Preakness 2004

[gmppti]

He should be 2nd fastest horse

[lengua92]

"He is going to win by a colosal margin! Here is Smarty Jones! He wins the Preakness by a dozen lengths, he remains undefeated!..."

It doesn't get better tan this.

[an08p]

unfortunately he failed in the belmont and he his foals are not outstanding..

[tallstech0711]

@an08p oh some are. look up Backtalk, Concealed Identity, and Be Smart. he has a daughter racing in Japan, mostly against the colts, and she's a millionaire.

[cowpiepk]

@an08p Might be a good broodmare sire man. Kind of like secretariat.

[john2k53]

Me and my father drove from upstate new york to this race. We thought you could stand on the rail like the belmont without buying a ticket in advance. So we get there and find out you need a ticket and the only way you can get in is watch the race from the infield. I was 17 at at the time and I will never ever forget that crazy day in the infield!!

[crazyspeed10]

Smarty's win at the Preakness and Barbaro's win at the Kentucky Derby were the two most impressive wins of that decade

[gunloc26]

@crazyspeed10 LOL! 

[dolcevitausa]

This race always bring a big smile to my face...way to go Smarty!

[jetfan7]

I wish this horse won the Belmont. He will always be my favorite. I was at this Preakness.

[FireGirlG]

Afleet Alex probably could have won by a margin like this had he not been tripped at the top of the stretch.

Love Smarty Jones, it kills me everytime I think of the Belmont and how close he came.

[PennsylvaniaCharli]

I love that horse. Hats off to Smarty Jones !

[dinfay]

Did you guys know that there hasn't been a grey-colored horse to win ANY race for years? I don't know why. Maybe grey horses are slower?

[cambria17]

@dinfay Nah, color has no effect on speed. Grey horses are just much less common than bays and chestnuts. That's why you don't see them in as many races. But there are plenty of grey horses that have won Triple Crown races and Breeders Cup races. I can think of Spectacular Bid, Monarchos, Giacamo, Holy Bull, Native Dancer, Silver Charm, and Winning Colors just off the top of my head. Grey horses win plenty of races, but there are just less grey horses so there are less chances to win.

[Geronimo2123]

Ghostzapper would have NEVER wired the BC Classic field later that same year, nor won the race, had SJ run in the BC Classic.

SJ as a mature 3 year old would have won the BC Classic by 6. Period.

[BrianShaw23]

Lmao, Smarty Jones would not have finished within 6 lengths of Ghostzapper that year in the Classic. You're delusional.

[BrianShaw23]

You're an idiot.

[daeuri]

I liked both Smarty Jones and Ghostzapper. A debate over a hypothetical race seems to me to be a waste of time. What I do know is that Ghostzapper's time in the BC Classic is still the fastest to this day and he is entitled to respect based on that alone.

[spam1237]

@huke yeah typical thing for you to say.

[KingofCzars1]

Wow.....chills watching this.

[ericadelahunty]

rock hard ten looks twice as big as the other horses...

he was a 17hh monster.

such a beauty to watch run.

thought he was going to take this one.

[hukeeaboo]

the rest of the field here was garbage horses next to smarty.... what was up with mike smith trying to go wide, the only difference he was gonna make was how much smarty was gonna win by....10 or 15.... good hand rife by stewy

[oxhandsomerobxo]

I had $300 on Rock Hard Ten in this fight. I thought he was going to take it around the last corner.

[sujaggirl]

I agree, I had no interest in horse racing until Smarty was so hyped. Now I love it!!! Wish Smarty could have won the triple crown, that would've been magical!!!

[SSduckclub]

Smarty Jones best horse ever. Put Horse racing on the map.

[ashesofamericanflags]

I was here for this. My first horse race, I went with my dad. I think that was the best moment of my life thus far.

[countrygirl36910]

smarty is always amazing no matter how many times i watch him. he is impecable

[ZZZZZYYYYYXXXXXWWWWW]

goosebumps----put that whip away stew,,no need

for it brother

[BE109]

I fully agree with jhordanian on all his points. His competition illustrated how good he was. Not to mention that insane beyer figure of 118! After he was retired look at what those horses he beat with ease did. I mean he had jocks like Mike Smith and Gary Stevens muttering to themselves.

[jhordanian]

I was at Pimlico this day and when Smarty crossed the wire the place went wild.I was sold on Smarty,although I knew the Belmont was not a forgone conclusion.I think the 04' 3year olds were the best crop since 1997,and was up there w/ the 94', 89' and 87'(the best) crops.This was a good Preakness field, even though Smarty blem them away.Smarty Jones, Rock Hard Ten, Lion Heart, Eddington,The Cliff's Edge and Borrego all retired as grade 1 winners while Sir Shackleton and Imperialism won gr.2 races

[jhordanian]

Smarty won this race by a Preakness record 11.5 lengths and earned a Beyer speed figure of 118, which is very good for a three year old in the spring. Unfortunately, when Smarty came up a little off after the Belmont, Roy Chapman was afraid of risking the breeding revenue, and retired him before Smarty could truly prove himself as a great horse. However,if looking at the careers of horses up to the Belmont, Smarty was up there w/ the best since the 70s.

[kieranshane]

Does he say Snarty Jones at 1:38-1:39?

[HorseLover4life1]

I met smarty jones in 2006 in Kentucky. he was very small for a racehorse and had one attitude!lol

[barbaro453]

He's an absolutely amazing horse. =)

[barbaro453]

That's amazing. Still the same excitement every time I watch. =)

[BE109]

After Elliot hit him with the stick,he looked back and no one was there. He folded up on Smarty and let him come in on his own,he crossed the line with his ears pricked,he did it easy. Can't say BB is better than SJ,I prefer to lump them together, both breathtaking racehorses.

[BE109]

First time in my life that I heard 2 top class jocks tell NBC that their horses were born in the wrong year. That is the ultimate compliment by true professionals

[BE109]

People are blown away by the fact Kent kept looking around and then just let BB loose and he exploded. If you look close Elliot did a very similar thing. He got Smarty to go with Lion Heart around the turn,he gave him a breather. Most importantly,he looked back at least 2 times and when he hit the stretch he threw the reins and Smarty switched leads like a machine,and he was gone. He probably didn't need to hit him that 1 time,but when he did Smarty doubled his lead in a blink of an eye. WOW!

[davisondad]

"Probably didn't need to hit him that 1 time"?, He won by 12 and was up by 6 and lengthing when he hit him! Do you think he would have liked to have that little bit of speed left in the Belmont!hmmmmmmm! Does one hit with the stick cost him one length in the Belmont? hmmmmmmmmmm! Kent didn't hit BB in the Preakness...hmmmmmmmmm!

[BE109]

Your making a huge assumption. In the Belmont even with those fast fractions (producing a mile in 1:35 2/5) he ran a credible 2nd in 2:27 2/5. That 2nd 1/2 mile in 46 4/5 softened him up enough for Birdstone to get up. Given that Smarty was so rank in the Belmont maybe he should have hit him twice in the Preakness,it might have taken enough edge off to relax him. That is just as big an assumption as yours.

[LinebackerU3140]

Is Smarty Jones still alive. Anyway notice that Smarty Jones and Big Brown were both number 7. I watched the preakness yesterday and I can tell you that Big Brown is a freak of nature.

[BE109]

Mr. Jones resides at Three Chimneys farm in Kentucky. He is a huge attraction ,people come from all over the world to see this incredible horse. Mr. Big Brown will also reside at Three Chimneys how appropiate.

[rangerdgd1]

Great race..Great horse

[pitdawgg]

smarty jones was done wrong in belmont,....He could have won that race and should have.

[oldrazor]

Shoulda woulda coulda. Winners don't require excuses. Watch Secretariat in the '73 Belmont and you'll see a real horse.

[pitdawgg]

Lol,I never meant to compare him to arguably the greatest race horse to grace the field.I just stated smarty was done wrong.From my understanding other jockeys boxed him in to spoil his triple crown attempt,a technique frowned upon in the racing community and had lots of people outraged.I don't remember the names of the jockeys but,Its a pretty easy Google search.Could secretariat of broke out and won...I Believe so

[misswildcat19672]

smart jones ran a great race sure he finished 2nd but he gave no excuses unlike Big Browns connections when he finished last. no smarty was much the best horse this day even though he was 2nd.The best horse dont always win the race.

[tatomka]

This is such a crap statement oldrazor. So to be considered a "real horse" you have to be compared favorably to Secretariat, one of the top 2 thoroughbreds that ever ran? Ridiculous. I guess Ghostzapper isn't a "real horse" either becuase he didnt run in any of the classic races.

[bryanr1]

tom duerkin is a goddamn beast. just amazing announcing here.

[alexwilsonNC]

They ran Smarty too hard at the Preakness, Big Brown coasted to his victory.

[eaglesluva328]

"He wins the preakness by 12 lengths, He remains undefeated, and its on to Belmont" What a quote

[wrberg]

smarty is a badass

[doonman324]

Definition of horse racing PWNAGE.

[JinxyWillow]

One of the greatest racers of the century!

[sugarpuppy137]

Smarty Jones is amazing, one of the greatest of all time without a doubt.

[derbydreamer103]

Thank you !! Smarty's up there with the legends :)

[krisstruss]

I think he would have beaten Barbaro.

[pellebravesskylar]

I think that if Birdstone had run in the Preakness instead of skipping it, Smarty would have won the Triple Crown. In several of the last Triple Crowns, the horse than won 2 of the legs of the TC ended up losing one of the races (usually the Belmont) because not all of the TC winners ran in all three races. I believe Funny Cide also was beaten in the Belmont by a horse that skipped one of the earlier races.

[maestro831]

Holy shit that horse is fucking amazing!

[SmartyJones26]

damn smarty jones was awesome, he won this race by a colossal margin in my opinion

[oxhandsomerobxo]

Lol, thanks for repeating exactly what the announcers said.

[inca41182]

Effortless win. If only he could have won the Triple Crown he'd be in the same class as Secretariat. Who knows, he might actually sire the next Triple Crown champ :)

[blackmourning11]

Secretariat?

[ROHrulez12]

The greatest race horse of all time.

[BE109]

I really hope Smarty Jones lights it up as a sire. I think he was a complete freak.

[gretchenpc]

"And as they hit the top of the stretch...SMARTY JONES has taken the lead!!!"

That's some exciting stuff! Love Smarty!

[MRTTL1]

I will never get tired of hearing that stretch run call.

[Nickslam]

I am from philly, and i remember when the whole infatuation with smarty jones was going on, and it was freakin amazing. Definitely the horse that got me into horse racing, and this is the best call in any horse race i have ever heard, "he wins the preakness by a dozen lengths!" The call gives me chills ever time. A little part of my heart and soul will always remain with smarty jones and his magical run back in 2004.

[BarbaroRuffian]

And it's all Barbaro in a sublime preformace! He runs away from them all!

[JimSpoor]

It still gives me chills when I see hear "he is moving like a tremendous machine".....Secretariat '73 Belmont

[1907Quarter]

Smarty Jones has TAKEN the LEAD!! Just loe Tom's call. His excitement is infectious!

[jhendrix516]

In the Belmont if Elliot held him back til the home stretch like this race he had it. And if Jerry Bailey didnt play cheap skate and push the early pace just so Smarty would tire.

[RioDecoy]

That's impressive!! That horse unwound his stride and was gone. In the Belmont if Elliot had just given him rein sooner. But, that's one of them what if's?

[peterjvand]

Great run, he won, and by 11 1/2 lengths so what's was there to criticize?

[bon1042]

Nice, why oh why couldn't Elliot have more control, said Smarty wouldn't relax, if he'd tightened up more would have bent him in half. Servis said he was rank, ESPN disagreed. After race Servis said "WHERE'S Stuey." like he was mad. They'd discussed strategy of other jocks to tire him.

[BE109]

What race were you looking at??? He didn't really ask him for much until he was at the top of the straight! Heck Elliot looked over his shoulder at least 2 times before he shook up the reins. I believe that performance caused Rock Hard Ten and Eddington's connections to sacrifice themselves to prevent Smarty from winning in the Belmont. You just don't start pushing your horse going into the 1st turn, and expect to have any horse in the stretch in the 1 1/2 mile Belmont S.!!!!!!

[bon1042]

I think you're misreading what I said. Also I was quoting Elliot. He said Smarty wldn't relax, Servis even said he was rank, ESPN analyst disagreed. Elliot fell into trap that RHT and EDD set, they knew whata other jockeys were going to do, you're right. Yet he panicked and tried to keep up. He said if he had tried any harder to hold him back he wld have bent him in two. Just quoting. Have articles fm Newsday etc. wld need to go back and read.

[JimSpoor]

You just don't start pushing your horse going into the 1st turn, and expect to have any horse in the stretch in the 1 1/2 mile Belmont S.!!!!!!..........Unless your name is Secretariat

[BE109]

Simply put there was only one Secretariat. He had a heart that was estimated to be 2 to 3 times larger than the average horses heart. That was the key ingredient.

[aftersh0ck]

and Seattle Slew.