10 Rock Hard Ten Stevens Gary L. 6.90
9 Eddington Bailey Jerry D. 13.20
1 Lion Heart Smith Mike E. 4.90
8 Imperialism Desormeaux Kent 6.60
6 Sir Shackleton Bejarano Rafael 37.50
2 Borrego Espinoza Victor 12.80
3 Little Matth Man Migliore Richard 45.00
5 Song of the Sword Chavez Jorge F. 51.00
11 Water Cannon Fogelsonger Ryan 39.50
Track: Fast Weather: Clear 86o
Race Betting Results & Payouts
# Horse Win Place Show
7 Smarty Jones 3.40 3.00 2.60
10 Rock Hard Ten 5.00 4.00
9 Eddington 5.20
Wager Type Payoff Winning Numbers Pool
$2 Pick 3 $143.20 7-4-4/7 $373,852
$2 Pick 4 $1,506 9-7-4-4/7 $1,248,189
$2 Daily Double $15.40 4-7 $370,222
$2 Exacta $24.60 7-10 $12,034,370
$1 Superfecta $230.70 7-10-9-1 $5,713,723
$2 Trifecta $177.20 7-10-9 $15,096,739
Smarty Jones, with Stewart Elliott aboard, wins the Preakness at Pimlico race track on Saturday, May 15, 2004, in Baltimore. (AP Photo/NIck Wass)
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 mid way 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 mid way 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.
Stewart Elliott prods Smarty Jones past Lion Heart in the final stretch of the 130th Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs. Smarty Jones stays undefeated in 7 starts.
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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, 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 mid way 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 mid way 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.
