PHILADELPHIA – Smarty Jones has a bruised left front hoof and will not run in the Pennsylvania Derby, missing a chance to race in front of a hometown crowd at Philadelphia Park.
Roy Chapman, who owns the Kentucky Derby and Preakness winner with his wife, Pat, said Monday that Smarty Jones' injury is not serious, and the son of Elusive Quality should resume training shortly for either the Pegasus at the Meadowlands or the Super Derby at Louisiana Downs on Sept. 25.
"It's just a slight bruise, and we don't want to take any chances," Chapman said. "He just stepped on a stone or something. He looks fine.
He looks great, but John's just not happy with the little bruise," said Chapman, referring to trainer John Servis.
Servis earlier this month began preparing the Kentucky Derby and Preakness winner to run on Sept. 6. It would have been the 3-year-old colt's first start since his Triple Crown bid fell short in the Belmont Stakes on June 5.
The date for the Pegasus has yet to be set. Chapman said the new plan for Smarty Jones calls for one race before the Breeders' Cup Classic on Oct. 30 at Lone Star Park in Texas.
"We definitely want to get a race out of him before the Breeders' Cup," Chapman said. "We'll head for the Pegasus or the race in Louisiana."
Philadelphia Park issued a news release earlier Monday saying that Smarty Jones was being pulled out of contention for the track's premier attraction.
"It's a huge disappointment obviously, but you have to understand that's how the industry works," Hal Handel, chief executive officer at Philadelphia Park, said. "This horse means an awful lot to a lot of people and you have to do what's in his best interest."
Smarty Jones, based at Philadelphia Park, last ran at the track Nov. 20 and romped by 15 lengths in the Nursery Stakes for Pennsylvania-breds.
A record crowd of 30,000 was possible if Smarty Jones showed up for the Pennsylvania Derby. The current record is 28,692, set at the 1983 Pennsylvania Derby.
Associated Press
Roy Chapman, who owns the Kentucky Derby and Preakness winner with his wife, Pat, said Monday that Smarty Jones' injury is not serious, and the son of Elusive Quality should resume training shortly for either the Pegasus at the Meadowlands or the Super Derby at Louisiana Downs on Sept. 25.
"It's just a slight bruise, and we don't want to take any chances," Chapman said. "He just stepped on a stone or something. He looks fine.
He looks great, but John's just not happy with the little bruise," said Chapman, referring to trainer John Servis.
Servis earlier this month began preparing the Kentucky Derby and Preakness winner to run on Sept. 6. It would have been the 3-year-old colt's first start since his Triple Crown bid fell short in the Belmont Stakes on June 5.
The date for the Pegasus has yet to be set. Chapman said the new plan for Smarty Jones calls for one race before the Breeders' Cup Classic on Oct. 30 at Lone Star Park in Texas.
"We definitely want to get a race out of him before the Breeders' Cup," Chapman said. "We'll head for the Pegasus or the race in Louisiana."
Philadelphia Park issued a news release earlier Monday saying that Smarty Jones was being pulled out of contention for the track's premier attraction.
"It's a huge disappointment obviously, but you have to understand that's how the industry works," Hal Handel, chief executive officer at Philadelphia Park, said. "This horse means an awful lot to a lot of people and you have to do what's in his best interest."
Smarty Jones, based at Philadelphia Park, last ran at the track Nov. 20 and romped by 15 lengths in the Nursery Stakes for Pennsylvania-breds.
A record crowd of 30,000 was possible if Smarty Jones showed up for the Pennsylvania Derby. The current record is 28,692, set at the 1983 Pennsylvania Derby.
Associated Press
