For Smarty Jones, It’s All Systems Go After Workout

A year ago, three days before the Belmont Stakes, Funny Cide worked five furlongs in a blazing 57 4/5 seconds. The New York-bred gelding’s chances of winning the Belmont, and collecting a $5-million bonus for a Triple Crown sweep, might have gone bye-bye right there.

“There are a lot of ways to lose a horse race,” trainer John Servis said Friday at Philadelphia Park. “War Emblem stumbled leaving the gate [in the 2002 Belmont], and Funny Cide had that real fast workout. Over the years, I can’t tell you how many races I’ve lost that I’ve been favored to win.”

Servis did not mean to sound as if he was setting himself up for a loss in the Belmont next Saturday. His Smarty Jones is not just another racehorse, and the Belmont is not just another race. With the Kentucky Derby and the Preakness already won, Smarty Jones can become the first Triple Crown titlist since Affirmed in 1978 if he adds the Belmont.

Servis seems more confident now than he was entering the Preakness. He and Smarty Jones’ jockey, Stewart Elliott, were determined Friday not to let their Pennsylvania-bred chestnut run off like Funny Cide did, and Smarty Jones cooperated.

At 5:50 a.m., shortly after daylight came on a hazy morning near Philadelphia, Smarty Jones finished his last piece of serious training for the Belmont by covering seven furlongs in a slow 1:29 1/5, although some clockers caught him in 1:28 2/5. Either way, Servis was satisfied.

“I was very happy with the work,” the trainer said. “He settled nice and galloped out nice. I think he’s right on schedule. I don’t see any signs of him starting to tail off.”

Smarty Jones galloped out a mile in 1:44 2/5. His fractions for the workout were :26 3/5, :39 1/5, :51 1/5, 1:03 1/5 and 1:16 1/5. On the front side, about 50 media types watched the workout, and another 50 horsemen watched from the backstretch, where occasional flashes from cameras briefly illuminated the overcast atmosphere.

Smarty Jones’ work was completed to the backdrop of a flea market and the Pennsylvania State Fair, events at Philadelphia Park that were not under way because of the early hour.

As is their custom, Philadelphia Park officials cleared the track of other horses while Smarty Jones went through his exercise. It was his first workout since he worked five furlongs in 58 seconds on April 24 at Churchill Downs, a week before he won the Derby, and the first workout here, at his home track, since Dec. 21.

The colt has been on the road this year, winning three races in Arkansas before blasting the opposition in the first two Triple Crown races.

Servis is not sure whether he’ll ship Smarty Jones to Belmont Park late Tuesday or mid-day Wednesday, when post positions will be drawn.

“It was just what we were looking for,” said Elliott, repeating what horsemen frequently say after a workout. “He was comfortable the whole way. It was a longer work because he’s going into a longer race” -- at 1 1/2 miles, the Belmont is the longest of the Triple Crown races. “This horse has learned to relax. He controls his natural speed now. This is the same old Smarty Jones that I rode in the Preakness.”

A field of seven seems assured for the Belmont, with the list possibly growing by one if trainer Nick Zito can get a workout into The Cliff’s Edge today.

The Cliff’s Edge blew both front shoes while running fifth in the Derby, then was scratched from the Preakness because of a bruised foot. Zito’s confirmed starters are Birdstone and Royal Assault. Other probables are Rock Hard Ten, Eddington, Tapit and Tap Dancer.

Smarty Jones was playful at the barn after his workout, squealing a few times as he cooled down.

“He’s absolutely perfect,” Servis said. “He’s telling me that I can do a little bit more with him next week.”

Servis does not plan another timed workout before the Belmont. The billboard on the Pennsylvania Turnpike, not far from Philadelphia Park, sends out the message: “Look Out, New York. Smarty’s Coming!”

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Pat Valenzuela, who hopes to ride Rock Hard Ten in the Belmont, will seek an injunction from Los Angeles Superior Court on Tuesday to free him from a 30-day California suspension that’s scheduled to start on Wednesday.... Elliott, who is leaving Philadelphia Park, where he has been a leading rider for the last four years, will ride in 11 of 12 races today as Monmouth Park opens an 87-day season in Oceanport, N.J. Elliott, who was the second leading rider at Monmouth in 1999, the year before he moved to Philadelphia, will ride first call for Mike Gill, the owner who established a Monmouth record last year with 62 victories.