Columnist Ralph Siraco: Smarty mania has arrived — and it’s thriving

Ralph Siraco

Monday, May 24, 2004 | 10:38 a.m.

Ralph Siraco's horse racing column appears Monday and his Southern California selections run Tuesday-Sunday.

By now I'm sure you realize it's a Smarty Jones world and we just live in it.

With less than two weeks until Smarty Jones tries to wrap up the Triple Crown, every place from Las Vegas to New York City is preparing for the Smarty party in anticipation of a rare celebration the world has been awaiting for 26 years.

There have been nine Kentucky Derby and Preakness Stakes winners who failed in the Belmont Stakes -- five in the past seven years -- since Affirmed won the Triple Crown in 1978, but this year it seems fate is with Smarty Jones to snap the streak of disappointments and take the 12th Triple Crown trophy in racing history.

Since the upstart chestnut son of Elusive Quality from the mare I'll Get Along captured the Run for the Roses and demolished the Run for the Black-eyed Susans, Smarty Jones has taken the country by storm. And he, along with most of Philadelphia, will be storming into Elmont, N.Y., for a date with racing destiny.

Smarty Jones is, however, no longer just Philadelphia's prodigal equine or just a star in the realm of thoroughbred racing; he is America's "feel-good story," reaching iconic proportions.

Smarty mania has arrived. And it is thriving.

A crowd estimated by Philadelphia Park officials at 8,500 to 10,000 people crammed the racetrack to sneak a peek at their city's newest sports star Saturday. To give you the magnitude of Smarty's popularity, that's about five times the average daily attendance for live racing at the Bensalem, Pa., track.

Just before 8 a.m. Saturday, Smarty fans rushed through the track gates racing for a prime viewing spot at the rail in anticipation of Smarty's morning workout. About an hour later, Smarty Jones appeared on the manicured racetrack, while his swelling fan base of railbirds cheered in unison as exercise rider Pete Van Trump guided Smarty through his morning routine without the slightest interruption.

Trainer John Servis, by media demand, has been holding press conferences in the track's paddock every other morning. People just can't get enough of Smarty Jones. They want to know his every move. And it seems as though Smarty is loving it. Servis opened his comments Saturday morning, after Smarty's 1 1/2-mile gallop by saying, "As you can see, Smarty's really doing fine."

That's all he needed to say.

The National Thoroughbred Racing Association -- racing's national marketing arm -- announced that Smarty Jones caps, T-shirts and other merchandise will be sold at racetracks across the country on Belmont Stakes day, June 5, with profits going to charity.

That, however, may pale by comparison to the feeding frenzied taking place on eBay.

As reported in Sunday's Daily Racing Form, there were 1,278 individual auctions of Smarty Jones memorabilia and associated items on the online site. At the top is a bid of $4,050 for two "preferred" grandstand seats at Belmont Park on Belmont Stakes day.

One unique item was a Kentucky Derby future book ticket bought on Smarty Jones to win the 2004 Kentucky Derby at 75-1 odds. The $5 bet was made at the Paris race book with a face value of $375, yet several bidders have driven the price to $500. Unlike the pari-mutuel tickets sold at Churchill Downs on Derby Day, the future book ticket has the name Smarty Jones "to win the 2004 Kentucky Derby" at 75-1 printed right on the ticket. The seller proclaims, "You'll never see Smarty Jones at 75-1 odds again."

Most of the items, however, are uncashed tote tickets from Churchill Downs for the Derby and Pimlico Race Course for the Preakness Stakes.

We expect to see Smarty's endorsement for president any day now.

While Smarty's popularity and legend grow, competition for the final leg of the Triple Crown shrinks. The Belmont Stakes field may have as few as six to challenge Smarty Jones in the 1 1/2-mile "test of champions."

On Saturday, the $200,000 Peter Pan Stakes was run over the Belmont track. Several would-be challengers to Smarty for the Belmont Stakes made their final case for testing the 3-year-old champion.

To show just how much respect -- or awe -- horsemen have for Smarty's talents, the connections of the Peter Pan winner will not chase Smarty in the Belmont Stakes. Although Purge won with authority in the 1 1/8-mile race, the Todd Pletcher trainee has faced the wrath of Smarty Jones before -- twice.

Smarty Jones manhandled Purge in both the Rebel Stakes and Arkansas Derby while at Oaklawn Park this winter and spring. The third time will not be a charm for Purge.

So that leaves just Birdstone, Eddington, Rock Hard Ten, Royal Assault, Tapit and possibly a healthy The Cliff's Edge to face Smarty Jones in the Belmont Stakes.

It seems the only thing standing in the way of Smarty Jones and history is time. Twelve days and counting, to be exact.