Smarty Jones chokes!

[DaytonBuck]

I'm not suprised this is like the second or third time a horse gone into the Belmont and fallen. What I don't get is why this horse had more hype than War Emblem or Real Quiet going into the Belmont?

 

[Nixon]

His undefeated record and his more impressive victories. From what I recall, War Emblem was a speedy front runner and so nobody really thought he'd fare so well in the Belmont to begin with.

Plus Smarty had great storylines: almost killed himself, murdered trainer, trainer and jockey weren't big names, etc. But make no mistake: Smarty was a better horse then most of the other ones(Spectacular Bid is the best IMO of the 10 who have some up short since 1978. Smarty is right up there. He almost did it too, as did Real Quiet, while others have been much further away).

 

[WoodyWorshiper]

I think Smarty's name as well as his bloodlines to Secretariat got people all fired up, which was really great for the sport.

The bottom line is that the extra distance killed Smarty. Birdstone had won at belmont before. If the race had ended at the same distance as the Derby or the Preakness then Smarty would have won. The Belmont is just a different race, which makes the previous winners of the Triple Crown THAT much more impressive to have won all three. Smarty didn't "choke" nor did anyone on his team.

 

[BuckeyeNation27]

i root against every triple crown possibility. does that make me a tibor sized asshole? i just dont like how the media drools over these horses like they are anywhere near secretariate or cigar.

it also pisses me off that nobody has any idea who is going to win the kentucky derby, but by god if the same horse wins that and the preakness is a guarantee that hes going to win the belmont....despite the fact that it has happened only like 7 times and hasnt happened in nearly 30 years. bunch of media people just trying to be the next voice heard when somebody talks about a specific event.

plus, it was gay that philly sports fans somehow claimed this as a philly sport. retards, just because he was born in philly doesnt make him a fucking eagle or flyer. i hate philly.

 

[Nixon]

How can the horses be near Secretariat or Cigar, they haven't had a chance to prove themselves yet. Secretariat set time records at the Kentucky Derby and the Preakness but didn't win them running away. It was the Belmont that made Secretariat the legend he is today. And of course he won a bunch of races afterwards too...which the horses today have no chance to do until after the Triple Crown is over.

Cigar...he didn't even race in the big triple crown races as a 3 year old. Smarty Jones could become every bit as good as Cigar two years from now. Probably not. That doesn't diminish his accomplishments today.

Smarty WAS undefeated, he was the favorite to win the Derby, and he won impressively. If he would have won by a nose on Saturday he would be every bit better than some of the lesser Triple Crown winners like Assault and Omaha.

Diminishing Smarty Jones because he's not Secretariat is like diminishing Lydell Ross because he's not Archie Griffin.

 

[BuckeyeNation27]

but talking about lydell ross like he is archie griffin just so you can have your voice attached to the video clip they play 50 years from now is rediculous. and thats why we get smarty jones crammed down our throats.

in 3 weeks you ask the average sports fan the name of the horse that couldnt complete the triple crown.....they wont be able to tell you.

 

[Nixon]

If Smarty Jones would have won(and he came pretty darn close) he would be every bit as worthy as the other triple crown winners. No, he's wouldn't have been Secretariat--nobody is Secretariat. I am no horseracing expert but he is easily the best horse in the Triple Crown I have seen in 10 years of paying attention(with the possible exception of Point Given).