2004 Triple Crown Archive

Please understand that as time goes on some links might become inactive. We have no control over that.

They are listed in chronological order by day/date as they appeared in their various publications with the latest being at the top of the list.

Triple Crown history:
Winners...
Near-misses... Winners of 2-legs

Belmont Stakes video replays

>>> Trainer Nick Zito bio/quick facts
>>> Scribe: A $20 exacta box takes some of the sting out of failed Triple bid... "All of a sudden, $1,390 sounded pretty good to me and my bank account."
>>> More evidence of Smarty 'crossing over' into the mainstream: Somehow this opinion writer finds a political angle... "But this is not a Philadelphia Story, not by a long shot. No, this is an American story, an Israeli story."
>>> Here's a REAL horse fancier's thoughts on the Belmont
>>> Sports editor at Minnesota paper: "I never thought I would actually sit down and write a column about horse racing."
>>> Arkansas scribe critical of Belmont TV coverage... Claims "the Triple Crown is about all the horse racing I follow," then adds, "[The TV coverage] also failed to mention that [Birdstone] had done very well on this track, and had won a lot of races there." ...Well, he was 1-1. (Sigh) I guess we should be happy they're writing abut racing...
>>> Rice: The Test of a Champion quickly changed to The Testament of Sportsmanship
>>> Former NBA'er Rick Barry, "I then realized that Smarty's loss can teach us some of life's valuable lessons."
>>> Peers offered Stewart Elliott a bit of solace, "You made the right decisions."
>>> Haskin's Triple Crown retrospective
>>> The business end of missing a Triple Crown, "If the horse doesn't win, it takes the air out of it."

>>> Nack: The stretch drive turned out to be as poignant as any in memory
>>> Paulick: Those new to the sport could only walk away knowing how much intrigue, excitement, and integrity Thoroughbred racing offers
>>> King: Blaming Stewart Elliott for Smarty Jones' loss in the Belmont is off base
>>> Birdstone returns to Saratoga
>>> Triple Crown requires skill, luck and timing
>>> Roeper: What's wrong with celebrating, donating a slice to charity and then celebrating some more if you were lucky enough to place a wager on Birdstone?
>>> Comment: Birdstone sure to be a star of Saratoga meet
>>> Curtain call isn't final for 'people's horse' Smarty
>>> Brunker: Smarty Jones was too aggressive
>>> Smarty Jones is going on vacation
>>> It will take a couple of months before the impact of Smartymania will be fully determined. But that impact will likely be somewhat less than it would have been had Birdstone not had so much left down the stretch
>>> Motley Fool: Say it ain't so, Smarty
>>> Price: Don't tarnish Triple Crown... Leave it alone
>>> Servis: 'Proud of what we did'

>>> Belmont follow-up: Where the other horses are going
>>> Finley: What else could Elliott have done?
>>> Frankel: If Smarty Jones ran against Birdstone two months from now, it would be no contest."... Zito: "That's the quote of the year. Frankel needed Allen Jerkens to train his horse yesterday."
>>> Aussie scribe: There’s something totally unique and transcendent about champion racehorses that can capture not only the sporting public’s imagination, but take grip on the psyche of a whole nation
>>> TV: Belmont earns highest ratings in 27 years
>>> Servis points to riders on Eddington and 'Rock': "Those guys had nothing to lose so they sacrificed their horses to push Smarty along."
>>> Smarty's return to Philly is low-key
>>> Servis: "We said all along that our goal was to get to the [Kentucky] Derby. We did that. This [the three races] is a tough road. I'm disappointed we didn't get it done, but I'm glad it's over."
>>> Servis: "We're going to start by giving him three to four weeks off and then we'll map out a plan for the Breeders' Cup."
>>> Dougherty: Thanks for the memories, Smarty
>>> Lopresti: So horse racing still waits... Like baseball waits for the next .400 hitter. Like chess waits for the next Bobby Fischer. Like boxing waits for the next Ali
>>> Sad? A little. But what a race he ran.
>>> For Zito, no longer a frustrating year
>>> Lettter FROM the editor of Philly-area paper: "It was a thrilling ride. I still love Smarty Jones. And I don’t feel like a loser."
>>> Comment: So it’s back to the backburner for thoroughbred racing, to be dusted off next May in anticipation of the 2005 Kentucky Derby. Thank you for an exciting five weeks
>>> Sometimes the other guy just wins. Remember, the use of the word "upset" in sport comes from horse racing when a horse named Upset defeated Man of War
>>> Smarty Jones still Philly's champ
>>> Fortus: No rain, tougher than expected foes hurt Smarty Jones' chances
>>> Wesch: Fans' long wait continues... Smarty targets Breeders' Cup
>>> Comment: Run the Triple Crown sequence in this order: Belmont, Preakness, Kentucky Derby... Then the finish becomes a celebration, not a memorial for lost hope
>>> Smarty returns to Philly
>>> Day after, Elliott back to work
>>> Drape: Smarty Jones lost his chance of winning as he fought off Rock Hard Ten and Eddington in the early stages
>>> Izenberg: A mile and a half that can break the best
>>> NY Times scribe: Belmont was racing's finest hour
>>> Finley: Smarty, Birdstone -- it is unlikely a rematch will occur before the Breeders' Cup Classic
>>> Fountaine: Five reasons for Smarty's failure at Belmont
>>> Newsday Belmont photo gallery
>>> Rees: Zito still feels tinge of guilt for beating Smarty
>>> Forde: Still depressed? Me too
>>> Prado quietly played the role of spoiler
>>> Another 'Bird' leaves Whitney Stables flying
>>> Belmont photo gallery
>>> Another photo gallery
>>> Finally, fortune's wheel swings back to Birdstone
>>> O'Donnell: A little slop might have put Smarty on top
>>> Zito says Belmont is biggest win of career

>>> NY Post "Bettor's Guide to the Belmont" with staff selection and plenty of pertinent info

>>> DRF staff selections
>>> Russ Harris: Smarty Jones, Rock Hard Ten, Purge
>>> Drape: Smarty Jones, Purge, Rock Hard Ten

+++ Brunker: "It looks like Smarty Jones by four lengths over a late-running Eddington, with Master David, Purge and Rock Hard Ten."
+++ NY Daily News staff picks
+++ An even better idea might be to put a winning $2 ticket on Smarty Jones in a safe deposit box
+++ Belmont bettable, if you're creative
+++ Cronley: Smarty Jones, Rock Hard Ten, Master David
+++ McNamara: Smarty Jones, Eddington, Master David (with horse-by-horse analysis)
+++ O'Donnell: Smarty Jones, Master David, Birdstone

>>> Bozich: Will Smarty Jones answer history's call?
>>> Modesti: The guess here is that a Triple Crown will swell the sport's spirit more than its stock prices
>>> Test your knowledge of the Triple Crown
>>> Even those who don't know horses want to keep up with Smarty
>>> Smarty: He will tote the hopes not only of a sporting public that has fallen for him, but those of a sport aching for a breakout star
From Sun 6/06:

>>> Newsweek: Smarty breaks America's heart
>>> Stewart Elliott's post-Belmont diary, "When we turned for home, I knew we were in trouble."
>>> Forde: Feel-good story of year has a feel-bad ending
>>> Bozich: Zito's emotions soar like a bird and sink like a stone
>>> Belmont photo gallery
>>> Belmont: Winners show mixed emotions
>>> Record crowd of 120,139
>>> Video replay 2004 Belmont [Windows Media Player]
>>> Vecsey: You can curse Marylou Whitney and her solid Birdstone or you can say it's a good thing that Smarty Jones helped make us eager to see who shows up at the finish line in Kentucky, Maryland and New York next spring
>>> Keyser: Again, no perfect ending
>>> Roberts: The deciding race of the Tri ple Crown is the purest at traction in sports
>>> NBC comes out ahead in Belmont
>>> Beyer: If anybody's failing cost Smarty Jones the Triple Crown, it was not Elliott and Servis, but the beloved horse himself
>>> Servis, "I think Stew did a fine job."
>>> Belmont Stakes chart and results
>>> Buffalo scribe: Stewart might have made his biggest - and maybe first - mistake in Smarty Jones' nine-race career. He moved too soon
>>> Gannett news: Triple Crown eludes Smarty
>>> Winning owner ambivalent, "I'm sorry that Smarty couldn't win. We told Edgar to go for second."
>>> Scribe: Thank you for your humility, Camp Birdstone, but please know you have nothing to apologize for
>>> Lopresti: Failed Triple Crown shows how hard task is
>>> Veitch: If all goes well with Birdstone in the coming weeks, we can look forward to his participation in the Jim Dandy Stakes, on Aug. 8, and the Travers, on Aug. 28, at Saratoga
>>> Smith: Birdstone gets Smarty
>>> Smarty Jones' bid for a Triple Crown is shattered when Birdstone's charge wins the Belmont Stakes
>>> Other trainers who came close feel the pain of Smarty's defeat... Baffert, "We know what that feels like."
>>> Servis, "He will get the break he deserves. He's going to rest. He really deserves it."
>>> Purge: "He got pretty wound up in the paddock, and he got excited in the post parade. He kind of unraveled with the crowd, so it kind of defeated the idea of a good race."
>>> Trainer/jockey post-race quotes
>>> O'Connor: Belmont upset denies horse racing fans a comeback story
>>> Two out of three ain’t bad: Let’s not forget all that Smarty has done for horse racing
>>> He's now just another Jones
>>> Disappointed Servis: This hurts ... but we shouldn’t be upset
>>> Fortus: Smarty Jones' bid for a Triple Crown falls short by a length
>>> Finney: After what happened Saturday, remembering we're talking about a city that once booed Santa at an Eagles game, that might not be a good idea
>>> Roberts: Big upset is big money for Birdstone bettors
>>> Wesch: In his Triple Crown test, this Smarty flunks history
>>> Smarty Jones's trainer John Servis says he sensed trouble even when his horse was half a mile from winning the elusive Triple Crown
>>> The party was over 12 strides from the wire
For Philly fans, crown still doesn't fit
>>> Reveling in result, winners also wistful
>>> List of the horses -- and their prices -- who upset Triple bids
>>> Prado apologetic after upsetting Smarty Jones
>>> O'Donnell: Under the gray, a streaking bay ended another American dream
>>> Next up: Breeders' and breeding
>>> Same setting, a year later
>>> Trainer talked of scratching Birdstone
>>> Fountaine: No Crown for Jones
>>> This time, they couldn't summon the energy to boo, or to jeer, or to do anything other than swallow their voices along with their disappointment
>>> Kerrison: Fifty yards shy of a legend
>>> Finley: This one was supposed to be different
>>> Turcotte fired up, let down
>>> Reaction: Disappointment for some at Saratoga 'racino'
>>> Festive afternoon turns sour... At Philadelphia Park, fans watched a Triple Crown dream die
>>> Oregon sports bar: Within seconds Saturday, a Triple Crown disappeared, thousands of dollars were lost and cheers faded to silence

>>> Nuns visit Smarty Friday... "If you want to stay right with God for tomorrow's race, you might want to make room for the sisters here."
>>> Finley: Seven things that could go wrong for Smarty
>>> ... And, '10 reasons no one will stop Triple Crown favorite'
'Rock,' Eddington, Purge not without upset chances, but likely running for 2nd
>>> Comment: Why pull for Smarty Jones to lose?... I'm not rooting against the horse as much as I have an issue with a generation of incredibly spoiled sports fans
>>> Race spawns Smarty parties
>>> Smarty inspires young and old
>>> A nation-wide Smarty party
>>> Horse's run for Triple Crown a nationwide `feel-good story'
>>> Santos recalls Funny Cide's failed Triple
Keyser: Undefeated colt can join the sport's most elite company today - and do his bit for national morale
>>> Servis feeling pressure today, not Smarty
>>> Triple is test of greatness
>>> Super Bowl QB rooting for Smarty, "''I'm pulling for him so bad, you don't understand."
>>> Rosenblatt: Smarty Jones at the head of the class
>>> Anticipation is high for Smarty’s run at glory
>>> Smarty Jones should win Belmont but don't bet on it
>>> Fortus: Purge enters the Belmont with his handlers hoping recent improvement and a change in strategy can deliver an upset
>>> Fortus: As the rest of the field for the Belmont tries to find a way to beat Smarty Jones, jockeys take on added importance in adjusting the pace of the race
>>> Smarty fever grips NoCal, "I'll be rooting for him, because it's great for racing."
>>> Hopes of the masses are riding on sleek colt Smarty Jones
>>> Wesch: Triple Crown favorite unimposing, till he runs
>>> Who really cares about a mere bet when there's history at stake, by a Pennsylvania-bred colt, no less?
>>> Roberts: Smarty's camp ready for run at greatness
>>> Arrington: Smarty Jones chases history
>>> There’s a sense of anticipation in New York
>>> Mania for Smarty
>>> Adaptability is Smarty Jones' biggest edge
>>> It’s not very Smart to think this is a lock
>>> Favored Smarty looks to be a lock
>>> $2 bets to win, souvenirs to show
>>> Officials prepare for race-day rain
>>> Smarty's story is real winner
>>> Kerrison: Servis -- His biggest fear in the Belmont Stakes today is not the weather but that the other horses and jockeys will gang up on Smarty Jones
>>> Fountaine: Smarty only knows how to win... He's a perfect eight-for-eight, and a horse of destiny
>>> Stewart Elliott's 6/5 Belmont diary, "Now all the talking and assuming and predicting can stop and Smarty and I can go do what we've gotta do and win this thing."
>>> To trained eyes, Smarty looks good
>>> Servis: "I think my horse will pretty much run on anything. I don't think [mud] is an advantage."
>>> Brunker: Smarty Jones' rivals waiting for horse to make a mistake
>>> Does Frankel have another spoiler?
>>> Smarty? 'He's got the right name'

+++ Fair Hill, Md resident cared for young Smarty Jones, "He was ornery, in your face and he'd follow you around everywhere. He was in your pockets all the time. He was very friendly. He'd jump on you if you let him."
+++ Oregon scribe on approaching TC try: "I'm like you. Can't wait."
+++ Team Smarty adapts quickly to new home
+++ Comment: Smarty Jones. That's not a Triple Crown name. That's a horse running in the third race at Aqueduct
+++ 'Sheets guys' think Smarty is special -- but offer some opinions on potential upsetters
+++ Charles Town to honor trainer Servis
+++ Louisiana tracks hit by Smarty fever, "I'm going on my 18th year at Louisiana Downs, and I haven't ever seen more excitement over one race or one horse than I've seen about Smarty Jones."
+++ The horse you couldn't pick out of a lineup is a mile-and-a-half from immortality
+++ Ziegel: Rock Hard Ten may be the one
+++ Triple Crown drought proves feat's difficulty
+++ Upset of Smarty? Purge that idea
+++ Wet track expected for Smarty Jones' attempt at history
+++ Forde: Smarty Jones is taking New York -- and the nation -- by storm
+++ Rees: It's not looks, it's heart that makes Smarty go
+++ Great Lakes Downs expects a big day, "We're expecting another large crowd. It should be an exciting day."
+++ Christine: Belmont history has its share of Triple Crown spoilers. There have been nine since 1978
+++ Stewart Elliott takes a race-by-race look at Smarty's career
+++ Layden: Even for Smarty, Belmont no sure thing... Course will pose exacting test -- but not if you listen to opposing trainers
+++ Finley: If Smarty is first, who takes second?
+++ Litke: It's about time Servis got nervous
+++ Audio preview: Gary West scopes out the Belmont (Real Player)
+++ Daley: It's Smarty Jones' race to win or lose
+++ Aussies like Samrty too! "I'm sure if Coolmore or Darley happened to purchase Smarty Jones, then we would see the horse at stud in Australia. There is little doubt that Smarty Jones would be extremely popular with local breeders."
+++ Smarty's owners regulars at Florida church... Priest, "If Smarty becomes the Triple Crown winner, we may be able to cut out second collections."
+++ Rock Hard Ten needs to improve to win Belmont, Orman says
+++ Wet track could preclude Master David from starting
+++ Haskin: Who can beat Smarty?
>>> Stewart Elliott's 6/4 Belmont diary... "I'm starting to under stand how amazing and historical this whole scene with Smarty is."
>>> Kerrison: Which is it to be for Smarty Jones -- glory or failure? The question is so engrossing, it will spur the biggest racetrack crowd in NY history
>>> Smarty’s party key to racing’s resurgence
>>> Smarty Jones' unlikely story has a made-for-TV feel
>>> Keeping Smarty Jones best deal of all... Owners' gamble pays off smartly
>>> Chapmans go from car dealerships to ride of their lives
>>> The Philly regulars are behind Smarty... "To me Smarty ain’t about money in my pocket. It’s about this ..." and he takes off his hat and points to the words, "Philly’s Champion."
>>> Rock Hard Ten schools Thurs... "I think that I should've taken him to the gate at Pimlico. We did at Kentucky and he looked very good back there."
>>> Opinion: Smarty Jones winning the Crown will be bad for horse racing
>>> Smarty has NBC galloping (plus a look at Belmont telecast ratings since '93)
>>> Smarty Jones trainer: Average guy, wild ride
>>> Smarty Jones' trainer learns to love spotlight
>>> Calif scribe says homelife has changed since Derby... Wife, "I have a crush on Smarty."
>>> Steve Cauthen outlines the keys to winning the Belmont
>>> Smarty Jones' bloodline suggests a 1 1/2 -mile race could be a problem, but a horse's pedigree doesn't always accurately predict success or failure
>>> Already 'a bona fide star,' Smarty could buoy industry
>>> Cauthen: "If the horse then wins [the Derby and] the Preakness , the phone won't stop ringing the next three weeks. It's a burden I'm happy to deal with as best I can. The game has given me a lot, and anything I can give back to the game, I feel I owe."
>>> Some of the NBC team remember where they were for the last Triple Crown coronation... Host Tom Hammond: "I was standing behind Chick Anderson at Belmont as he called the race."
Wesch: Smarty Jones jockey Stewart Elliott has gone through some hard times. But like Smarty, Elliott has a date with history
>>> Jerardi: Smarty's too good not to win the Triple Crown
>>> Modesti: Smarty showing his cool
Modesti: Another "if" on which hangs Stewart Elliott's future
>>> Like Slew, Smarty is 'the people's horse'
>>> Izenberg: Zito is torn about playing the spoiler's role... "Last year, when Frankel's colt knocked Funny Cide out of the Triple Crown, somebody threw a can of beer at him. If I win, at least they'll empty it first."
>>> Fountaine: Reading the tea leaves points to one thing: Smarty Jones will win the Belmont Stakes

>>> Smarty's camp pleased at the draw
>>> Transcript of DRF internet Q&A with Andy Beyer
Q: I plan on betting a 5 horse triple box, sans Smarty Jones. I want to throw in one of the Zito horses. Which one has a better shot of hitting the board?
A: Can I book this?
>>> Smarty's family of hard workers
>>> Police escort brings Smarty to Belmont Wednesday
>>> Rosenblatt: Smarty Jones odds-on favorite to take Belmont, sweep Triple Crown
>>> Servis: "Ideally, I was thinking that if they let us go to the lead, that's OK, but I don't want to go to the lead and get hooked up in a speed duel."
>>> Giant-killer by proxy?... Frankel: "It's a long story, but (jock agent) Mike Sellitto told me that Allen Jerkens was disappointed with the Belmont because the horse he thought could win it wasn't entered -- and that was Master David. Everything else fell into place, so we decided to run."
>>> Hmmm, the mainstream latches onto the 'Smarty Party' and struggles to churn out cute copy...
>>> Smarty Jones exceeds pedigree
>>> NBC TV producer, "When regular old sports fans are talking about horseracing, something extraordinary is happening."
>>> Some quotes from the post-position draw
>>> Bozich: If Gone West couldn't give Stephens his sixth straight Belmont victory, maybe his grandson, Smarty Jones, can give horse racing its first Triple Crown winner in 26 years. Funny how this pedigree stuff plays out
>>> NYRA: "We expect records in attendance, on-track wagering and total handle."
>>> Shug McGaughey: "At the (Kentucky) Derby, they were trying to win the Derby. Now, they're all trying to beat Smarty Jones."
>>> Naysayer: "Two strides past the wire, I'll happily join the cheers of the rest of the 125,000 Belmont customers if Smarty Jones has succeeded. Until that time, however, there's good reason to be skeptical and bet against him."
>>> Maybe this little horse from Philly named Smarty Jones will go out Saturday and show the world who he is, not only the Horse of the Year but arguably the Athlete of the Year
>>> Advertisers hope to ride success of Smarty Jones
>>> Servis finally earns acclaim as Smarty Jones prepares to stake his claim to the Triple Crown
>>> Jerardi: Win three races in 5 weeks. Really, how tough can it be? So tough that some of America's greatest horses could not do it
>>> Vecsey: If Smarty Jones has a good Saturday afternoon, some lives may never be quite the same
>>> With Wimbledon on the sidelines McIngvale roots for Smarty, "He's great for the game. He's given horse racing a shot in the arm."
>>> Kerrison: Watch out for Purge
>>> The Triple Crown... and some of sports other hard-to-achieve records
>>> Stewart Elliott's 6/3 Belmont diary, "I can honestly say I couldn't be happier with our post position."
>>> NJ editor: "I'll be openly rooting for Smarty Jones. Not because he's from Philly. Not because of a bet. Simply because I'd like to see history
>>> Ziegel: Pletcher and Purge are taking a shot at Smarty Jones and good for them
>>> Jenkins: Working class heroes on verge of royalty... For Smarty Jones, trainer, humble roots can become great Saturday
>>> Neumeier: Belmont wagering... No logical player would dream of risking increments of $2 to make a 20-cent or 30-cent profit. It’s the quickest way to the poorhouse
>>> Forde: Elliott outruns troubled times... After alcohol, scrapes with law, Smarty Jones' jockey tastes praise and success
>>> Finley's minute-by-minute account of following Smarty up the turnpike... "Hovdey was the only guy not smart enough to bring along an EZ Pass... Heading off the Jersey Pike on the way to the GW Bridge, Hovdey runs his 8th toll of the trip."
>>> The current drought of Triple Crown winners speaks to the daunting task
>>> Blue-collar horse 'telephones' scribe, "All you ever hear about these days is Smarty Jones, and nothing about us.The rest of us nags that make up the game of horse racing," the horse said. "If it wasn't for us, there wouldn't be a Smarty Jones."
>>> Keeping 'Smarty' in line is Bill Foster's ride of lifetime

>>> Smarty Jones to keep running after Belmont
>>> Finley: Is Smarty Jones saving horse racing?
>>> Smarty Jones' other jockey enjoying the ride...Oaklawn Park jocks rode workouts, "I'm just thrilled to be part of this history."
>>> Wesch: Who brotherly loves ya, Smarty Jones?... "It's a Philadelphia phenomenon, it really is."
>>> Rosenblatt: It's a tale as remarkable as any soap opera: murder, a star who almost dies, bit players who become celebrities
>>> Friends remember Robert Camac, "This thing with Smarty Jones is a get-even type thing. Bobby is finally getting his recognition. Just a hell of a nice man."
>>> Camac gave Smarty Jones his start
>>> Dare to compare: Before there was a Smarty Jones, there was a Seattle Slew
>>> Chapman enjoying quite a ride... Elderly owner taking it all in stride during Smarty Jones' run
>>> Modesti: Grappling with the aftermath of war. The White House under fire. Gas-pump consumers anxious... Looks like the national stage is set once again for a great racehorse
>>> Troopers to escort Smarty to Belmont Wednesday
>>> Smarty is similar to horses of legend
>>> Vecsey: It takes a control freak to win the Crown
>>> Smarty Jones has ties to Wheeling, WV
>>> Kerrison: Zito is not yet ready to jump aboard the Smarty-is-great bandwagon
>>> American ex-pat extols the exploits of Smarty in Japanese newspaper, "The tale of Smarty Jones is a feel-good story."
>>> Potential Triple Crown bonus "a drop in the bucket compared to the $30 million or more [Smarty]'ll command as a stallion prospect."
>>> Servis: Pace will be the key
>>> Solis to ride Rock Hard Ten
>>> Stewart Elliott's 6/2 Belmont diary, "Belmont is obviously different because once around is a mile-and-a-half."
>>> Secretariat still the standard
>>> Brunker: An aura of invincibility that has all but the most iconoclastic handicappers predicting a Triple Crown sweep
>>> Likely Belmont spoilers have talent - and flaws
>>> Servis no Johnny come lately: A trainer since training wheels
>>> Forde: Servises are now the toasts of racing
>>> No sure thing in the Belmont
>>> Servis learned from Turner's Triple trip... Smarty's trainer saw Seattle Slew being readied for Belmont
>>> Opinion: Even if only for two-and-a-half minutes, what a distraction this will be
>>> Finley: Smarty is good, but is he great?
>>> Plonk to Finley: Bill, Bill, Bill. Perhaps it's that Boston Red Sox fan in you?
>>> Roberts: At Belmont, it's a race against history
>>> By the numbers: Comparing Smarty to previous Triple Crown winners
>>> Graves: Nick Zito is the poster boy for persistence when it comes to the Belmont, a race that is nearly as important to him as the Ky Derby
Comparing Smarty to Secretariat
>>> Keyser: Physically, Smarty has it all; with his schooling complete, he's become the total package
>>> Good filly got Servis past a career low-point: "He asked God to give him a sign." The answer to that prayer was a filly named Jostle
>>> Is Smarty a genetic freak?
>>> Jock Elliott skips several appearances Tuesday due to the illness of his fiancee
>>> Purge confirmed... Nine-horse field possible
>>> Small farm where it all began for Smarty Jones

>>> Comment: Would a Smarty Jones Triple Crown revive horse racing?
>>> 'Blue-collar' operations rooting for Smarty: "The media loves to sensationalize the Wayne Lukases and the Bob Bafferts and those people. But everyday, there’s a race card filled with racehorses raised by people that have small operations. That’s the backbone of the racing industry."
>>> Jerardi: Smarty has joined the Lasix crowd, and why not? It's legal and might have helped
>>> Smarty Jones has Minnesota relatives
>>> Affirmed's team pulling for Smarty Jones
>>> 101YO racing fan from Cleveland remembers the first Triple Crown winner... She's rooting for Smarty this year
>>> Rees: Rock Hard Ten looks to play spoiler
>>> Oaklawn Park set for a Smarty party
>>> Capturing the Triple Crown would thrust Smarty Jones into horse racing's elite
>>> Smarty Jones: The People's Horse
>>> Drape: Breeding a champion
>>> Kerrison: Rock ready to roll
>>> Stewart Elliott's 6/1 Belmont diary: "The main reason Smarty Jones has been able to accomplish what he has is because of the team around him, and no one deserves more credit than John Servis."
>>> Purge now likely... Trainers, "I'm pretty sure we are going to enter. God forbid anything happens to Smarty Jones, you'd hate not to be in the race."
>>> Voice of America: Triple Crown hopeful becomes hometown icon
>>> DW Lukas rooting for Smarty, "I have no reason not to. I'm like Joe Fan out there. I'd like to see the Hollywood script run its course."
>>> Fan mail pouring in for Smarty... "I can't believe how rich you are for a horse."
>>> Comment: Can anyone beat Smarty Jones?
>>> Before Smarty Pennsylvania had Lil E Tee
>>> Rock Hard Ten worked Sunday, "I've never seen him work as good as he did today."
>>> O'Donnell: Many would consider Rock Hard Ten the most formidable foe to the Jones bandwagon
>>> Belmont Stakes facts and info
>>> Belmont tix: For online shoppers, it's buyer beware
>>> Master David still possible, "but it’s a slim chance."
>>> Hollywood Park will offer free $2 win tix on Smarty to first 10,000 patrons Saturday

>>> That '70s showcase... Not-so distant decade still wears the Triple Crown crown
>>> Beyer: Smarty Jones epitomizes the modern American thoroughbred, one with a pedigree filled with speed and short on stamina. His brilliant performances this spring suggest that the classic ideas about breeding are nearly defunct
>>> Stewart Elliott's 5/20 Belmont diary, "To be honest with you, I was always happy being a 'big fish in a small pond.' "
>>> Smarty Jones could arrive Wednesday at Belmont
>>> Smarty on-track Sun morning, "We stayed light today, just jogged him a mile with the pony and probably plan on stretching that to a mile and a half tomorrow."
>>> Smarty's stable manager, "This horse has done more for all of us than all of us could do for each other."
>>> Servis, with a smile... Trainer gracious in glare of Triple Crown run
>>> Rosenblatt: When it comes to tackling the Belmont, just about anything can happen - from fatigue to injury to poor racing luck to the almost unbelievable
>>> Eddington works Sunday, "He was real sharp."... Master David, Purge still undecided
>>> John Servis was raised in a world of horse racing and parental support
>>> Rees: Derby-Preakness double becoming a fad... Reasons include improved nutrition, vet care, transport
>>> Snider: Smarty Jones might be a heavy favorite in Saturday's 136th Belmont Stakes, but historically he remains a long shot
>>> Closer look at careers after a Triple Crown 'near-miss'
>>> Drape: Belmont's dwindling field includes the good, the bad and the unlikely
>>> Belmont: Caiman added to field

>>> A closer look at the members of the Smarty Jones team
>>> Izenberg: Racing world out to cash in with Smarty
>>> The prospect that Smarty Jones could win the coveted Triple Crown next week has caused breeding-rights prices to soar
>>> Dr Dosage sees Smarty blowout
>>> Crowning moments... 26 things you didn't know about racing's 3 Jewels
>>> A Smarty victory party Saturday won't prove to be the panacea for the sport
>>> Keyser: The lost gems of Triple Crown... MRLS: A plague that prevented 516 Kentucky foals from being born in 2001 has taken some starch out of Smarty Jones' field
>>> Scheinman: There is only one way to win horse racing's Triple Crown but many ways to lose it
>>> It's easy to say that a small piece of Ocala will be tucked away in Smarty Jones's saddlecloth when the colt breaks from the starting gate at Belmont Park, "We were blessed to be the custodian for him while he was in Ocala."
>>> Smarty mailbag filled with notes from kids, "You have inspired me to run like a racehorse when I'm walking with my physical therapist."
>>> Smarty Jones: a hero in hard times... Americans cheer thoroughbred's rise from rags to Triple Crown bid
>>> Fortus: Smarty Jones has thrust John Servis, an anonymous trainer who started at the bottom, into the sport's national spotlight
>>> Sports scribe has a Q&A with Smarty: "I had a serious head injury? Why doesn't anybody tell me these things? But seriously, folks..."
>>> Thoughts from, and about, Philly Park... "We have come into our own this year."
>>> Smarty Jones: In the shadows, however, stands a family for whom this is more than a feel-good story about an undefeated horse, a rejuvenated owner or a selfless trainer
>>> Kerrison: The coronation is due at dusk, Saturday, and if he makes it, you can be sure of one thing: He will deserve it
>>> With 26 years since a horse has won the Triple Crown, the rich-textured story of Smarty Jones and his jockey, trainer and owners, has just about everyone associated with racing giddy
Stewart Elliott's 5/30 Belmont diary, "With just seven days to go before the Belmont, I can honestly say I've never been more excited in my life."
>>> Rees: Smarty fever is catching
>>> Smarty, who's already a bonus baby, could be doubly so
>>> Belmont: Six considered definite
>>> What's next for Team Smarty?
>>> Rosenblatt: Somewhere in the racing machine that is Smarty Jones, there has to be an Achilles' heel. It may be exposed in the Belmont Stakes next Saturday - or it may not
>>> Price: With the public delighting in his charge at the Triple Crown, it's not much of a stretch to compare Smarty Jones to another overachiever who became America's favorite: Seabiscuit
>>> Graves: Belmont distance has undone some of the best
>>> ...And another Smarty Q&A, "Dude, I'm 3 years old. I don't know anything about Secretariat."
>>> Comparing Smarty to Slew
>>> Elliott enjoying new friends, new life, big horse
>>> Smarty impresses Scottish scribe: Another Seabiscuit in the making
>>> Rock Hard Ten schools at gate, gallops strong at Belmont

>>> Secretariat jock Turcotte on Smarty: "I'll be very disappointed if there is no coronation. He really looks the part to me."
>>> Triple Crown: It could come down to a figurative flip of the coin. And the celestial arbiters of racing are a fickle lot
>>> Trainer Servis visits local elementary school, "Smarty knows you guys love him."
>>> Servis on Smarty's Fri workout, "It was just what I wanted."
>>> Servis's rise mirrors Charles Town's
>>> Local TV report on Smarty mania [Windows Media Player]
>>> Local TV report on Fri morning workout (includes some footage of the work)
>>> Servis: "It's a mile-and-a-half, and I don't want him to get rank. I want him to do what he's done the last couple of races, settle and be comfortable."
>>> Don't forget about Tapit... Trainer, jock want to spoil Smarty's big party
>>> Finley: Could Smarty Jones have done it without John Servis? Maybe not
>>> Arkansas neighbors remember Servis' time in the state, fishing and pitching batting practice

>>> Smarty Jones gives a kick-start to horse racing
>>> P Val goes to court on Tues in another attempt to thwart suspension... Wants delay of latest penalty in order to ride in Belmont Stakes
>>> Connections of previous Triple Crown winners think Smarty has what it takes... Penny Chenery, "If he wins the Belmont and wins the Triple Crown, I think he deserves to be named with any horse we've had."
>>> ...And more from that teleconference... Slew owner, "Slew, I'm sure, is looking down from horse heaven, saying, 'Good luck, Smarty.' "
>>> Many who've climbed on the Smarty Jones bandwagon don't know the difference between lasix and latex, breaking for lunch and breaking for the finish line or post time and Post Toasties
>>> Rock Hard Ten trainer plotting the upset, "If it's a galloping kind of race, that's where we can make up ground on Smarty Jones."
>>> Triple Crown run catapults trainer Servis, "I dreamed about it, but I can't honestly say I envisioned it."
>>> Another Philly Park invader is added to the Belmont field
>>> Servis: "I don't know, but if they ever do an autopsy on Smarty Jones, I think they'll find he has a huge heart, or a huge vascular system. There's something very special about this horse."
>>> Oaklawn planning Smarty party for Belmont Stakes Day
>>> Friends Lake undergoes bone chip surgery, sidelined for rest of year

>>> Thoroughbred Connection audio interview with Thorograph rep, "This is the fastest 3YO we've ever seen." [Macromedia Flash]
>>> Smarty Jones for president
>>> Smarty Jones Philly Park 5/26 press conference [Windows Media Player]
>>> Foot bruise nearly kept Smarty Jones out of Ky Derby
>>> Local minister blesses Smarty, "I asked the Lord to give Smarty Jones good health, I asked Him to protect Smarty during the Belmont Stakes, and I asked Him to give Smarty the special gift of the Triple Crown."
>>> Rosenblatt: Trainer made all the right moves with Smarty Jones
>>> Which Pa community can make claim to Smarty -- Philly, Chester or Bucks?
>>> 'Blue-collar' colleagues rooting for Smarty... Journeyman jock at Fort Erie, "It sweetens the pie to see a jockey you don't hear about every day... That gives us all hope. A good horse can come from anywhere."
>>> Jock Bailey hopes for Belmont upset with Eddington, "I want to get a good look at [Smarty's] face. Because all I've seen is his backside. He looked like a tiny dot in the Preakness."
>>> Eddington yet to bloom
>>> Tapit breezes 6F on turf
>>> President Bush hopes to meet Smarty Jones if he wins Triple Crown
>>> Zito: 'Cliff' needs a miracle to make Belmont
Mullins works Castledale, race not in sight

>>> Smarty Jones wear is racing off the shelves... Sales of clothes emblazoned with champion horse's name soar as Belmont nears
>>> Bidding heats up to land Smarty Jones as stallion prospect
>>> Rock Hard Ten reluctant in Tues morning workout, "He balked a couple of times and didn't really get into the work."
>>> Scheinman: Is Lasix use an obstacle to Triple Crown?
>>> Smarty to Haskell?

>>> Kling: The horse most likely to end Smarty Jones' bid for the Triple Crown, if there is such an animal, needs one of three characteristics...
>>> Smarty's final work set, "I think I’m going to work him on Friday (May 28) and we’re going to ship to New York on the following Wednesday (June 2)."
>>> Collectors bullish on Smarty Jones tickets... $2 win tickets for Belmont Stakes already up for sale on eBay
>>> Siraco: By now I'm sure you realize it's a Smarty Jones world and we just live in it
>>> Profile: Milton Hendry, the guy who broke Smarty in Ocala, "He loves to train. He would run off every time you took him to the track if he could."
>>> This 'Philly Flyer' sets hearts racing... Title-hungry fans praying Smarty Jones takes crown
>>> Spoiler's role? Not this year... With no entry, trainer Frankel can't stop Smarty in Belmont
>>> Smarty replaces Mustang as 'The Big Hoss' at Chapman Ford

>>> Latest on Belmont prospects: Five definites, five possibles
>>> Product endorsements possible for Smarty... "(Horses) would not be used as endorsers. They might be used as image enhancement."
>>> Baffert: 'The next one will be the toughest'
>>> McNamara takes a closer look at the Triple Crown winners
>>> Buffalo scribe: Triple Crown revives passion for racing
>>> Finley: Smarty Jones ready to join company with Seattle Slew
>>> The woman behind the man: For Mrs, it's Servis with smile
>>> Forde: Philadelphia is becoming the city of Smarty love
>>> Servis has 2 worries for Belmont
>>> Graves: Smarty Jones has potential to stand among the greats
>>> Frankel: Switch to turf likely for Master David

>>> Rarely have so many turned out to watch so few do so little - and appreciated it so much
>>> The doors are flung open and they come streaming in... It looks like the Oklahoma Land Rush
>>> Even at the height of his popularity, Secretariat never raised the roof like Smarty Jones did Saturday at Philadelphia Park
>>> Sat morning gallop: 8500 fans came to Philadelphia Park to see Smarty Jones, the budding legend who now stands on the brink of racing immortality
>>> Fan, "I came to be part of history. I get so excited when I watch him. It gives me an adrenaline rush."
>>> "I had the oddest dream yesterday. I dreamed 8500 people woke up at an ungodly weekend hour to watch one horse gallop solitarily at 8:30 AM."
>>> Many fans showed up before 5 AM, but the doors to the track didn’t open until 8 AM. Traffic on Street Road was backed up for nearly a mile in both directions
>>> Self-appointed Smarty-party pooper says, "Can we stop the platitudes about wondrous beasts blazing down the backstretch for a moment and just admit that much of our sentimental attachment to this animal is rooted in money?"
>>> A Smarty funny
>>> Ride of his life... Smarty Jones owner saves best for last
>>> After Peter Pan, Purge possible for Belmont... Others unlikely, Frankel on Master David, "I don't think so."
>>> A little history on each of the last nine Triple Crown "near-misses"
>>> They say Smarty can't win the Triple Crown because... The reasons "against"
>>> A car salesman-turned-owner, a jockey battling his own demons, and a small, spunky horse that captures America's soul? The only thing missing is Tobey Maguire in the saddle
>>> Drape: From rock bottom, Stewart Elliott's unlikely ride to top
>>> Tapit breezes for Belmont
>>> Rock Hard Ten goes to gate school
>>> Birdstone breezes... Zito considers prospects

>>> It's official! Smarty will win the Triple Crown... So says the Drexel student newspaper -- and we all know those guys at Drexel have a particular genius when it comes to horse racing!
>>> Smarty thriving at Philly... Servis reconsiders Belmont ship date, "He’s doing really good, he’s happy, and as long as he’s doing the way he’s doing I’m going to wait until we get closer to the race and make a decision."
>>> Former car dealership partner remembers how Smarty Jones owner entered the sport... Dealership comptroller said, "Chappy, you should be in horse racing. Then you can win money instead of ribbons like they do in fox hunting."
>>> Smarty gallops 1.5M on Fri, "He was full of himself."
>>> No Belmont track workout for Smarty, "I'd like to get a workout over that track, but by the same token, I want my horse where he is right now."
>>> Servis says Smarty gets fan letters from prison, marriage proposal
>>> Layden: As Triple Crown mania grows, Smarty Jones & Co are staying in Philly
>>> Sullivan: If racing is to rebuild its customer base, it could sure use a Secretariat-sized boost
>>> Do we really want to add the name Smarty Jones to the list of Triple Crown winners? It doesn't really stack up. Smarty Jones is a name that sounds like he should be running high-priced claiming races or allowance races, but not the name of a Triple Crown winner
>>> Lion Heart pointed to summer campaign

>>> Christine: If Smarty Jones wins the last race in the series, it will be because the Belmont Stakes owes us one. How sadistic can a race be?
>>> NTRA inks deal to sell Smarty merchandise
>>> Fountaine presents interesting fact: Before winning the Belmont Stakes each of the 11 Triple Crown winners previously raced over Belmont's main track
>>> Aussies excited about Smarty's success as sire Elusive Quality is a shuttle stallion down Under
>>> Kling: smarty and connections didn't just fall off a Pennsyl vania Dutch milk wagon
>>> Finley: Smarty Jones follows in hoof prints of Seattle Slew
>>> Smarty puts in another strong gallop Thurs AM
>>> Modesti: Let's compare Smarty to the five horses in the past seven seasons who won the Ky Derby and Preakness...
>>> Smarty brings out new fans (gotta love the pic of winners Ed and Al!)
>>> Privman: Can Tapit be the spoiler?
>>> Debate rages in Pa: Is Smarty from Philly or Bensalem? (Plus a little poke at a local newspaper that has featured Smarty on the front cover numerous times since the Derby, even though it dropped Philadelphia Park entries and results several years ago)
>>> Brennan: Smarty Jones revives a sport, if only briefly
>>> Kristufek: In my mind, none of [the recent near-misses] were special enough to be 'the one.' This year is different
>>> McNamara pens 'The Ballad of Smarty Jones'
>>> Price: There's not a bigger mystery in life than genetics, even considering how much science has been able to decipher in the past decade. So don't even go there to explain this deal. Wherever Smarty Jones got his mental state, that's the whole key to what's going on right now
>>> Frankel puts Smarty in elite company
>>> Relaxed Gesture to skip Belmont for Italian Derby

>>> Official Preakness website

>>> Count the officials at Lone Star Park among the legions pulling for Smarty Jones to win horse racing's elusive Triple Crown
>>> Smarty's holding his form, "It’s unbelievable how well he came out of the Preakness."
>>> AP: Smarty Jones returned to the track Wednesday for the first time since his record-setting victory in the Preakness
>>> Without Lion Heart, will Smarty set the Belmont pace?... "That's up to [jockey Stewart Elliott]. If he breaks as sharply as he did in the Preakness, Stewart might not have a choice. But the way [Smarty] is settling now, he can put him anywhere on the race track."
>>> Neumeier: Smarty's critics are full of baloney
>>> Transcript of John Servis press conference 5/19
>>> High time to bash Triple Crown hex... We're overdue. Way over due
>>> Rock Hard Ten settles in at Belmont Park
>>> Mustanfar doubtful for Belmont
>>> Bensalem, Pa planning to name street after Smarty
>>> Smarty Jones fever is spreading quickly as fans buy up anything and everything with the Triple Crown contender's name on it

>>> Quick facts/bio on trainer John Servis
>>> Quick facts/bio on jockey Stewart Elliott
>>> Closer look at Smarty Jones' pedigree

>>> Smarty Jones' sire in spotlight... Elusive Quality stud fee may rise following colt's victories
>>> Secretariat jock Turcotte: "I think Smarty Jones will win the Belmont by at least 25 lengths."
>>> Arkansas scribe: "Born too late, horses such as Secretariat, War Admiral and Citation are only stars of history documentaries to me... My time has passed, and until this year, I'd given up on the possibility of it ever returning."
>>> Smarty Jones in running for racing's best story in decades
>>> Philly Park trainers agree: Smarty’s the one
>>> McNulty: Maybe Smarty can help breathe new life into a dying sport... But, please, DON'T try to compare him to Secretariat
>>> Funny Cide's Knowlton says, "Smarty Jones is going to do it."
>>> Brunker: Smarty Jones has shown he's worthy of Triple Crown
>>> Pimlico fines Elliott $25 over application
>>> Smarty merchandise selling fast
>>> 26 things you may or may not know about Smarty Jones

>>> Haskin: Smarty may be early arrival at Belmont
>>> Kornheiser: When Damon Runyon was writing these kinds of stories that would lead to 'Guys And Dolls,' horse racing was just about the biggest sport in America
>>> Siraco: Smarty Jones' victory in the middle jewel of racing's Triple Crown was awesome, brilliant, commanding, dazzling, exciting, fantastic, great, huge, incredible, jolting, knockout, legitimate, masterful, numbing, overwhelming, perfect...
>>> Forde: Team Smarty Jones, welcome to the longest three weeks of your lives
>>> Privman: Smarty bandwagon swelling... This year's Belmont has the makings of one of the greatest events in racing history
>>> Izenberg: The way he won these two races, well, I have yet to see another 3YO who looked every bit as though he were auditioning for the role of Triple Crown champ
>>> Success finds Elliott unfazed... Jockey stays busy before Belmont
>>> Wilson: Why I think Smarty will succeed where Funny Cide and War Emblem failed the past two years... Simple. Smarty Jones is a special colt, the type that comes along only once every 20 years or so
>>> Calif scribe: Smarty Jones is the favorite to be 2004's best athlete
>>> Billy Turner, Steve Cauthen agree that Smarty has the goods
>>> Smarty fans flock to Philly Park... When [Stewart Elliott] finally emerged [from the jocks room], a roar of applause went up, with chants of "Smarty, Smarty" echoing through the paddock

>>> Official Preakness results, payoffs and chart

>>> Preakness 2004 attendance: 112,668... Record crowd, previous record was 104,454 in 2001
>>> Preakness 2004 handle: $58,791,407... Previous record was $47,695,192, set in 2002
>>> Preakness card 2004 total handle: $85,120,667... Previous record was $71,468,223

>>> Smarty bankroll update: $7,383,155... 4th all-time

>>> Preakness jockey quotes
>>> Transcript of post-race press conference with Smarty's team
>>> Preakness aftermath: How the runners-up fared

>>> How the Belmont field is shaping up

>>> Beyer: It was difficult to assess Smarty Jones after his triumph at Churchill Downs... There were no such ambiguities at Pimlico
>>> Zillgitt: America loves a folk hero. Even if it's temporary. Even if it's a horse. Especially if it's a horse
>>> Dougherty: Triple Crown winner Smarty Jones. It rolls right off the tongue, doesn’t it?
>>> Palmer: We've got the horse right here, folks -- a horse tailor-made for legend. Believe. Smarty Jones has been sent down from the racing gods with good news
>>> Rosenblatt: Can Smarty Jones win the Triple Crown? Absolutely
>>> Kerrison: Is Smarty Jones the superhorse of the new millennium or is it that the spear carriers behind him are so utterly lacking in speed and stamina they're making him look good?
>>> Fountaine: Yes, Virginia, there is a Smarty Jones
>>> Steve Cauthen -- rider of last TC winner Affirmed -- convinced, "These horses are a gift from above. You don't know when they're going to come around, or how long they're going to last."
>>> Plenty of hoopla surrounds Smarty... When the state of Pa held a recent Smarty Jones Day, Servis said, "They wanted to know if we could ship him to Harrisburg for the proclamation. I thought they were kidding."
>>> Bobby Frankel on Master David: "We'll see what happens in the Peter Pan, but I'm not looking forward to running against Smarty Jones."
>>> More from Frankel (and others): "[Smarty Jones] looks like a superstar. He looks like a cinch in the Belmont unless something goes wrong. Look at him. He likes off tracks. He likes fast tracks. He goes along in a race and doesn't need anyone to set the pace for him. He's a complete horse."
>>> Molinaro: Comparisons to Secretariat are a real stretch, but with a Belmont victory, Smarty Jones could be transformed into a horse of the people. Sort of like Mr. Ed, only without the back talk
>>> Ziegel: Dear Smarty Jones, You started out as a horse, but you're not a horse any more, Smarty. You're THE HORSE
>>> Bozich: This is no Big Tease. This is a Big Horse
Racehorse owner Mike Pegram, "Awesome. It's been 31 years since anyone has seen a horse do what Smarty Jones did at Pimlico."
>>> Triple Crown - why should we care?... First, it's the perfect reality series for a nation with a short attention span. The three races take a total of 6 minutes to complete -- but with 5 weeks of buildup that 'American Idol' and 'The Bachelor' can't match
>>> Smarty Jones is laying low, "I'm sure he'll enjoy the extra week going into the Belmont."
>>> Belmont Park area gets ready for record crowd... The Stage Deli has already made plans for the influx. Two people will handle the cash registers rather than one, and three people will make sandwiches instead of one
>>> Owner Chapman sticks by his team, "I think somebody stuck him with the name 'Stew Who,' You just saw and heard his description of the race. If that's a novice rider, I'll kiss your you-know-what."
>>> Finney quote trainer Tom Amoss: "This horse walked past me and, before I realized who it was, I had a feeling he was telling the other horses in the race, 'just don't mess with me.' "
>>> Phillies ballclub roots for Smarty and latches on to the sport, "I've never seen a race horse up close, so it would be neat if I could go over [to Philly Park] sometime."
>>> Servis: "The Derby, I thought it would take a lot out of him, but it didn't. And he came out of it even better this time."
>>> Rees: Smarty full of himself... Triple Crown candidate is playful and feeling good
>>> Keyser: Smarty proving to be a real gem
>>> NBC'er Tom Hammond: "You'll remember Secretariat was sort of a tonic for America during troubling times of the Vietnam war. At one point, he was on the cover of Sports Illustrated, Time and Newsweek. I see sort of a parallel here."
>>> For Smarty Jones, much brotherly love... Derby, Preakness champ embraced at home in Philadelphia

>>> Triple Crown?: What sets Smarty Jones apart from the other five recent 'no-cigars' are his unbeaten status, his ability to handle any track condition, his demeanor, and his athleticism
>>> Finley: There probably is some reason why Smarty Jones can lose the Belmont. I just can't think of one
>>> Kerrison: Ladies and gentlemen, let's hear it for the real American Idol, Smarty Jones
>>> Vecsey: It's all about the horse now. What a horse
>>> Florida scribe suggests Triple Crown should be for 4YOs: "Horse racing might be suffering because it clings to tradition instead of adapting for the sport's betterment."
>>> O'Donnell: The 'S' word is back in prime time thoroughbred racing -- "He could be the next Secretariat."
>>> Unbeaten, unchallenged and unbelievable
>>> DeGrechie: May have been the most dominant performance in the history of the Preakness Stakes
>>> The horse racing world, which has longed for a Triple Crown winner to adorn and advertise its sport for the last 26 years, seems finally to have found its glorious standard-bearer
>>> Brunker: Belmont will be crowning achievement... Smarty Jones has shown he's worthy of Triple Crown
>>> Bozich: Smarty's for real
>>> Spencer: There may be no match for Smarty Jones based on Saturday's stunning victory
>>> Gary Stevens: "Smarty really reminded me of Secretariat the way he pulled away."
>>> Smarty Jones taking the role of America's horse
>>> Servis: "As long as he tells us he's ready, we're on to the Belmont."
>>> Veitch: If Smarty Jones can pull this off, he will deserve a ranking with the greatest thoroughbreds in American history
>>> Ross: This was supposed to be the tough one?
>>> Arlington prez thinks Smarty is good for racing in general, "For Arlington, leading up to and on Belmont day, some people will come out here that otherwise wouldn't."
>>> Preakness margin of victory is record-breaker
>>> Smarty owner: "I sure hope this victory helps horse racing, I truly do."
Smarty captures hearts across America
>>> Philly Park crowd goes wild, "It was awesome. Philadelphia's a sports town and Smarty's making history."
>>> Fountaine: Party hearty, 'Smarty' fans, and get ready for a road trip to NY. Smarty Jones, the 'Philly Flash,' is gunning for the Triple Crown
>>> Stewart Elliott's 5/16 post-Preakness diary: "Now it's on to the Belmont Stakes, and I think Smarty Jones will go the distance."
>>> Migliore comes back from Fri injury to win two stakes on Preakness undercard
>>> Ziegel: Jones has what it takes to go distance
>>> Litke: Smarty Jones a safe haven for Elliott
>>> Review of Preakness day TV coverage
>>> It's been a wild ride for Chapmans
>>> Preakness fans cope with heat, but few tempers flare
>>> Lively Smarty Jones returns to Philly... "He cleaned up his feed tub last night and was looking for more."
>>> Comment from one of the infielders: "I'm not here for the races, I'm here to drink and party. It's probably not worth $42."

>>> Baltimore Sun photo gallery
>>> CBSNews.com Preakness photo gallery
>>> Sportsline photo gallery

>>> Preakness undercard stakes results

More picks and plays:

>>> Kling: Smarty Jones, Lion Heart, Rock Hard Ten
>>> Izenberg: Eddington to win
>>> Video analysis from TTimes staffers [Media Player]
>>> Cronley: Rock Hard Ten, Smarty Jones, Imperialism
>>> McNamara: Eddington, Smarty Jones, Lion Heart
>>> More picks from various racing writers from around the country
>>> Bredar: Smarty Jones, Lion Heart, Borrego
>>> Davidowitz: I will use Smarty Jones as a win key in a handful of trifecta spreads
>>> Haskin: Derby tri looks strong, but big payoffs still possible
>>> DRF staff selections

News:

>>> Transcript of internet chat about Preakness with DRF's Brad Free
>>> Transcript of DRF internet chat about Preakness with Steve Davidowitz
>>> Transcript DRF internet chat about Preakness with Steven Crist

>>> Smarty tries to make it 8-for-8... If colt can add Preakness to triumph in Derby, stage set for prime-time drama
>>> Smarty team riding out furor over jock's past
>>> Smarty has all the right ingredients
>>> Smarty Jones primed for 'toughest race'
>>> Watch out, Smarty Jones: Rock Hard Ten looms
>>> Baffert: "I read where John (Servis, Smarty Jones' trainer) said this would be the horse's hardest race, but I told him this would be his easiest."
>>> Baffert: "They won't beat him."
>>> Stewart Elliott's 5/15 Preakness diary, "What do I think of all the media attention and controversy since the Derby? 'Time-consuming' is the best way to describe it."
>>> Rees: Elliott says alcohol abuse caused problems but is in the past
>>> Finley: Could Imperialism have won the Derby?
>>> Smarty shoots to stay undefeated in Saturday's G1 $1 mil Preakness
>>> Keyser: Racing's center stage was foreign territory to trainer John Servis and jockey Stewart Elliott until Smarty Jones came along
>>> Smarty Jones better watch out for Preakness spoilers

2004 Preakness picks and plays

>>> NY Post's 'Bettors guide to the Preakness'... With staff selections
>>> Finley: Imperialism, Smarty Jones, Lion Heart
>>> O'Donnell: Smarty Jones, Borrego, Imperialism
>>> NY Daily News staff selections
>>> NY Daily News 'Battle' writers' Preakness plays
>>> Top pick of various racing writers
>>> Beyer: Imperialism is capable of beating the Derby winner... I'll bet him
>>> USA Today: Watch and cheer for Smarty Jones, worry just a little about Lion Heart holding on
>>> Cherner: Imperialism, Smarty Jones, Lion Heart
>>> Kerri