Two out of three ain't bad? Try telling that to Smarty Jones and his legion of disheartened fans.
The Pennsylvania-bred Smarty came up just short Saturday at the 136th Belmont Stakes, losing to a 36-1 longshot and missing out on his chance at winning the Triple Crown. The three-year-old, an overwhelming favorite coming into the race, wound up second by a length to Belmont champion Birdstone.
PHOTO: REUTERS
It marked the first loss of Smarty's career after eight straight victories. Birdstone collected US$1 million for the win, and denied Smarty a US$5 million Triple Crown bonus.
PHOTO: AFP
The race also marked the third consecutive year that a Triple Crown hopeful lost at the Belmont after sweeping the Kentucky Derby and the Preakness. Only 11 horses have ever won the three races to achieve equine immortality.
Even the jockey of the winning horse seemed disappointed that Smarty's bid fell short on the 1-mile oval.
"This is part of the business," said Edgar Prado. "And I'm very sorry it had to be me."
Birdstone's owners offered an apology, too, and trainer Nick Zito shared their feelings: "It was one emotional thing. It's sad because Smarty is great for racing." But Smarty's disappointment was matched by Zito's elation; it was the first Belmont victory for the New York trainer after five second-place finishes
Third place went to Royal Assault, while Smarty's two biggest competitors -- Rock Hard Ten and Eddington -- finished out of the money in the nine-horse field.
The last Triple Crown winner was Affirmed in 1978. Smarty's loss extended the longest drought between Triple Crown champions.
Smarty grabbed the lead around the track's second turn, with the record crowd of 120,139 wildly cheering his move. But he was unable to hold off a late charge by Birdstone, who left Smarty's boosters stunned and disappointed when he crossed the finish line first.
"I saw him coming," said Smarty's jockey, Stewart Elliott. "My horse saw him. We just couldn't hold him off."
Smarty's trainer, John Servis, offered congratulations to Zito but said he was proud of his horse's effort.
"It hurts," Servis said. "We won't put our heads down."
The crowd turned out despite intermittent showers for the third and final jewel in racing's Triple Crown. More than eight hours before the race started, the parking lot was already filled with fans waiting beneath a gray, cloudy sky, hoping for a look at history.
Smarty Jones had done well on wet tracks, winning the Arkansas Derby in the mud and doing the same on a sloppy track in the Kentucky Derby. He went off as a prohibitive 1-5 favorite, meaning his backers had to bet US$5 to win US$1.
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