Smarty opens 2-5, draws outside slot

Wednesday, June 2, 2004 | 10:57 a.m.

SUN WIRE REPORTS

NEW YORK -- A day after his jockey had to rush his fiancee to a New Jersey hospital, Smarty Jones was installed this morning as a 2-5 favorite to win the Belmont Stakes and become the first Triple Crown winner in 26 years.

Smarty Jones, an undefeated 3-year-old, will start from the far outside post position Saturday at Belmont Park in New York. Eight horses will start to the inside and try to interrupt the winning streak that has included the Kentucky Derby and Preakness Stakes.

"I'm happy with the post," said trainer John Servis. "Now he doesn't have to worry about what's going on outside of him. He can secure his position going into the first turn."

Purge, winner of the Peter Pan Stakes at Belmont on May 22, was listed as the second choice in the early betting line at 5-1. Preakess runner-up Rock Hard Ten was next at 8-1.

Besides becoming the first Triple Crown winner since Affirmed, Smarty Jones would earn a second $5 million bonus in five weeks by winning the Belmont Stakes and increase his career earnings to $13 million, passing Cigar as the leading money-earner in North American racing history.

The post position draw came less than 24 hours after Smarty Jones' jockey, Stewart Elliott, was forced to step away from the building fanfare surrounding the race to deal with his fiancee's sudden medical problems.

Elliott, 39, skipped a television appearance and a luncheon at Gallagher's Steak House in Manhattan so he could take Laura Vannozzi to Monmouth Medical Center in New Jersey early Tuesday morning. In a telephone interview Tuesday night, Elliott said that he still intended to ride Smarty Jones in the Belmont but that he was concerned about his fiancee's health.

Vannozzi was back at home Tuesday afternoon, but Elliott said her health would be closely monitored. He indicated it might need long-term attention.

"She is OK for now, which is a huge relief, but, of course, I'm worried," Elliott said. "She is at home and feeling better, and that's what's most important."

Elliott said he would ride today at Philadelphia Park, which is the home base for Smarty Jones and the track where Elliott has been the leading rider in recent years. He also said he would ride later this week at Monmouth Park on the Jersey Shore, where Elliott will be based this summer.

"We're going to get through this," Elliott said. "Getting her well is the most important thing to me. I've got a tremendous horse in Smarty Jones, and we're just going to keep doing what we're doing."

Elliott has ridden Smarty Jones flawlessly in guiding the colt to a perfect record -- eight victories in eight races. A Canadian-born jockey, Elliott is a recovering alcoholic who credits Vannozzi for giving him valuable support as he embarked on his Smarty Jones adventure with his friend, Servis. In recent weeks, as Elliott has been thrust into the spotlight along with everyone else connected with Smarty Jones, he has had to confront the disclosure of unflattering details from his past that were linked to his drinking problems. He has dealt with those disclosures on a straightforward basis without losing his focus; now he is being challenged again.

As for Smarty Jones, he headed for New York this morning, by van, in a procession that began about 6:30 a.m. PDT. The little chestnut colt who has captured the attention of America made the roughly 100-mile journey with the help of a tristate police escort, which accompanied him from Philadelphia Park into New Jersey and then across the Hudson River to New York, where he was taken to a barn at Belmont Park, on the border of Queens and Nassau County.

As Smarty Jones rode in the van, the draw for the Belmont was taking place at the track. Although nine horses entered, it is not clear if all them will make it to the starting gate on Saturday.

Purge may be the most eagerly anticipated entry in the field.

He is a front-running horse who could not keep up with Smarty Jones in the Rebel Stakes or the Arkansas Derby this year at Oaklawn Park. But he is perhaps vital to the chance of any challenger spoiling Smarty Jones' Triple Crown bid because no one else will be able to take on Smarty Jones at the front of the pack in the mile-and-a-half race.