In 2004 , the nation flocked to Belmont Park to witness a colt attempt to win the 3rd and final lef of the Triple Crown- his name was Smarty Jones. Smarty Jones was foaled on February 28 2001 in Fairthorne Farm, located in Chester City Pennsylvania. In 2003 he was shipped to trainer John Servis for training, and that is when is winning career began. A near tragedy occured on July 27, 2003 when Smarty Jones spooked in the starting gate while schooling, hit his head and went unconscious with blood spilling out of his nostrils. Luckily the colt regained consciousness and was treated for the bleeding and injuries. On July 28, 2003 Smarty Jones recieved xrays for his injuries and it was found he had a fractured skull. Vets were so concerned with the broken bones around one of his eyes, they believed they would have to remove the eye. On may 1, 2004, Smarty Jones became the first horse to win the Kentucky derby since Seattle Slew in 1977 and remain unbeaten, and he continued this streak until placing 2nd in the Belmont Stakes. He was retired on August 2, 2004 because of bruising on his ankle bones and finished his career with 8 wins and 1 place.
Pedigree
His sire was Elusive Quality ( out of Gone West) : Elusive Quality was known as a good miler horse, who set two records : One at 7 furlong distance at Gulfstream and a world record for a mile turf race at Belmont Park. Grandsire was Gone West: Gone West's dam was Seccretame ( Secretariat, Mr Prospector). Greatgreat grandsire was Raise a Native ( Native Dancer) Whos grandsire was Polynesian.
Now if you remeber my previous blog post, you will see why I bolded certain names. Most of the bolded sires, grandsires were sires /gransires of former Triple Crown winners. So you can say Smarty Jones was bred to run in the Triple Crown.
What made him special?
He was not only undefeated, but he was a gorgeous , big colt to look at. I got to meet him when I went to his former home ( Three Chimmneys) and I was amazed by his beauty and grace. He was sleepy the day I met him but he had the eye of a champion. The public also fell in love with his story and he became a huge hit in Pennsylvania and became the nation's horse. He looked like he could win the crown, and it was heartbreaking to see him fall 2nd to Birdstone in the 2004 Belmont Stakes.
Sad to say his connections didn't do well. They essentially lost the more than 8 million dollars Smarty earned for them due to bad luck or whathaveyou.. after they brought him back to PA. Thankfully he will now stand stud in Guatemala in one of the country's premier equine facilities Haras Cuatro Piedras. And I have received assurance that after a quarantine in Florida, his arrival, with two other PA horses, is very much anticipated with great excitement. Thank God! the information is out there if you look. But the story on Smarty is much more convoluted after his racing days than you could imagine.
ReplyDeleteWe must all be aware of the ultimate fate of these great equine athletes!