Smarty Jones got me started in watching this sport every year. I couldn't believe the outcome, God know when we will see a triple crown winner. Smarty had the best chance of all after that year.
This remains one of the most heartbreaking races I've ever seen. It seems to me that Smarty was allowed to take the lead far too early and the cheap speed horses pressed him relentlessly, softening him up for Birdstone who had the superior Jerry Bailey on board who rode with patient determination, letting Smarty think he was going to coast home then pounced at the very last moment.
no matter how many times jocks, trainers, and fans a like are reminded - the stats prove - unless your a freak like man or sec or gzapper u've got to lay off your horse until coming out of the last turn, it's so much farther than you think even 10 + frlng horses sucumb to fatigue if they've run moderately fast splits. had smarty layed low in third may have nosed out brdstone in the end
no matter how many times jocks, trainers, and fans a like are reminded - the stats prove - unless your a freak like man or sec or gzapper u've got to lay off your horse until coming out of the last turn, it's so much farther than you think even 10 + frlng horses sucumb to fatigue if they've run moderately fast splits
After all these years Smarty Jones is still getting post after post saying how their reaction was at the time and how they feel now, I think that says a lot. I think his loss ranks near the top of all time in horse racing, maybe one of his kids will win one for him
I remember watching this race in NYC. It was around the same day that President Reagan died and after watching that race, I thought that maybe President Reagan's death had an impact on this race. But now looking back on it, it was either Smarty Jones was getting tired or the jockey might've thought that he had won and realized too late that Birdstone was coming
I saw this race live on TV and even videotaped it thinking we'd have a Triple Crown winner (the only race I've EVER videotaped). As I'm watching it now it still seems like they're running in slow motion to me. Strange. This was such an exciting race!!
I got so dang mad at this horse. He COULD HAVE WON had he not been a butthead and gone for the lead. You can see that the jockey was TRYING to hold him back, but he wouldn't have any part of it. And now, here we are, in 2011, just months away from 2012. WHEN will we get another Triple Crown winner?!
After the race, every fool came out of the woodwork to blame it on the rider. They even foolishly claimed that Jerry Bailey never should have challenged Smarty Jones on his crappy horse. Deal with it-Smarty Jones simply was NOT good enough to be a Triple Crown winner. Birdstone was like 30-1 that day. Nobody thought he could win. But he ran down Smarty Jones. End of story. Welcome to the world of horse racing.
@77rawpower Smarty Jones's hoof tendons were shot, literally. That's why he never ran again after this race. He was used up chasing the Triple Crown. His bloodline lasts longer on grass; their hooves have difficulty on the dirt. His sire is Elusive Quality, son of Gone West, from the Mr. Prospector line, notorious for that.
enough about Stew Elliotts ride...there was nothing wrong..its not like he went 45 to the half or something...the horse was on the bit, they went a half in almost 49....he let the horse run after the half to get away from the closers and his horse just couldn't get the distance....how about the brutal ride by Jerry Bailey in this race 4 wide pressing with a weaker animal...hes a hall of famer...as for Pat Day saying anything watch search "breeders cup classic easy goer" and watch this idiot
ev1 was waiting to knock this rider, he did everything right. You dont change tactics when your undefeated going one way - he was 1/5 and had a 4 lth lead in the streatch, just couldnt close it, thats raceing
"Smarty Jones has a four length lead. The whip is out on Smarty Jones. Birdstone is going to make him EARN IT today. Smarty Jones! Birdstone surges! Smarty Jones! And BIRDSTONE WINS The BELMONT STAKES!" -Said in utter exasperation by Durkin...one of his finest calls...it seemed too good to be true when Smarty Jones entered the stretch with a four length lead and sure enough that last little bit of stretch was his undoing. One of the great heartbreaks in racing right there!
This was a choke job by Stewart Elliott. He move way too soon after a slow beginning. All he had to do was to let those pressing the pace to go on and then move on him at the top of the stretch.
Stop blaming Stewart Elliott. He had a good hold on Smarty Jones until the top of the stretch, and set reasonable fractions on a very fast racetrack.
Birdstone was a really good horse and was just rounding into form. Better horse won that day. He would validate his win with another great performance in the Travers, and has since sired Mine that Bird and Summer Bird.
I remember everyone trying to make edgar Prado feel bad for guiding Birdstone to this victory. Tom Durkin and Donna Brothers can go screw themselves. Great ride and win for Nick Zito and Birdstone.
Being born in 1984, this, unfortunately, is probably the closest I'll ever see to a Triple Crown...I just don't see it happening again...too much competition, too broad of a breeding pool=too much parity for a TC.
Awwww....I flew from Oregon to NY to watch this race! As they rounded for home, I thought I was gonna see a Triple Crown. Still breaks my heart to watch!!!!
Awwww....I flew from Oregon to NY to watch this race! As they rounded for home, I thought I was gonna see a Triple Crown. Still breaks my heart to watch!!!!
you can just tell they all went after him. it just happened to be Birdstone the one to beat him. too bad, I remember chearing Smarty like I hadn't cheered a racehorse before
Creo que el jinete la rego,se vio muy sobrado,dejo de bajar el fuete cuando todavia faltaba bastante camino por recorrer,hablan de que otros jinetes conspiraron para que no ganara la triple corona,pero si entra al strech con cuatro largos de ventaja cual es la trampa.
@TheElichefimovich ¡QUE CAGADA TE PUSIERON EN EL VIDEO DE JOSE JOSE! ¿NO QUE MUY CHINGON? JA JA JA TE TAPARON EL HOCICO Y CON MIERDA QUE TE TUVISTE QUE TRAGAR
I got this from wiki " . Although, in Smarty Jones' case, there was a conspiracy that two other jockeys competing in the Belmont in 2004 "rode not to win", but to deny Smarty Jones the triple crown title. In horse racing, this behavior is not illegal, but it is definitely frowned upon"!
I love this race call. You feel all the passion, drama, and frustration of seeing a great horse go down for various reasons...nobody wants to believe it, nobody can believe it but, it was too good to be true when Smarty Jones went to the lead so early and all it took was one horse to close on him. Destiny denied in the ultimate test...The Belmont stretch. This sport will check your sanity and crush your heart.
@FullmetalGirl94 Birdstone has proven the superior stallion as well as the superior raccer. He had broken his maiden with a 99 Beyer at Saratoga, by 15 lengths, at 4-1 odds. He has since gone on to sire Summer Bird and Mine That Bird.
@BettorOffSingle Oh, that's very true! I'd almost forgotten about all of that. It's only fair to say that Birdstone was just prooving himself superior, I suppose, but they both really are exellent horses. :3
@FullmetalGirl94 The 1982 Travers was like that. Runaway Groom "upset" Conquistador Cielo, who had been syndicqated for $36 million. Runaway Groom went on to sire Cherokee Run, among other champions, while Cielo only got Marquetry and no one else.
Still the most devastated I've EVER felt when watching a triple crown race. It's been years, but I've never gotten over Smarty's loss. He should of won this race. He almost won this race. I will forever love that horse.
when they enter the home-stretch , i thought smarty jones was very near to the finish line, but when the camera view changed, that's the time i realized 50 meters more and birdstone will overtake smarty jones... then i was sad...
I remember watching the stretch run very clearly. When SJ came into the turn, I was screaming at the top of my lungs, "Go Smarty, Birdstone's comin!!! Move!!! Haul ass!!" Then I saw Birdstone pass SJ for the win, and all I could say was, "NO! NO! NO! NO! NO!" It was the most exciting BS I've seen, and the most heartbreaking at the same time.
I think his jock moved too early as well. It's too bad that Lionheart wasn't in this one because I think he paced off of him quite well in the first two races. Real Quiet's loss was even more disappointing. Both of them should have won the Crown.
Incredible race by Smarty Jones, just didn't have it in the last 1/8. Great race by Birdstone. Most exciting race since '89.
Speaking of which, Sunday Silence was the best horse since Affirmed. Beat another Hall of Fame horse in 3 of 4 races: Derby, Preakness, Classic in the same year.
Incredible effort by Smarty Jones. Took a Herculean effort by Birdstone to beat him. Jockeys always think they have the best horse and therefore say they cost the race when they don't win, especially Day (see Easy Goer). The ride looked spectacular to me, actually. Buried the field except for Birdstone. Just got beat by a horse running the race of its career on that day. Oh, and Sunday Silence is the best horse with a shot at the Triple Crown since '89.
SJ would have won. Jock started him way too soon. He got pushed?? Haha. 48:3 half? Lmao. Jock error...plain and simple. He should have sat on him around the turn and waited another 1-2f before riding him.
@robthehawk robthehawk,the 1/4 mile split right after that Haha 48 & change first 1/2 mile was a torrid 23 flat 1/4 mile,and the next 1/4 was 23 2/5! Sir we are talking about a 23 second 1/4 ending at the exact halfway point of a 12 F race. The mile went in a stiff 1:35 2/5,one of the fastest ever,and SJ hit the 10 F in 2:00 1/5 or so! Rob that was a pace very FEW horses could have withstood,and remember thats in the context of a 12 Furlong race no less.
Pretty amazing you put him just behind Bid for horses with a chance to win the triple crown, and ahead of SS, Alysheba? You may be right about that. He was that talented
Well most jocks like Day would not say it was absoluetly my(Days) errors that beat the horse. A jock may state that wasnt my best ride, or I didnt ride that race too good. How many jocks(w/great horses) would state it was absolute jockey error, Im sure a few, but not many.
Oh I agree that Smarty was by far the greatest horse who ever came into the Belmont with a chance for the triple crown I have ever seen. With the exception of Spectacular Bid,The Bid was greater because he ran at 2 3 and 4! Who knows if Smarty had been able to that. I know he could have come back at 4,his injuries were not career ending ,but the pressure of owning a horse like him,his popularity,and of course the HUGE money involved in his stud career played a BIG part in his early retirement!
No Champ I do not agree with Day,I'm not saying I'm smarter than him though. I have rode running horses most of my life(though never as a pro,I have raced horses back when I was lighter,match races and such,Day started in a very similiar way,though he is a HOF and I'm no where near that)I understand how to ride a racehorse,and what I saw in the Preakness and the Classic,I honestly think Day is being way too hard on himself. But of course we will never agree,no need in hashing that out here.
At any rate, I was right there on the Belmont apron just past the finish line for this race, and 120,000 people at Belmont. SJ didn't win, but I knew he was great and ran great nonetheless,and I didn't like at all what Solis &Bailey did...Out of all the recent TCrown possibilities, SJ was by far the best of them: Silver Charm,Real Quiet, Charismatic,War Emblem,etc. and I was there for all of them. All the Belmont crowds were electric, bot none like 2004 and Smarty Jones
Wow is right, agreement from you and i, is something both of us could never even think of. And Im sure we will never agree on EG/SS stuff, but if YOU forget about what people on comment boards say about EG/SS, and just listen to what Pat Day states on his own ride as "absolute rider error", in essence you are NOT agreeing with what P. Day states on his own ride. You, in essence, do not agree that Day call his own ride absolute rider error, or Days analysis of his own ride? Anyway CONT
Cont-RHT sealed his fate by pushing himself so hard so early in the race. You see given how SJ wasn't as settled as he was in his previous races,it didn't take 2 rabbits,one would have sufficed! Thats why I honestly believe both of them knew full well what they were doing to their horses chances,and therefore they were intent on making sure SJ didn't win. Of course as you said it isn't illegal,but it is to me a bit bush league,especially since Bailey clearly wanted the mount of SJ! But oh well!
Cont-I will see what Prado on Birdstone saw. I will see a tired used up RHT,and now I know it is close to the time to go. I would give ED some slack in the reins and chirp to him,telling him to start to begin moving up,I won't ask him for everything until we hit the 1/4 pole! My problem now is can I catch SJ? maybe so maybe not,but at least I have a chance to. Also I have to hold off Birdstone,who knows if I can or not,but once again at least I have the oppurtunity. RHT is done and in fact,Cont-
Cont-Any intention to try to ride to win,I know as a top class rider,I cannot allow my horse to run such fast fractions at that point in the race! Therefore I would be all smiles when you kept hooking SJ,and I would get my horse off that torrid pace. I would of course not be guaranteed a victory by doing that,BUT I would be assuring myself the oppurtunity to win. Pushing RHT like you are will guarantee you will have ZERO chance to win,much less hit the board! When I hit the 3/8 pole,Cont-
Though we agree on what Solis and Bailey did,I do think one of them could have possibly saved HIS horse from getting fried. Look at it this way,lets just pretend your on RHT and I'm on ED. Lets just say you do exactly what Solis did,pushing RHT to run a 1/4 in 23 flat at the exact halfway point in the race,and you continue to push your horse to go a next 1/4 in 23 2/5! Well lets just say I see what your doing while blazing towards that 23 flat 1/4! Since I'm on the outside,and if I have,Cont-
Wow Champ me and you actually agree damn near 100% on something! LOL Champ! The sun must be about to burn out or something! Seriously though I cannot disagree with anything you said! I will always give credit where credit is due! EXCELLENT analysis of the race,and I truly mean that!
The more I watch this race, the more I see that SJ just didn't settle no way near as well as he did in his prior races, even before RHT and EDD came and put pressure. If SJ had settled like he did prior, and just let Purge and RHT go, and if EDD wanted to as well, and just settle. That was what both Servis and Elliot stated. If Elliot could have got him to settled like he did prior, SJ seemed to be too sharp,even before the RHT & EDD!
Well, you can blame it on Solis and Bailey if you want, they did give up their own horses chances to get SJ beat. I don't like it, but it was totally legal, and you can't expect them to just let SJ coast the entire trip. We'll never know how great SJ was or what he would have went on to in the future, as this was his last race. But, he proved he was great.
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Even though SJ didn't win Champ's fabled "A Test Of A Champion" in my book he showed just what a great champion he was even in defeat! It took BS crap to get him beat,and he STILL almost did it! He showed the heart of a bulldog in that stretch run,he had been running at a suicidal pace,and only his heart kept him from being swallowed up by the field! SJ deserves to be remembered as a great racehorse. I mean even in this race it is there ,as big as the great outdoors! I still feel pain over it!
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Remember RHT and ED finished way up the track even after pushing an already amped up SJ thru crazy fractions,and SJ still mowed them down,the 3rd place horse Royal Assault was 8 lengths behind SJ! Even with that said,SJ went 10F. in I believe was 2:00 1/5,what is amazing is the fact that he surrendered the lead to Birdstone in only the last 100 yds or so of the race! Final time was 2:27 & change,and that right there shows even with the torrid pace SJ would have won over 95% of all past Belmonts
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Cont-They even sniffed 5 furlongs from the wire! In fact Elliot didn't even ask SJ until about the 3/8 pole,and moved the reins on him entering the stretch. So if your gonna blame anyone for a bad ride,blame Solis and Bailey,not Elliot!
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Cont-That was proven by Mike Smith and Gary Stevens both saying on live TV after the Preakness that their horses were just born in the wrong year! Jocks are notorious for just using cliches,and Shane Sellers who was on the NBC telecast,was doing commentary on the replay and he caught himself just short of saying this horse is unbeatable! After that dominant performance,Solis and Bailey took 2 horses who many thought were the only ones who could upset SJ,and just used them up long before ,Cont-
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Cont- a rabbit,but here we see 2 horses acting as rabbits. When you push your horse thru a 23 sec. 1/4,and continue to push your horse thru a following 1/4 in 23 2/5, ending at the 8f mark 1:35 2/5, in a 12 F. race,there is NO WAY on earth those two were riding to win! That is suicide to do that! No offense to Birdstone,but thats why he won the Belmont! No doubt SJ was by far the best horse. After the Preakness that became painfully clear to the world,go ask Mike Smith and Gary Stevens! Cont-
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Cont - On Ed,in fact I do not know if you realize they ran a 23 flat quarter ending at the 6 furlong mark! Thats only halfway,and SJ put up a quarter in 23 2/5,ending up in a mile time of 1:35 2/5! What you saw was 2 riders sacrificing their horses with the sole aim to prevent SJ from winning. Now Sj didn't help matters by being rank,but it doesn't change the fact that 2 top riders went out with the purpose to make sure SJ didn't win the TC! Why? It would have only taken one to act as ,Cont-
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Cont-Rock Hard Ten and Eddington were to his inside and outside when they hit the backstretch. If you will notice Bailey was moving ED up on SJ in the clubhouse turn,now remember SJ was himself over eager,and it is claimed that one or both Solis and Bailey were yelling and hollerin around SJ! Now what do you think that would do an already amped up horse,and one who was so competitive? Also,Solis made 2 distinct runs at SJ on the backside! Bailey long before 4 furlongs out was pumping hard,Cont-
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Wow I am not surprised one bit that Champ thinks Elliot gave SJ a bad ride! It is something you probably say after any horse loses! I do not think Elliot gave a bad ride,and I will tell exactly why I think that! First off,it was quite clear SJ was a bit rank,look at Elliot's hands and look at the reins as they go into and out of the clubhouse turn. The reins are tight,and Elliot hands are still! He is trying to restrain SJ,he is not willingly allowing him to burst to the lead! In addition,Cont-
Stewart Elliot gave SJ a bad ride like Pat Day did, that is what happened. What Bailey and Solis did were totally legal. I don't like it, but Elliot rode him bad in this race.
Then accorinding to you Pat Day made the excuse that His Riding was Horrendous? Pat Day just says that his riding was Horrendous for an excuse?? Wrong, try again. Pat Day tells it like it is about his riding.
I just said, Im not talking about Day saying he was better. Im talking about Day calling his ride absolute rider error, and very bad ride, and it cost the horse the race. Can you read? LOL!
Once again I beg of you to leave your EG woulda shoulda coulda obsession alone for just a little while,and dispense your opinion on the 2004 Belmont! LOL!
No Champ I said many times that it is very understandable why Day has the opinion he does! He was EG's career long rider,therefore it is not a surprise he still thinks EG was better,kinda like a dad thinking his kids are perfect! I have said YOU and your "friends" are making every excuse in the book! Funny thing is I have WAY MORE in common with Day than you would ever know! I bet if you didn't know who he was, you would look down on him,LOL!!!! Get your facts straight,I know thats hard for you!
I agree with what Pat Day states. According to you, Pat Day made every excuse in the book, and called his riding like a Horrendous bugboy for no reason, and that is was abolsute rider error. Well I can see how Horrible his ride was to cost the horse the win, and he isn't the only one who states it.
All you have is those ridiculous 4 excuses PER RACE,that EG suffered when getting beat by SS!!!We all know that SS had absolutely nothing to do with your TB GOD getting beat! We know it was Day's magical change from a bonafide HOF rider into a FREAKED BUG BOY everytime EG lost to SS ! We all know it was the "peanut butter" track in the derby,the "horrible starts",that EG was used up before the stretch run in the Preakness,that his head being turned towards SS cost him,BLAH BLAH BLAH........LOL
Whats been PROVEN a million times is that YOU, BE109, is the Biggest FRAUD CLOWN on utube for 3 years now. Threatening to bash peoples teeth in, wanting to box people, calling videos your turf and then getting erased and blocked, calling people asshole, jackass, chickenshit,etc etc.. And the Biggest FRaud for 3 years on every video on utube everyday for 3 years! FRaud Clown DOC Livingston! Keep tieing your horses to your pick up and dragging them around DOC Livingston
LOL! YOU should listen to his Hall of Fame Jockey Pat Day talk about his OWN Horrendous ride, but no, whatever Pat Day states is wrong to you! Pat Day knows a heck of Alot more than you do, and what his Horrible mistakes were! Pat Day called his own ride Horrible and it Cost him the win no doubt about it.
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Look Champ,just because It is Day's opinion that EG was better than SS,doesn't make him right!Remember It is his opinion(not some edict from God himself,LOL!),as for my opinion, the facts of the matter indicate something totally different,but of course you have never understood the impact of SS winning 2/3 of the TC VS EG and winning the BC Classic once more VS EG,and in the process being named 1989 HOTY and Champion 3 YR old colt! My opinion is based off of those things,sorry Champ!
Another TC thwarted by a disastrous ride in the Belmont. Yeah, did you really think Smarty Jones was gonna hold on after running the 6 furlongs in 1:11.3? Damned amateur jockeys.
You know whats been PROVEN many many times. Is that YOU are the Biggest FRaud CLown so called trainer on utube for 3 years now! And that has been proven for 3 years. So keep threatening to bash peoples teeth in, wanting to box, calling videos your turf, calling people asshole,jackass,etc, and tieing your horses to your pick up and dragging them around Albuqurque like DOC Livingston taught you. Ooops, I forgot, YOU are DOC Livingston.
Well Champ at least I have known what blinkers are used for,for at least 30 years! I damn well know why horses need to switch leads in a race,or any other performance activity involving horses! And I for damn sure know exactly where the 3/8 pole is on a 1 mile track,otherwise I wouldn't be able to say oh that jock moved his horse too soon! Like you did about the 89 Preakness! You are in way over your head dealing with me! LOL and you know it,thats why we get the "Doc Livingston" BS,etc.! LOL
Ive been here for you everyday ,the FRAUD CLOWN, for 3 YEARS, and I will be here for YOU for the next 20 repeating the TRUTH for you, which you dont want to see, DOC. YOu definitely are DOC Livingston
Champ do you really believe anyone would believe that your competent when it comes to the subject of racing,when you had no idea what freaking blinkers were for? REALLY???? Like I said you couldn't even hold my jockstrap when it comes to racing knowledge,hell thats been proven many many times. Thats why we get this desperate "Doc Livingston" BS! LOL go back and learn something before you pop off you "racing vegetable!" LOL!
Well I see your in good spirits there clown,uh I mean ruffchamp! You know with you and your "friends" desperately trying to project YOUR faults upon me,and of course your most recent comments here,I can clearly see you clowns are getting flustered! You know Clown the truth is always much much more easier to remember than a lie,speaking of lies have you had any recent emails from Ray Paulick,telling you EG was gonna be part of the title of that TB Legends Book he wrote? LOL you are a "racing Veg"
Why don't u tell everyone why YOU BE109 threaten to bash peoples teeth in, want to box people on here, call videos YOUR TURF like a Sicko NUT who thinks he owns all the videos on here and then laughingly proceeds to get blocked and erased from those as well as many other videos.. Calls people asshole, jackass, chicken, etc, and has been the Biggest FRAUD Clown on utube everyday for 3 years.!!
Hey Billy BE109 DOC Livingston, YOU learned from the best, YOU learned from DOC Livingston. So keep Tieing your horses to you pick up truck and dragging them around Albuqurque Downs like YOU do, YOU Fraud Clown BE109!
Easy Goer was sent flying 3 furlongs into the Preakness in as premature move as you can get, and Pat Day, his own jockey stated it was the worst mistake of his career, and total pilot error. So, don't compare what Day did at all DOC Livingston!
Champ this fantasy you have of me being a fool such as Doc Livingston is actually very amusing to me! I got news for you when it comes to racing knowledge,practical and historical,general horse sense,etc. Clown you couldn't even hold my jockstrap! Hey have you figured out what blinkers are for? Or why horses need to switch leads? Or where the freaking 3/8 pole is on a 1 mile track? Now you might realize how stupid you sound when you pop off with that Doc Livingston BS! Your a "racing vegetable!"
Hey BE109, more commonly known as DOC Livingston! Why don't u let everyone know why YOU Threaten to Bash peoples teeth in, want to BOX People on here, call videos YOUR TURF like a Psycho and then hilariously proceeds to get blocked and erased from those as well as many other videos, call people asshole, jackass, chickenshit etc.. And has been the Biggest FRaud Clown on utube for 3 years now!!
Easy Goer was sent to fly 3F into the Preakness, with 6F to run, in the most premmature move that Pat Day possibly could have done. What are you talking about? That is NOT half way through the Preakness, get your facts straight! Quit comparing SJ to Easy Goer, there is no comparison from SJ to Easy Goer. EG was far superior. And Pat Day's ride was way way more Horrendous that S.Elliot's was. Day said it himself how horrible it was.
The halfway reference was more to do with the 12 furlongs,what I was trying to say is their is a big difference between a "premature" move in a 9 1/2 furlong race and a 12 furlong race. I wasn't comparing SJ to your "supernatural" racing god EG! I didn't articulate myself correctly so calm down clown! Oh and I see your back to your lieing ways with your "BE109 is a sicko psycho" BS! LOL! Oh I can play your little BS games as well,Clown 3F and 6F equals 9F not 9 1/2 F. Preakness is 9 1/2 F DUH!!
How the fuck was Birdstone overrated???!!!! You people are dumb!! Don't even know the meaning of overrated!! They barley spoke of him, even when he won The Travers!!
Oh and by the way Champ there is a BIG BIG difference between the halfway point of a 9 1/2 furlong race and the halfway point of a 12 furlong race. Not to mention there is a big difference between a horse moving fast and early, who is doing it on his own(that being EG),vs a horse who is being pressed hard by 2 horses and becomes even harder to rate because of that(that being SJ),but of course you obviously cannot pick up on that simple fact now can you? LOL!
No clown EG's run in the 89 Preakness has no similarity to the tactics employed by RHT and EDD in the 2004 Belmont! You seem to think everything in life has something to do with Easy Goer! What is funny is how you endlessly make excuses for EG losing 3 of 4 to Sunday Silence! And of course since you are someone who had no idea what blinkers were for,I am therefore not surprised that you cannot discern the differences in tactics in the two races! It has to be very complicated for you huh? LOL!
Kinda like Pat Day pushing Easy Goer through a 21 flat 3rd 1/4 in the Preakness, LONG LONG before the halfway point of the race. Sounds familiar. Pat Day certainly called his OWN ride Horrendous, and said it from the moment. Hey, sometimes a great horses Loss can be a great moment in their careers: Easy Goer by a nose, Seattle Slew by a nose in 78'Gold Cup, Smarty Jones in the Belmont, and some others as well.
I can only hope that the next time we get a horse with SJ's talent and that horse has a shot to win the triple crown(and we have probably already had 2 since 2004),that we do not get 2 jocks who go out and commit racing hari kari,by pushing their horses LONG before the 1/2 way point of the race! Do you understand the impact of asking your horse for his run at that stage of a 12 furlong race? Not to mention having 2 riders do it simultaneously no less! 99.9% of the time riders get fired for that!
Give Smarty his due credit. He was in the mix in every triple crown race! Stewart Elliot rode him like he was the best horse which is what a jockey should do. The trip beat Smarty not Stewart Elliot. Smarty broke a bone in this race. so give him his due he tried to hard cracked a bone stayed on his feet and finished second! All Heart!! Birdstone way over rated!
@ huke again. You got some problems. You should actually meet Edgar. He is a very nice down to earth person. Also he wasn't the one pressuring SJ from the begging. No Bailey is another story..
the personal assault was unmitigated prado did what he ws supposed to do.. so i take that back about edgar. He was so sad afterwards n he was sincere about it... Now that lil bastard bailey sending eddington early and often is another story... I do have a lot of respect for prado dont get me wrong. If I was a owner i would want him up on my runner
tjjlm I agree with you on what Solis and Bailey did,of that I am convinced. But I do not agree with the idea that Elliot moved too soon. He never asked him for the full measure until they were near the 1/4 pole. That is not a mistake on his part. The problem was Solis and Bailey ganged up on him and probably had something to do with SJ being to sharp. There are reports that they were hollering and yelling to excite SJ. That was done to Dr. Fager by Damascus's and Buckpasser's rabbits. Blame them
elliot fell right into the trap they set for him.rh10 never before ran in the front like that they ran a relay race at smarty that day they werent gonna let a journeyman jock win.also he made his move way too soon i was there that day and when smarty got up by 4 going into the home stretch a guy in front of me said he made his move to soon and i agreed as the race was far from over.also se never rode there before and made a mistake of not riding in race 8 there that day to truly understand it
Damn your right. hr10 was done coming around on that last turn. The only surprise I had was how Smarty Jones held on for second place after the blistering pace he kept from start to finish. Even in the end he was giving Elliott all he had!
I still cannot believe he lost this race. No way. I know it is speculation and Monday morning Quarterbacking, but if a superstar jockey like Jerry Bailey been on him or maybe John Valezquez(sp) would the result have been different? I believe so but what do you think? This was a disheartening loss. The annoucer flatly said it all, "Birdstone wins the Belmont stakes."
TJJLM is right elliott did make his move too soon. But as far as elliott falling for the trap? I'm not sure I agree, inspite of my origional post. SJ was just following suit. There would have been no need for Elliot to hold him back when he was just running his race. Even in the preakness it's not like SJ came from 3-4 horses back to win.
i do believe a better jock who understood and rode that track before would have won on SJ that day.ive been to quite a few tracks but none compares to belmont you have to see it in person to fully understand how long that home stretch is. i also think that egos come into play and when you look at jocks like prado,stevens,bailey do you really think they want a guy running in 5k claiming races at philly park to accomplish that feat.look at eddington and rh10 they ran for SJ not to win
Yes it would have been different if Bailey or another "first class jock" had been on him,as opposed to a journeyman jock,who was talented as well. You see if Bailey had been on him,there would have not been this 2 suicide mission to make sure SJ didn't win. Why/,because those guys didn't want some journeyman jock doing something they had never done,meaning winning the T.C. It comes right down to that simple fact. No one asks their horse to move more than 5 furlongs out and has the idea of a win
what do you think about the prospects of a Triple Crown jockey in Calvin Borel (BoRail)? Does it hold any significance? Will you be watching, wagering, or both? I am going for Calvin.
I'm sorry for replying so late,but I was watching intensely,and I felt MTB was in trouble when he was so close to the pace way too soon as compared to his previous 2 races. Borel noted he was a bit aggressive and he didn't want to fight him too much,so he allowed MTB to move up,but that showed he was not as relaxed as before. When he hit the stretch he didn't have the same punch,though he did run on hard to finish a good 3rd.
the trainer wanted to put pat day on him to have him relax a lil more and stewy was ok with it but the owners wanted stewy up... i think that pat day would have been able to do it... nothing against stewart elliot he is a great jockey... but bailey, prado, solis, and team birdstone would not have won
Won big with a win/place/show on birdstone back in this race. Then, how about his kid!!! Mine that Bird also won me some big money! Birdstone, you are my all time fav horse!
What some seem to overlook is the simple fact that the vast majority of horses bred here in the US are not bred with 12 furlongs in mind. Thats a fact and it is regretable to put it mildly. But the current commercial market in general frowns on horses who excell at route type races. Usually do to the fact that many of these types mature later and need more ground before they start to show anything.Remember many nowdays want a precocious horse who will return their investment quickly.
if i ever get the chance i will bich slap jery baley for this crap.. he did not want a journey man jockey to win so he conspired with others to team up on smarty... If they would have switched the jockey to pat day like the trainer was thinking to do in order to preserve a lil more we would have had a triple crown winner. Elliott is great speed jockey/position jockey but he needs to be on the best horse.
edgar was so sad after this race was over for he had all that guilt to contend with...
Oh please. Odds-on favorites are always ganged-up on.
Smarty lost because he had no tendons left in his hooves by the time Servis got done pummelling him into the ground with that schedule. Three races in five weeks exposes this as it did with Big Brown. Elusive Quality had the world record on the turf, didn't do well on dirt.
He ( the jockey ) moved smarty way to early. If he moved smarty later he wouldnt have been drained in the stretch.
Mooselopez9 1 week ago
Birdstones beats Smarty Jones...
this race event is so bad when the jockey of Smarty Jones failed to rush in the lead to win the race anytime.......
So Birdstones wins the Belmont Stakes Race....
I think the racing fans &fans of SJ are shocked when they're watch the race....
arvincabioc 3 weeks ago
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arvincabioc 3 weeks ago
Smarty Jones got me started in watching this sport every year. I couldn't believe the outcome, God know when we will see a triple crown winner. Smarty had the best chance of all after that year.
mlolacal 3 weeks ago
Indeed. I am thinking of Grindstone which Bailey rode in the Kentucky Derby. Thanks for the clarification.
MichaelDominici 1 month ago
This remains one of the most heartbreaking races I've ever seen. It seems to me that Smarty was allowed to take the lead far too early and the cheap speed horses pressed him relentlessly, softening him up for Birdstone who had the superior Jerry Bailey on board who rode with patient determination, letting Smarty think he was going to coast home then pounced at the very last moment.
MichaelDominici 1 month ago
@MichaelDominici ..........birdstone was being jockyed by edgar prado not jerry bailey was riding eddington
eagles01211 1 month ago
no matter how many times jocks, trainers, and fans a like are reminded - the stats prove - unless your a freak like man or sec or gzapper u've got to lay off your horse until coming out of the last turn, it's so much farther than you think even 10 + frlng horses sucumb to fatigue if they've run moderately fast splits. had smarty layed low in third may have nosed out brdstone in the end
caliwaters88 2 months ago
no matter how many times jocks, trainers, and fans a like are reminded - the stats prove - unless your a freak like man or sec or gzapper u've got to lay off your horse until coming out of the last turn, it's so much farther than you think even 10 + frlng horses sucumb to fatigue if they've run moderately fast splits
caliwaters88 2 months ago
This race broke my heart. Smarty Jones is still my favorite horse of all time.
jetfan7 2 months ago
After all these years Smarty Jones is still getting post after post saying how their reaction was at the time and how they feel now, I think that says a lot. I think his loss ranks near the top of all time in horse racing, maybe one of his kids will win one for him
smartyjonesfan 3 months ago in playlist smartyjonesfan's favorites
I remember watching this race in NYC. It was around the same day that President Reagan died and after watching that race, I thought that maybe President Reagan's death had an impact on this race. But now looking back on it, it was either Smarty Jones was getting tired or the jockey might've thought that he had won and realized too late that Birdstone was coming
KWCline91 3 months ago
I saw this race live on TV and even videotaped it thinking we'd have a Triple Crown winner (the only race I've EVER videotaped). As I'm watching it now it still seems like they're running in slow motion to me. Strange. This was such an exciting race!!
LoriTopazz 4 months ago
I got so dang mad at this horse. He COULD HAVE WON had he not been a butthead and gone for the lead. You can see that the jockey was TRYING to hold him back, but he wouldn't have any part of it. And now, here we are, in 2011, just months away from 2012. WHEN will we get another Triple Crown winner?!
BarrelsPolesandJack 4 months ago
After the race, every fool came out of the woodwork to blame it on the rider. They even foolishly claimed that Jerry Bailey never should have challenged Smarty Jones on his crappy horse. Deal with it-Smarty Jones simply was NOT good enough to be a Triple Crown winner. Birdstone was like 30-1 that day. Nobody thought he could win. But he ran down Smarty Jones. End of story. Welcome to the world of horse racing.
77rawpower 4 months ago
@77rawpower Smarty Jones's hoof tendons were shot, literally. That's why he never ran again after this race. He was used up chasing the Triple Crown. His bloodline lasts longer on grass; their hooves have difficulty on the dirt. His sire is Elusive Quality, son of Gone West, from the Mr. Prospector line, notorious for that.
BettorOffSingle 4 months ago
enough about Stew Elliotts ride...there was nothing wrong..its not like he went 45 to the half or something...the horse was on the bit, they went a half in almost 49....he let the horse run after the half to get away from the closers and his horse just couldn't get the distance....how about the brutal ride by Jerry Bailey in this race 4 wide pressing with a weaker animal...hes a hall of famer...as for Pat Day saying anything watch search "breeders cup classic easy goer" and watch this idiot
ballem 4 months ago
ev1 was waiting to knock this rider, he did everything right. You dont change tactics when your undefeated going one way - he was 1/5 and had a 4 lth lead in the streatch, just couldnt close it, thats raceing
vvssitic 5 months ago
Every time I watch this, I think it's going to end differently.
mranonam 5 months ago 14
@mranonam likewise...
glennthereal 5 months ago
@glennthereal funny me to....i remember this race like it was yesterday.
mlolacal 3 weeks ago
@mranonam I keep hoping it will....
BettorOffSingle 5 months ago
ALMOST THERE...
glennthereal 5 months ago
"Smarty Jones has a four length lead. The whip is out on Smarty Jones. Birdstone is going to make him EARN IT today. Smarty Jones! Birdstone surges! Smarty Jones! And BIRDSTONE WINS The BELMONT STAKES!" -Said in utter exasperation by Durkin...one of his finest calls...it seemed too good to be true when Smarty Jones entered the stretch with a four length lead and sure enough that last little bit of stretch was his undoing. One of the great heartbreaks in racing right there!
MichaelDominici1968 5 months ago
I was so rooting for smarty jones...still a great horse.
bigstive 6 months ago 2
the absence of lion heart also hurt smartys chances
hukeeaboo 6 months ago
This video makes me want to cry. Smarty could have won the Triple Crown.
SuperCharlieKitty 7 months ago 3
@SuperCharlieKitty Indeed. One of those frustrating things. Like Zenyatta losing the BC in 2010, just right there but no Cigar!
MichaelDominici1968 5 months ago
@SuperCharlieKitty Many were crying right after the race. It was the quietest 120,000+ people you will ever hear at the finish.
romanesq 2 weeks ago
Prado is such an exceptional rider..he timed it perfectly
edgar95035 7 months ago
This was a choke job by Stewart Elliott. He move way too soon after a slow beginning. All he had to do was to let those pressing the pace to go on and then move on him at the top of the stretch.
brunoaltimino 7 months ago
omg....i get sooooooooooooooooooooooo excited....and sooooooooooooooooo disappointed 8(
peaveyperson 8 months ago
Stop blaming Stewart Elliott. He had a good hold on Smarty Jones until the top of the stretch, and set reasonable fractions on a very fast racetrack.
Birdstone was a really good horse and was just rounding into form. Better horse won that day. He would validate his win with another great performance in the Travers, and has since sired Mine that Bird and Summer Bird.
DanielSong39 8 months ago
Birdstone of course fathered two good horses Mine That Bird and Summer Bird so 2009 was Birdstone's year.
vidEvWill 8 months ago
That was so dirty. Birdstone was so lucky Smarty was hurt. That race was so bad for horse racing.
Phills69 8 months ago
Bad ride by Stewy Elliott moved way too soon...choked
brunoaltimino 8 months ago
Rock Hard Ten and Purge really pushed him early
T3hStoopKid 8 months ago
I remember everyone trying to make edgar Prado feel bad for guiding Birdstone to this victory. Tom Durkin and Donna Brothers can go screw themselves. Great ride and win for Nick Zito and Birdstone.
bnegs521 8 months ago
Being born in 1984, this, unfortunately, is probably the closest I'll ever see to a Triple Crown...I just don't see it happening again...too much competition, too broad of a breeding pool=too much parity for a TC.
AdamJLemon 8 months ago
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Awwww....I flew from Oregon to NY to watch this race! As they rounded for home, I thought I was gonna see a Triple Crown. Still breaks my heart to watch!!!!
oregonduck96 8 months ago
Awwww....I flew from Oregon to NY to watch this race! As they rounded for home, I thought I was gonna see a Triple Crown. Still breaks my heart to watch!!!!
oregonduck96 8 months ago
you can just tell they all went after him. it just happened to be Birdstone the one to beat him. too bad, I remember chearing Smarty like I hadn't cheered a racehorse before
edangelus 8 months ago
grabbed the lead too early, got tested the whole way by rock hard ten, and just ran out of horse at the very end... still a champ
datrubronxtale2 8 months ago
sigues con chorro !!!!oye pues si que te dolio!!!!
TheElichefimovich 9 months ago
Creo que el jinete la rego,se vio muy sobrado,dejo de bajar el fuete cuando todavia faltaba bastante camino por recorrer,hablan de que otros jinetes conspiraron para que no ganara la triple corona,pero si entra al strech con cuatro largos de ventaja cual es la trampa.
TheElichefimovich 9 months ago
@TheElichefimovich ¡QUE CAGADA TE PUSIERON EN EL VIDEO DE JOSE JOSE! ¿NO QUE MUY CHINGON? JA JA JA TE TAPARON EL HOCICO Y CON MIERDA QUE TE TUVISTE QUE TRAGAR
HachaTalache 9 months ago
rock hard ten made all this happen
KiNgskrible 9 months ago 2
And that, folks, is why the US Triple Crown is so coveted.
rcschumann 9 months ago 2
@rcschumann Best comment on this thread.
bnegs521 7 months ago
I got this from wiki " . Although, in Smarty Jones' case, there was a conspiracy that two other jockeys competing in the Belmont in 2004 "rode not to win", but to deny Smarty Jones the triple crown title. In horse racing, this behavior is not illegal, but it is definitely frowned upon"!
an08p 9 months ago
@an08p Whatever. And wikipedia means what? NOTHING!
bnegs521 8 months ago
@bnegs521 just bugger off.. people lacking activity to comment on other's post just because they have different opinion..
an08p 8 months ago
I love this race call. You feel all the passion, drama, and frustration of seeing a great horse go down for various reasons...nobody wants to believe it, nobody can believe it but, it was too good to be true when Smarty Jones went to the lead so early and all it took was one horse to close on him. Destiny denied in the ultimate test...The Belmont stretch. This sport will check your sanity and crush your heart.
MichaelDominici 9 months ago
One hell of a Mother F2Cking Race!. All Heart from both boys. Smarty was sucking dirt at the 1/8th pole. Poor fella was gased.
Nucleo85Torino 10 months ago
@billytalentchik22 So did I. I thought Smarty was at least 5 lengths ahead down the stretch. I always say the mile and a half is a long race
mdecarlo427 10 months ago
That was amazing. I thought for sure that Birdstone was farther away than that though.
billytalentchick22 10 months ago
awful ride
mitchf006 10 months ago
All you need to know is Edgar Prado, the Triple Crown killer!
Smokeg1016 11 months ago
@Smokeg1016 He was just doing his job and riding his horse like he was supposed to. Yes, it was a huge upset, but...
FullmetalGirl94 10 months ago
@FullmetalGirl94 Birdstone has proven the superior stallion as well as the superior raccer. He had broken his maiden with a 99 Beyer at Saratoga, by 15 lengths, at 4-1 odds. He has since gone on to sire Summer Bird and Mine That Bird.
BettorOffSingle 10 months ago
@BettorOffSingle Oh, that's very true! I'd almost forgotten about all of that. It's only fair to say that Birdstone was just prooving himself superior, I suppose, but they both really are exellent horses. :3
FullmetalGirl94 10 months ago
@FullmetalGirl94 The 1982 Travers was like that. Runaway Groom "upset" Conquistador Cielo, who had been syndicqated for $36 million. Runaway Groom went on to sire Cherokee Run, among other champions, while Cielo only got Marquetry and no one else.
BettorOffSingle 10 months ago
Still the most devastated I've EVER felt when watching a triple crown race. It's been years, but I've never gotten over Smarty's loss. He should of won this race. He almost won this race. I will forever love that horse.
riotracer 11 months ago
Birdstones and Smarty Jones destroyed that field. How far back was third place?
Chris82bc 11 months ago
I was SO PISSED when Birdstone killed Smarty Jones's Triple Crown.
LoveMyHorseShazam 11 months ago
And Smarty Jones, enters the stretch to the ROAR of 120,000!
But Birdstone is gonna make him earn it!
The whip is out on Smarty Jones!
It's been twenty-six years!
It's just oen furlong away!
BIRDSTONE IS AN UPSET THREAT!
One of the greatest calls ever.
BettorOffSingle 11 months ago
@BettorOffSingle It's "unsung threat" dickface.
Brugality 4 weeks ago
@Brugality Not only are you rude, you're wrong. It's UPSET threat, as in "threat to pull the upset."
BettorOffSingle 4 weeks ago
Every time I watch this I hope the outcome will change, and it never does.
HypnosisForInsomnia 11 months ago 2
NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!
razorbacker63 1 year ago
i literlly started 2 cry after this he would have made history if he held on but god bless him
littletigress10 1 year ago
when they enter the home-stretch , i thought smarty jones was very near to the finish line, but when the camera view changed, that's the time i realized 50 meters more and birdstone will overtake smarty jones... then i was sad...
glennthereal 1 year ago 6
I remember watching the stretch run very clearly. When SJ came into the turn, I was screaming at the top of my lungs, "Go Smarty, Birdstone's comin!!! Move!!! Haul ass!!" Then I saw Birdstone pass SJ for the win, and all I could say was, "NO! NO! NO! NO! NO!" It was the most exciting BS I've seen, and the most heartbreaking at the same time.
AllHailKingSpaztic 1 year ago
@AllHailKingSpaztic Best Belmont ever? That was 1978.
HypnosisForInsomnia 11 months ago
I think his jock moved too early as well. It's too bad that Lionheart wasn't in this one because I think he paced off of him quite well in the first two races. Real Quiet's loss was even more disappointing. Both of them should have won the Crown.
I guess that's horse racing.
kc9ctc 1 year ago
THIS BREAKS MY HEART EVERY TIME I SEE IT
DartsRme312 1 year ago 7
Incredible race by Smarty Jones, just didn't have it in the last 1/8. Great race by Birdstone. Most exciting race since '89.
Speaking of which, Sunday Silence was the best horse since Affirmed. Beat another Hall of Fame horse in 3 of 4 races: Derby, Preakness, Classic in the same year.
iltarion 1 year ago
@iltarion You must have been in a coma in 1997 and 1998.
jesusthroughmary 7 months ago
Incredible effort by Smarty Jones. Took a Herculean effort by Birdstone to beat him. Jockeys always think they have the best horse and therefore say they cost the race when they don't win, especially Day (see Easy Goer). The ride looked spectacular to me, actually. Buried the field except for Birdstone. Just got beat by a horse running the race of its career on that day. Oh, and Sunday Silence is the best horse with a shot at the Triple Crown since '89.
iltarion 1 year ago
@Kulaness Believe it or not I saw him racing on a simulcast recently,but I cannot recall where it was. So yeah he is back in the saddle.
BE109 1 year ago
durkin rules
bkeenan999 1 year ago
SJ would have won. Jock started him way too soon. He got pushed?? Haha. 48:3 half? Lmao. Jock error...plain and simple. He should have sat on him around the turn and waited another 1-2f before riding him.
robthehawk 1 year ago
@robthehawk robthehawk,the 1/4 mile split right after that Haha 48 & change first 1/2 mile was a torrid 23 flat 1/4 mile,and the next 1/4 was 23 2/5! Sir we are talking about a 23 second 1/4 ending at the exact halfway point of a 12 F race. The mile went in a stiff 1:35 2/5,one of the fastest ever,and SJ hit the 10 F in 2:00 1/5 or so! Rob that was a pace very FEW horses could have withstood,and remember thats in the context of a 12 Furlong race no less.
BE109 1 year ago
Oh I do think SJ was that good,and in no way am I taking anything away from the others!
BE109 1 year ago
Pretty amazing you put him just behind Bid for horses with a chance to win the triple crown, and ahead of SS, Alysheba? You may be right about that. He was that talented
ruffchamp1 1 year ago 3
Well most jocks like Day would not say it was absoluetly my(Days) errors that beat the horse. A jock may state that wasnt my best ride, or I didnt ride that race too good. How many jocks(w/great horses) would state it was absolute jockey error, Im sure a few, but not many.
ruffchamp1 1 year ago
Oh I agree that Smarty was by far the greatest horse who ever came into the Belmont with a chance for the triple crown I have ever seen. With the exception of Spectacular Bid,The Bid was greater because he ran at 2 3 and 4! Who knows if Smarty had been able to that. I know he could have come back at 4,his injuries were not career ending ,but the pressure of owning a horse like him,his popularity,and of course the HUGE money involved in his stud career played a BIG part in his early retirement!
BE109 1 year ago
No Champ I do not agree with Day,I'm not saying I'm smarter than him though. I have rode running horses most of my life(though never as a pro,I have raced horses back when I was lighter,match races and such,Day started in a very similiar way,though he is a HOF and I'm no where near that)I understand how to ride a racehorse,and what I saw in the Preakness and the Classic,I honestly think Day is being way too hard on himself. But of course we will never agree,no need in hashing that out here.
BE109 1 year ago
At any rate, I was right there on the Belmont apron just past the finish line for this race, and 120,000 people at Belmont. SJ didn't win, but I knew he was great and ran great nonetheless,and I didn't like at all what Solis &Bailey did...Out of all the recent TCrown possibilities, SJ was by far the best of them: Silver Charm,Real Quiet, Charismatic,War Emblem,etc. and I was there for all of them. All the Belmont crowds were electric, bot none like 2004 and Smarty Jones
ruffchamp1 1 year ago
Wow is right, agreement from you and i, is something both of us could never even think of. And Im sure we will never agree on EG/SS stuff, but if YOU forget about what people on comment boards say about EG/SS, and just listen to what Pat Day states on his own ride as "absolute rider error", in essence you are NOT agreeing with what P. Day states on his own ride. You, in essence, do not agree that Day call his own ride absolute rider error, or Days analysis of his own ride? Anyway CONT
ruffchamp1 1 year ago
Cont-RHT sealed his fate by pushing himself so hard so early in the race. You see given how SJ wasn't as settled as he was in his previous races,it didn't take 2 rabbits,one would have sufficed! Thats why I honestly believe both of them knew full well what they were doing to their horses chances,and therefore they were intent on making sure SJ didn't win. Of course as you said it isn't illegal,but it is to me a bit bush league,especially since Bailey clearly wanted the mount of SJ! But oh well!
BE109 1 year ago
Cont-I will see what Prado on Birdstone saw. I will see a tired used up RHT,and now I know it is close to the time to go. I would give ED some slack in the reins and chirp to him,telling him to start to begin moving up,I won't ask him for everything until we hit the 1/4 pole! My problem now is can I catch SJ? maybe so maybe not,but at least I have a chance to. Also I have to hold off Birdstone,who knows if I can or not,but once again at least I have the oppurtunity. RHT is done and in fact,Cont-
BE109 1 year ago
Cont-Any intention to try to ride to win,I know as a top class rider,I cannot allow my horse to run such fast fractions at that point in the race! Therefore I would be all smiles when you kept hooking SJ,and I would get my horse off that torrid pace. I would of course not be guaranteed a victory by doing that,BUT I would be assuring myself the oppurtunity to win. Pushing RHT like you are will guarantee you will have ZERO chance to win,much less hit the board! When I hit the 3/8 pole,Cont-
BE109 1 year ago
Though we agree on what Solis and Bailey did,I do think one of them could have possibly saved HIS horse from getting fried. Look at it this way,lets just pretend your on RHT and I'm on ED. Lets just say you do exactly what Solis did,pushing RHT to run a 1/4 in 23 flat at the exact halfway point in the race,and you continue to push your horse to go a next 1/4 in 23 2/5! Well lets just say I see what your doing while blazing towards that 23 flat 1/4! Since I'm on the outside,and if I have,Cont-
BE109 1 year ago
Wow Champ me and you actually agree damn near 100% on something! LOL Champ! The sun must be about to burn out or something! Seriously though I cannot disagree with anything you said! I will always give credit where credit is due! EXCELLENT analysis of the race,and I truly mean that!
BE109 1 year ago
The more I watch this race, the more I see that SJ just didn't settle no way near as well as he did in his prior races, even before RHT and EDD came and put pressure. If SJ had settled like he did prior, and just let Purge and RHT go, and if EDD wanted to as well, and just settle. That was what both Servis and Elliot stated. If Elliot could have got him to settled like he did prior, SJ seemed to be too sharp,even before the RHT & EDD!
ruffchamp1 1 year ago 2
Well, you can blame it on Solis and Bailey if you want, they did give up their own horses chances to get SJ beat. I don't like it, but it was totally legal, and you can't expect them to just let SJ coast the entire trip. We'll never know how great SJ was or what he would have went on to in the future, as this was his last race. But, he proved he was great.
ruffchamp1 1 year ago
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Even though SJ didn't win Champ's fabled "A Test Of A Champion" in my book he showed just what a great champion he was even in defeat! It took BS crap to get him beat,and he STILL almost did it! He showed the heart of a bulldog in that stretch run,he had been running at a suicidal pace,and only his heart kept him from being swallowed up by the field! SJ deserves to be remembered as a great racehorse. I mean even in this race it is there ,as big as the great outdoors! I still feel pain over it!
BE109 1 year ago
This comment has received too many negative votes show
Remember RHT and ED finished way up the track even after pushing an already amped up SJ thru crazy fractions,and SJ still mowed them down,the 3rd place horse Royal Assault was 8 lengths behind SJ! Even with that said,SJ went 10F. in I believe was 2:00 1/5,what is amazing is the fact that he surrendered the lead to Birdstone in only the last 100 yds or so of the race! Final time was 2:27 & change,and that right there shows even with the torrid pace SJ would have won over 95% of all past Belmonts
BE109 1 year ago
This comment has received too many negative votes show
Cont-They even sniffed 5 furlongs from the wire! In fact Elliot didn't even ask SJ until about the 3/8 pole,and moved the reins on him entering the stretch. So if your gonna blame anyone for a bad ride,blame Solis and Bailey,not Elliot!
BE109 1 year ago
This comment has received too many negative votes show
Cont-That was proven by Mike Smith and Gary Stevens both saying on live TV after the Preakness that their horses were just born in the wrong year! Jocks are notorious for just using cliches,and Shane Sellers who was on the NBC telecast,was doing commentary on the replay and he caught himself just short of saying this horse is unbeatable! After that dominant performance,Solis and Bailey took 2 horses who many thought were the only ones who could upset SJ,and just used them up long before ,Cont-
BE109 1 year ago
This comment has received too many negative votes show
Cont- a rabbit,but here we see 2 horses acting as rabbits. When you push your horse thru a 23 sec. 1/4,and continue to push your horse thru a following 1/4 in 23 2/5, ending at the 8f mark 1:35 2/5, in a 12 F. race,there is NO WAY on earth those two were riding to win! That is suicide to do that! No offense to Birdstone,but thats why he won the Belmont! No doubt SJ was by far the best horse. After the Preakness that became painfully clear to the world,go ask Mike Smith and Gary Stevens! Cont-
BE109 1 year ago
This comment has received too many negative votes show
Cont - On Ed,in fact I do not know if you realize they ran a 23 flat quarter ending at the 6 furlong mark! Thats only halfway,and SJ put up a quarter in 23 2/5,ending up in a mile time of 1:35 2/5! What you saw was 2 riders sacrificing their horses with the sole aim to prevent SJ from winning. Now Sj didn't help matters by being rank,but it doesn't change the fact that 2 top riders went out with the purpose to make sure SJ didn't win the TC! Why? It would have only taken one to act as ,Cont-
BE109 1 year ago
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Cont-Rock Hard Ten and Eddington were to his inside and outside when they hit the backstretch. If you will notice Bailey was moving ED up on SJ in the clubhouse turn,now remember SJ was himself over eager,and it is claimed that one or both Solis and Bailey were yelling and hollerin around SJ! Now what do you think that would do an already amped up horse,and one who was so competitive? Also,Solis made 2 distinct runs at SJ on the backside! Bailey long before 4 furlongs out was pumping hard,Cont-
BE109 1 year ago
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Wow I am not surprised one bit that Champ thinks Elliot gave SJ a bad ride! It is something you probably say after any horse loses! I do not think Elliot gave a bad ride,and I will tell exactly why I think that! First off,it was quite clear SJ was a bit rank,look at Elliot's hands and look at the reins as they go into and out of the clubhouse turn. The reins are tight,and Elliot hands are still! He is trying to restrain SJ,he is not willingly allowing him to burst to the lead! In addition,Cont-
BE109 1 year ago
Stewart Elliot gave SJ a bad ride like Pat Day did, that is what happened. What Bailey and Solis did were totally legal. I don't like it, but Elliot rode him bad in this race.
ruffchamp1 1 year ago 2
LOL! Listen to what Pat Day is saying about his own "absolute rider error." LISTEN to him Doc Livingston!
ruffchamp1 1 year ago 3
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Champ are you even listening to me?? Lets talk about the 2004 Belmont! LOL!! READ WHAT I'M SAYING! LOL!
BE109 1 year ago
Then accorinding to you Pat Day made the excuse that His Riding was Horrendous? Pat Day just says that his riding was Horrendous for an excuse?? Wrong, try again. Pat Day tells it like it is about his riding.
ruffchamp1 1 year ago 4
I just said, Im not talking about Day saying he was better. Im talking about Day calling his ride absolute rider error, and very bad ride, and it cost the horse the race. Can you read? LOL!
ruffchamp1 1 year ago 4
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Once again I beg of you to leave your EG woulda shoulda coulda obsession alone for just a little while,and dispense your opinion on the 2004 Belmont! LOL!
BE109 1 year ago
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No Champ I said many times that it is very understandable why Day has the opinion he does! He was EG's career long rider,therefore it is not a surprise he still thinks EG was better,kinda like a dad thinking his kids are perfect! I have said YOU and your "friends" are making every excuse in the book! Funny thing is I have WAY MORE in common with Day than you would ever know! I bet if you didn't know who he was, you would look down on him,LOL!!!! Get your facts straight,I know thats hard for you!
BE109 1 year ago
I'm talking about his calling his ride"absolute rider error" and his bad ride cost him the race. Not just that he knew he was on the better horse.
ruffchamp1 1 year ago 14
@ruffchamp1 Birdstone has sired Mine That Bird, and Summer Bird, while Smarty's kids have been little more than solid allowance runners.
This win was no fluke whatsoever. Birdstone had broken his maiden the year prior with a 99 Beyer, by 15 lengths, at odds of 4-1.
HypnosisForInsomnia 11 months ago
I agree with what Pat Day states. According to you, Pat Day made every excuse in the book, and called his riding like a Horrendous bugboy for no reason, and that is was abolsute rider error. Well I can see how Horrible his ride was to cost the horse the win, and he isn't the only one who states it.
ruffchamp1 1 year ago 8
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now lets talk about the 2004 Belmont ok? LOL!!
BE109 1 year ago
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All you have is those ridiculous 4 excuses PER RACE,that EG suffered when getting beat by SS!!!We all know that SS had absolutely nothing to do with your TB GOD getting beat! We know it was Day's magical change from a bonafide HOF rider into a FREAKED BUG BOY everytime EG lost to SS ! We all know it was the "peanut butter" track in the derby,the "horrible starts",that EG was used up before the stretch run in the Preakness,that his head being turned towards SS cost him,BLAH BLAH BLAH........LOL
BE109 1 year ago
Whats been PROVEN a million times is that YOU, BE109, is the Biggest FRAUD CLOWN on utube for 3 years now. Threatening to bash peoples teeth in, wanting to box people, calling videos your turf and then getting erased and blocked, calling people asshole, jackass, chickenshit,etc etc.. And the Biggest FRaud for 3 years on every video on utube everyday for 3 years! FRaud Clown DOC Livingston! Keep tieing your horses to your pick up and dragging them around DOC Livingston
ruffchamp1 2 years ago 4
LOL! YOU should listen to his Hall of Fame Jockey Pat Day talk about his OWN Horrendous ride, but no, whatever Pat Day states is wrong to you! Pat Day knows a heck of Alot more than you do, and what his Horrible mistakes were! Pat Day called his own ride Horrible and it Cost him the win no doubt about it.
ruffchamp1 2 years ago 5
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Look Champ,just because It is Day's opinion that EG was better than SS,doesn't make him right!Remember It is his opinion(not some edict from God himself,LOL!),as for my opinion, the facts of the matter indicate something totally different,but of course you have never understood the impact of SS winning 2/3 of the TC VS EG and winning the BC Classic once more VS EG,and in the process being named 1989 HOTY and Champion 3 YR old colt! My opinion is based off of those things,sorry Champ!
BE109 1 year ago
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This BS of yours is getting old Champ,why don't you dispense your "professional" opinion on the 2004 Belmont Stakes!
BE109 2 years ago
Another TC thwarted by a disastrous ride in the Belmont. Yeah, did you really think Smarty Jones was gonna hold on after running the 6 furlongs in 1:11.3? Damned amateur jockeys.
AdamJLemon 2 years ago
i remember screaming for smarty jones to give it all, maaaan, he has gravel for guts, what a horse!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
jetshull 2 years ago
You know whats been PROVEN many many times. Is that YOU are the Biggest FRaud CLown so called trainer on utube for 3 years now! And that has been proven for 3 years. So keep threatening to bash peoples teeth in, wanting to box, calling videos your turf, calling people asshole,jackass,etc, and tieing your horses to your pick up and dragging them around Albuqurque like DOC Livingston taught you. Ooops, I forgot, YOU are DOC Livingston.
ruffchamp1 2 years ago 7
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Well Champ at least I have known what blinkers are used for,for at least 30 years! I damn well know why horses need to switch leads in a race,or any other performance activity involving horses! And I for damn sure know exactly where the 3/8 pole is on a 1 mile track,otherwise I wouldn't be able to say oh that jock moved his horse too soon! Like you did about the 89 Preakness! You are in way over your head dealing with me! LOL and you know it,thats why we get the "Doc Livingston" BS,etc.! LOL
BE109 2 years ago
Ive been here for you everyday ,the FRAUD CLOWN, for 3 YEARS, and I will be here for YOU for the next 20 repeating the TRUTH for you, which you dont want to see, DOC. YOu definitely are DOC Livingston
ruffchamp1 2 years ago 8
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Champ do you really believe anyone would believe that your competent when it comes to the subject of racing,when you had no idea what freaking blinkers were for? REALLY???? Like I said you couldn't even hold my jockstrap when it comes to racing knowledge,hell thats been proven many many times. Thats why we get this desperate "Doc Livingston" BS! LOL go back and learn something before you pop off you "racing vegetable!" LOL!
BE109 2 years ago
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Well I see your in good spirits there clown,uh I mean ruffchamp! You know with you and your "friends" desperately trying to project YOUR faults upon me,and of course your most recent comments here,I can clearly see you clowns are getting flustered! You know Clown the truth is always much much more easier to remember than a lie,speaking of lies have you had any recent emails from Ray Paulick,telling you EG was gonna be part of the title of that TB Legends Book he wrote? LOL you are a "racing Veg"
BE109 2 years ago
Why don't u tell everyone why YOU BE109 threaten to bash peoples teeth in, want to box people on here, call videos YOUR TURF like a Sicko NUT who thinks he owns all the videos on here and then laughingly proceeds to get blocked and erased from those as well as many other videos.. Calls people asshole, jackass, chicken, etc, and has been the Biggest FRAUD Clown on utube everyday for 3 years.!!
ruffchamp1 2 years ago 6
Hey Billy BE109 DOC Livingston, YOU learned from the best, YOU learned from DOC Livingston. So keep Tieing your horses to you pick up truck and dragging them around Albuqurque Downs like YOU do, YOU Fraud Clown BE109!
ruffchamp1 2 years ago 5
Easy Goer was sent flying 3 furlongs into the Preakness in as premature move as you can get, and Pat Day, his own jockey stated it was the worst mistake of his career, and total pilot error. So, don't compare what Day did at all DOC Livingston!
ruffchamp1 2 years ago 6
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Champ this fantasy you have of me being a fool such as Doc Livingston is actually very amusing to me! I got news for you when it comes to racing knowledge,practical and historical,general horse sense,etc. Clown you couldn't even hold my jockstrap! Hey have you figured out what blinkers are for? Or why horses need to switch leads? Or where the freaking 3/8 pole is on a 1 mile track? Now you might realize how stupid you sound when you pop off with that Doc Livingston BS! Your a "racing vegetable!"
BE109 2 years ago
wow still get goose bumps from watchinit
hukeeaboo 2 years ago
Hey BE109, more commonly known as DOC Livingston! Why don't u let everyone know why YOU Threaten to Bash peoples teeth in, want to BOX People on here, call videos YOUR TURF like a Psycho and then hilariously proceeds to get blocked and erased from those as well as many other videos, call people asshole, jackass, chickenshit etc.. And has been the Biggest FRaud Clown on utube for 3 years now!!
ruffchamp1 2 years ago 6
Easy Goer was sent to fly 3F into the Preakness, with 6F to run, in the most premmature move that Pat Day possibly could have done. What are you talking about? That is NOT half way through the Preakness, get your facts straight! Quit comparing SJ to Easy Goer, there is no comparison from SJ to Easy Goer. EG was far superior. And Pat Day's ride was way way more Horrendous that S.Elliot's was. Day said it himself how horrible it was.
ruffchamp1 2 years ago 6
easy goer vs sundace silence a continuation of seabiscuit and war admirals battle
hukeeaboo 2 years ago
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The halfway reference was more to do with the 12 furlongs,what I was trying to say is their is a big difference between a "premature" move in a 9 1/2 furlong race and a 12 furlong race. I wasn't comparing SJ to your "supernatural" racing god EG! I didn't articulate myself correctly so calm down clown! Oh and I see your back to your lieing ways with your "BE109 is a sicko psycho" BS! LOL! Oh I can play your little BS games as well,Clown 3F and 6F equals 9F not 9 1/2 F. Preakness is 9 1/2 F DUH!!
BE109 2 years ago
How the fuck was Birdstone overrated???!!!! You people are dumb!! Don't even know the meaning of overrated!! They barley spoke of him, even when he won The Travers!!
ilovevsboy25 2 years ago
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Oh and by the way Champ there is a BIG BIG difference between the halfway point of a 9 1/2 furlong race and the halfway point of a 12 furlong race. Not to mention there is a big difference between a horse moving fast and early, who is doing it on his own(that being EG),vs a horse who is being pressed hard by 2 horses and becomes even harder to rate because of that(that being SJ),but of course you obviously cannot pick up on that simple fact now can you? LOL!
BE109 2 years ago
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BE109 2 years ago
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No clown EG's run in the 89 Preakness has no similarity to the tactics employed by RHT and EDD in the 2004 Belmont! You seem to think everything in life has something to do with Easy Goer! What is funny is how you endlessly make excuses for EG losing 3 of 4 to Sunday Silence! And of course since you are someone who had no idea what blinkers were for,I am therefore not surprised that you cannot discern the differences in tactics in the two races! It has to be very complicated for you huh? LOL!
BE109 2 years ago
Kinda like Pat Day pushing Easy Goer through a 21 flat 3rd 1/4 in the Preakness, LONG LONG before the halfway point of the race. Sounds familiar. Pat Day certainly called his OWN ride Horrendous, and said it from the moment. Hey, sometimes a great horses Loss can be a great moment in their careers: Easy Goer by a nose, Seattle Slew by a nose in 78'Gold Cup, Smarty Jones in the Belmont, and some others as well.
ruffchamp1 2 years ago 9
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I can only hope that the next time we get a horse with SJ's talent and that horse has a shot to win the triple crown(and we have probably already had 2 since 2004),that we do not get 2 jocks who go out and commit racing hari kari,by pushing their horses LONG before the 1/2 way point of the race! Do you understand the impact of asking your horse for his run at that stage of a 12 furlong race? Not to mention having 2 riders do it simultaneously no less! 99.9% of the time riders get fired for that!
BE109 2 years ago
Give Smarty his due credit. He was in the mix in every triple crown race! Stewart Elliot rode him like he was the best horse which is what a jockey should do. The trip beat Smarty not Stewart Elliot. Smarty broke a bone in this race. so give him his due he tried to hard cracked a bone stayed on his feet and finished second! All Heart!! Birdstone way over rated!
howardm74 2 years ago
@ huke again. You got some problems. You should actually meet Edgar. He is a very nice down to earth person. Also he wasn't the one pressuring SJ from the begging. No Bailey is another story..
spam1237 2 years ago
the personal assault was unmitigated prado did what he ws supposed to do.. so i take that back about edgar. He was so sad afterwards n he was sincere about it... Now that lil bastard bailey sending eddington early and often is another story... I do have a lot of respect for prado dont get me wrong. If I was a owner i would want him up on my runner
hukeeaboo 2 years ago
GOD BLESS SMARTY JONES!
bluejays01 2 years ago 16
birdstoen could never beat smarty it took a team birdstone to beat sj.... i hate prado and baily if i ever see them i will personly slap them,,,
hukeeaboo 2 years ago 4
Them being Solis and Bailey of course.
BE109 2 years ago
tjjlm I agree with you on what Solis and Bailey did,of that I am convinced. But I do not agree with the idea that Elliot moved too soon. He never asked him for the full measure until they were near the 1/4 pole. That is not a mistake on his part. The problem was Solis and Bailey ganged up on him and probably had something to do with SJ being to sharp. There are reports that they were hollering and yelling to excite SJ. That was done to Dr. Fager by Damascus's and Buckpasser's rabbits. Blame them
BE109 2 years ago 2
this broke my heart!
falconhead67 2 years ago
I was there. You never heard 120,000+ people stunned into silence. It just went dead quiet.
Girls were crying. I immediately left. We were all sad.
We loved SmartyJones. And still do.
romanesq 2 years ago
elliot fell right into the trap they set for him.rh10 never before ran in the front like that they ran a relay race at smarty that day they werent gonna let a journeyman jock win.also he made his move way too soon i was there that day and when smarty got up by 4 going into the home stretch a guy in front of me said he made his move to soon and i agreed as the race was far from over.also se never rode there before and made a mistake of not riding in race 8 there that day to truly understand it
tjjlm 2 years ago
Damn your right. hr10 was done coming around on that last turn. The only surprise I had was how Smarty Jones held on for second place after the blistering pace he kept from start to finish. Even in the end he was giving Elliott all he had!
skillz
skillz91745 2 years ago 3
I still cannot believe he lost this race. No way. I know it is speculation and Monday morning Quarterbacking, but if a superstar jockey like Jerry Bailey been on him or maybe John Valezquez(sp) would the result have been different? I believe so but what do you think? This was a disheartening loss. The annoucer flatly said it all, "Birdstone wins the Belmont stakes."
placeinheaven 2 years ago 2
Who knows it's all water under the bridge.
TJJLM is right elliott did make his move too soon. But as far as elliott falling for the trap? I'm not sure I agree, inspite of my origional post. SJ was just following suit. There would have been no need for Elliot to hold him back when he was just running his race. Even in the preakness it's not like SJ came from 3-4 horses back to win.
skillz91745 2 years ago
i do believe a better jock who understood and rode that track before would have won on SJ that day.ive been to quite a few tracks but none compares to belmont you have to see it in person to fully understand how long that home stretch is. i also think that egos come into play and when you look at jocks like prado,stevens,bailey do you really think they want a guy running in 5k claiming races at philly park to accomplish that feat.look at eddington and rh10 they ran for SJ not to win
tjjlm 2 years ago 3
Yes it would have been different if Bailey or another "first class jock" had been on him,as opposed to a journeyman jock,who was talented as well. You see if Bailey had been on him,there would have not been this 2 suicide mission to make sure SJ didn't win. Why/,because those guys didn't want some journeyman jock doing something they had never done,meaning winning the T.C. It comes right down to that simple fact. No one asks their horse to move more than 5 furlongs out and has the idea of a win
BE109 2 years ago
what do you think about the prospects of a Triple Crown jockey in Calvin Borel (BoRail)? Does it hold any significance? Will you be watching, wagering, or both? I am going for Calvin.
starofderyk 2 years ago
I'm sorry for replying so late,but I was watching intensely,and I felt MTB was in trouble when he was so close to the pace way too soon as compared to his previous 2 races. Borel noted he was a bit aggressive and he didn't want to fight him too much,so he allowed MTB to move up,but that showed he was not as relaxed as before. When he hit the stretch he didn't have the same punch,though he did run on hard to finish a good 3rd.
BE109 2 years ago
the trainer wanted to put pat day on him to have him relax a lil more and stewy was ok with it but the owners wanted stewy up... i think that pat day would have been able to do it... nothing against stewart elliot he is a great jockey... but bailey, prado, solis, and team birdstone would not have won
hukeeaboo 2 years ago 5
omg crybaby wasn't Prado's fault. Can't hold your horse back when it's ready to make a run.
ilovevsboy25 2 years ago
2:35 is it my imagination, or does the crowd just groan?
DisappearingBoy88 2 years ago 2
Won big with a win/place/show on birdstone back in this race. Then, how about his kid!!! Mine that Bird also won me some big money! Birdstone, you are my all time fav horse!
HoldenMcneil1484 2 years ago
See what my boy did yesterday! (05-02-09)
getoffit7 2 years ago
The ABSOLUT killwer was the $80 joke!
whatitis117 2 years ago
Birdstone's no joke son, neither was Smarty, great race.
Necrocolon 2 years ago 2
What some seem to overlook is the simple fact that the vast majority of horses bred here in the US are not bred with 12 furlongs in mind. Thats a fact and it is regretable to put it mildly. But the current commercial market in general frowns on horses who excell at route type races. Usually do to the fact that many of these types mature later and need more ground before they start to show anything.Remember many nowdays want a precocious horse who will return their investment quickly.
BE109 2 years ago
if i ever get the chance i will bich slap jery baley for this crap.. he did not want a journey man jockey to win so he conspired with others to team up on smarty... If they would have switched the jockey to pat day like the trainer was thinking to do in order to preserve a lil more we would have had a triple crown winner. Elliott is great speed jockey/position jockey but he needs to be on the best horse.
edgar was so sad after this race was over for he had all that guilt to contend with...
hukeeaboo 2 years ago
Oh please. Odds-on favorites are always ganged-up on.
Smarty lost because he had no tendons left in his hooves by the time Servis got done pummelling him into the ground with that schedule. Three races in five weeks exposes this as it did with Big Brown. Elusive Quality had the world record on the turf, didn't do well on dirt.