Belmont Stakes (Smarty Jones) -- LIVE THREAD

Belmont Stakes ^

[Types_with_Fist]

I only looked at my FReep mail this morning and replied to your note. Sorry about that. Thanks for keeping the tagline...:-)

[Catspaw]

Light rain right now. What it's going to be by post time is anyone's guess--but Smarty Jones is a mudder.

http://www.weatherunderground.com/cgi-bin/findweather/getForecast?query=elmont+

[alisasny]

I am about 20 miles east of Belmont.

Right now sun is peaking through the clouds and there was some drizzle about an hour ago. I will post if it starts pouring or gets really bad out but hey maybe it will clear up a bit.

[NoExcusesAnymore]

Nothing like being nine hours early for the job. ;)

[texasflower]

Thank you both for the info!

[ecurbh]

Ping the saddle club?

GO SMARTY!!

[HairOfTheDog]

~sending good good luck to Smarty Jones~

Ping!

[Types_with_Fist]

Yeah, guess I'm a fanatic...:-)

[budwiesest]

Thanks for the info, that's 3:38 on the West Coast, eh?

Will have to tape it, darn.

[ShakeNJake]

Go Smarty!!!

[soozla]

SMARTY JONES - great-great-great grandson of SECRETARIAT*******HE CAN'T LOSE!!!!!!!!!!!!

HERE'S GRANDPA

[Types_with_Fist]

Trainer John Servis conducted a press conference with approximately 60 members of the media in the barn area...

[JamesWilson]

Here's my two cent handicapping of the race:

Horse, Recent Beyer Speed Number Avg. (-ish), 1st or 2nd Place/Total Races, Avg. Winnings per Race

9. Smarty Jones, 110, 8/8, $300,000
5. Rock Hard Ten, 102, 3/4, $87,000
2. Purge, 102, 4/5, $47,000
8. Eddington, 96, 4/7, $36,000
1. Master David, 91, 6/9, $32,000

Looking at the weather, Purge and Master David have each run one race on a muddy or sloppy track and hated it - the worst race for each. Rock Hard Ten and Eddington have always run on fast or good tracks. Can't tell how they'll take to mud in their faces and under their feet. Smarty Jones has run once on a muddy and once on a sloppy track winning both races (Ark. and Kent. Derbys) with 107 Beyer speed numbers. Those numbers are better than the speed numbers for every other race of every other horse in the Belmont Stakes except Purge's 108 number on May 22 at Belmont in the 1 1/8 mile Peter Pan Grade II Stakes.

Given the track conditions, my trifecta is: Smarty Jones, Rock Hard Ten and Eddington. I might add Purge for a superfecta.

[I still care]

I didn't know he had Secretariat in his bloodline.

[MissTargets]

For nearly a week, Servis, the low-key, level-headed trainer of Smarty Jones, hinted that he expected other horses in the race to come gunning for Smarty Jones from the start in an attempt to rattle him or put him off his game.

This is what I fear. Nick Zito has two entries (Birdstone and Royal Assault) in the race. Stewart Elliot will really have to be on the ball in this race.

Good Luck to Smarty and company!

[NoExcusesAnymore]

I have no problems with it. Go Smarty!

Muddy track conditions, longer race, cinderella horse... what could be better.

A&E is running a Biography show on the horse. It's an amazing story.

[kalama]

Glory! Smarty was ahead by 20 lenghts in the Preakness when they stopped him from running at 1 3/8 of a mile (unofficially, of course)

[Eldorado431]

Thanks for the thread.
I see the Belmont as a two horse race,with Purge taking the early lead and Smarty stalking the pace with Birdstone close up. At the half Smarty will make his move for the lead while Purge stays on strong for second in the stretch run. I am betting an 80 dollar exacta with Smarty on top and Purge for second. 20 dollar triple with Smarty first Purge second and Eddington for third. Triple Crown Winner this year for sure.

[Types_with_Fist]

A&E is running a Biography show on the horse. It's an amazing story.

I saw that the other night. Really something, huh?

[Types_with_Fist]

Smarty was ahead by 20 lenghts in the Preakness when they stopped him from running at 1 3/8 of a mile

I know. I had him picked for the Derby and had my doubts about the Belmont... until I saw the Preakness.