Najstarija od tri trke za triplu krunu je prvi put istrčana 19.juna 1868na hipodromu Jerome Park (čudnog oblika za američke prilike, sa tri krivine). Pobednica je bila omica Ruthless koja je odnela prvu nagradu od $1.850, nadmašivši DeCourcey za glavu. Jedini prekid kada nije trčan Belmont Stakes je bio u periodu 1911-1912. Smatra se za najveći ispit trogodaca, kako distanca 2.400m nije tipična za SAD.
    Nekada je trčana i na dužoj distanci: 2.600m do 1873. Od 1890 varira od 1.800m do 2.200m. Konačno, 1926. se ustanovljava na 2.400m kada je pobedio Cruisader (sin legendarnog Man o' War-a koji je dao osvajača triple krune War Admiral-a>>) u vremenu 2:32.2.
     Belmont se smatra mestom finalne predstave i odluke ulaska grla u istoriju (can make or break a Triple Crown champion) i taj renome je opravdao tokom godina: 1943. Count Fleet>> do nogu tuče rivae sa 25 dužina; 1973. Secretariat posle 25 godina upisuje ime novog osvajača triple krune neprevaziđenom pobedom od 31 dužine i u rekornom vremenu, koji opstaje do danas; 1978. poslednji do danas osvajač triple krune Affirmed>> u već epskoj borbi i trčanjem glava-glava poslednju milju sa Alydar-om uvodi u istoriju i sebe i svog arhi-rivala.

Smary Jones i predstojeća trka u očima onih koji su osvojili tri poslednje triple krune...

1973. >> Secretariat
Penny Chenery, vlasnica
    "The world loves a winner, I want to be at Belmont. Everybody wants to be there to see if he can do it. It's an electric atmosphere all day with the build up. For non-racing people, it's a happening; for horse racing people, it's the second coming. It's a time when we want to feel good about something. He's (Smarty Jones) very appealing; he's easy to love. I had a red horse in blue and white colors and their horse is a red horse in blue and white colors." In comparing Smarty Jones to the other 11 winners of the Triple Crown, if he wins the Belmont, and wins it with style, then he deserves to be named with any of them"
    "It changes you forever because you instantly become associated with your horse," Chenery said. "It is something special for you, but also for other people. You have to be prepared to share that moment with everybody."
John Turcotte, jahač
    "I look for him to just gallop. I think he's 25 lengths better than the other 3-year-olds. He has a tremendous advantage. He has a trainer who is committed. The only thing that can stop him is that if he hurts himself or he's unable to get in the clear. I would give Stewart Elliott the same advice that (trainer) Lucien Lauren gave me in the paddock. Get up there and do your best. I rode Secretariat in most of his races and knew him well. Elliott has done the same thing. I'd tell him to play it by ear"

1977. >> Seattle Slew
Mickey Taylor, vlasnik
    "But the mystique of Smarty Jones is that he's undefeated. That adds a little extra pizzazz." While Seattle Slew is the only undefeated winner of the Triple Crown, Taylor said he wouldn't mind amending that statement to "first undefeated winner of the Triple Crown."
Karen Taylor, vlasnica
    "Smarty Jones has a cute name, and he loves to run and has speed. Because of the Internet, it makes more exciting for the fans, especially the kids.""It's important during the Triple Crown to have fun, but you have to take care of your horse and realize what a special animal you have."
Jean Cruget, jahač
    "All you have to do is guide him, Smarty Jones is quick to get into the race. It looks like it only takes him two or three jumps to get into the race. He has a similar running style to Seattle Slew.  "You only ride (the Belmont distance of) 1 1/2 miles maybe once a year, and it can be tough. If they go (a half) in :49 early, he can be OK, but if he goes in :47, then it's going to be a long way around there."

1978. >> Affirmed
Steve Cauthen, jahač
    "I can see him blowing the field away, I feel good about the Smarty Jones team. It takes a great team. You need to have confidence in each other going into that last race. Apparently they're gelling together and are on the same page."
    "The most important factor is to get the horse settled in the first half-mile or five-eighths of a mile. After that, they'll be no excuses. If he can get Smarty Jones to relax, at any point in the race, then they're (opponents) in trouble.
    "After the Arkansas Derby (gr. II), when I watched the race again, I thought to myself that if I could ride any horse in this year's Derby, it'd be Smarty Jones.
    "From what I've seen, Smarty Jones is a push-button horse. When he broke from the gate in the Preakness, it looked like he was going to go six furlongs. He reminded me of Affirmed, pricking his ears all the way down the stretch...but Affirmed had Alydar breathing down his neck.
    "I've been impressed with how Elliott and (trainer John) Servis have handled the situation, working as a team."
    "In a funny sort of way, you have to ride these three races like they are just any other races, The Belmont is tough. Once you get on the horse in the paddock, you can focus and go out and get the job done."

...

"We'll give the next $5 million to make Smarty Jones the most award-winning Thoroughbred in the history of the industry," Carl Pascarella, predsednik Visa "This is not just about Visa and the Visa Triple Crown. It's about Thoroughbred racing. I think it's about America. It's just such a great time to be part of this right now. I think this is the real deal. I think this is the time to really write the check. It's one payment Visa really, really wants to make."

Hoće li konačno biti dodeljen VISA trofej (na slici ispod) uz koji sledi i bonus od $5M? Smarty Jones ima priliku da bude tek dvanaesto grlo koje bi osvojilo triplu krunu, jedini posle Seattle Slew-a>> koji je to učinio neporažen, a i dospeo bi na vrh liste zarade svih vremena i to sa devet trčanja. Koliko je teško dobiti treću trku na najdužoj stazi u SAD govori dugačka lista slavnih imena koja je poklekla u samoj završnici...

1,2... ne i 3

* Forward Pass je dobio Kentucky Derby diskvalifikacijom
(-) grla Bold Venture i Burgoo King nisu startovala u Belmontu   

Smarty Jones

2004:    6 6-0-0 $7,333,535
karijera: 8 8-0-0 $7,383,155

2004

15.05 Preakness (Pimlico Race Course) (1.900m)    1:55.40      111/2
      Smarty Jones - Rock Hard Ten - Eddington

 01.05 Kentucky Derby (Churchill Downs) (2.000m)    2:04.06       2 3/4
      Smarty Jones - Lion Heart - Imperialism

 10.04 Arkansas Derby (Oaklawn Park) (1.800m)       1:49.41       1 1/2
      Smarty Jones - Borrego - Pro Prado

 20.03 Rebel Stakes (Oaklawn Park) (1.700m)        1:42.07       3 1/4
      Smarty Jones - Purge - Pro Prado

 28.02 The Southwest (Oaklawn Park) (1 milja)            1:37.57         3/4
      Smarty Jones - Two Down Automatic - Pro Prado

 03.01 Count Fleet Stakes (Aqueduct) (1 mile, 70 yds)   1:41.42           5
      Smarty Jones - Risky Trick - Mr. Spock


2003

 22.11 Pennsylvania Nursery Stakes (Philadelphia Park) (1.400m)
      Smarty Jones - Salty Punch - Isle of Mirth       1:21.88          15

 09.11 Maiden Race (Philadelphia Park) (1.200m)     1:11.00       7 3/4
      Smarty Jones - Deputy Rummy - Speedwell Beau

Svi osvajači triple krune>> do sada su imali bar jedan start na Belmontu pre odlučujuće trke. Devet od njih jedanaest je pobedilo, dok su samo Gallant Fox i Omaha bili drugoplasirani u prethodnom trčanju na ovoj stazi. Ne i Smarty Jones. On nikada ranije nije trčao na ovoj brzoj ovalnoj stazi. Legendarni trener Woody Stephens koji ima pet uzastopnih pobeda u ovoj trci ima običaj da kaže: "Oni soliteri umeju biti prokleto visoki kada pređete reku Hudson". Ali mnogi ne misle tako...

Bobby Frankel "Seattle Slew used to get hot if somebody got too close to him. This colt, nothing bothers him. Secretariat, he didn't like an off track, he got beat a couple of times on an off track. The horse he reminds me the most of is Spectacular Bid, because Spectacular Bid was like that: he'd rate, he'd go to the lead, he'd handle any surface."

Cigar $9,999,815 / Skip Away $9,616,360 / Silver Charm $6,944,369 Smarty Jones ima šansu da dođe na vrh liste po zaradi svih vremena u smo devet startova...

     Ukoliko Smarty Jones dobije Belmont Stakes, glavna ulica pokraj hipodroma u Filadelfiji će biti preimenovana u "Smarty Jones Boulevard"...

Belmont Park subota 22.maj
$200,000 "Peter Pan Stakes" 1.800m
(priprema za Belmont Stakes)
1.Purge (R.Velasquez) 1:47.89 63/4d 3.4
2.Swing for the Fences (S.Bridgmohan) 13/4d  3.Master David (A.Solis)   4.Pies Prospect (J.Castellano)
5.Intimidator 6.Zakocity 7.FriendsLake 8.SinisterG 9.Consecrate 10.WildWadi
dubl po redu 19.1 / triling po redu 52.0
Purge je u prethodna dva starta sa Smarty-jem bio 2.(Rebel Stakes) i 5.(Arkansas Derby). ``We thought we had a good chance today,'' trener Todd Pletcher``Part of the key was that we weren't being chased by Smarty Jones. We didn't really plan on running in the Belmont, so we'll play it by ear. I would say that anything is a possibility.''

Kako su dobijali i gubili...

Funny Cide (2003) >>
Trener: Barclay Tagg
7.jun Belmont Stakes -- Samo 5 protivnika, među kojima i Empire Maker(KyDerby - 2) koji je i dobio trku.Funny Cide je stigao treći. Empire Maker je propustio Preakness posle drugog mesta u derbiju i kasnije se potvrdilo ozledom kopita koja je i bila uzrok povlačenja iz trka na kraju sezone.
Workouts June 3 Bel 5f :57 4/5 --- May 28 Bel 5f :59 2/5

War Emblem (2002)
Trener: Bob Baffert
8.jun Belmont Stakes -- Sarava, pobednik "Sir Barton Stakes" na dan Preakness-a, iznenadio pobedom i kvotom 70-1 sve na Belmont-u.  War Emblem se spotakao na startu i tek osmi, što je najlošiji plasman svih pobednika Derby/Preakness u Belmont Stakes.
Workouts June 4 CD 5f 1:01 --- May 29 CD 5f 1:00 3/5

Real Quiet (1998)
Trener: Bob Baffert
6.jun Belmont Stakes -- Iako je imao prednost od 4 dužine na ulasku u pravac, Real Quiet je izgubio za njušku od upornog  i drugoplasiranog  u prethodne dve trke Derby/Preakness, Victory Gallop-a (CAN).>>
Workouts June 2 CD 5f 1:01 --- May 28 CD 5f :59 4/5

Pleasant Colony (1981) >>
Trener: John Campo
6. Belmont Stakes -- Pleasant Colony rtreći iza Summing-a, koji je potvrdio da je njegovo vreme u radu na milju od 1:37.9 za respekt te nedelje na Belmontu.
Workouts June 3 Bel 4f :46 1/5 --- May 30 Bel 8f 1:39 2/5 --- May 24 Bel 5f :59 4/5

Spectacular Bid (1979) >>
Trener: Bud Delp
9.jun Belmont Stakes -- Spectacular Bid, koga su misteriozna čioda u kopitu pre trke, kao i očajno jahanje u samoj trci omeli da dobije i Belmont, bio je tek treći. Pobednik Coastal, je bio impresivan u pobedi od 13d u "Peter Pan Stakes" pre ove trke.
Workouts June 8 Bel 3f :34 1/5 --- June 4 Bel 8f 1:39 --- May 31 Pim 7f 1:26

Affirmed (1978) Triple Crown Winner >>
Trener: Lazaro Barrera
10.jun Belmont Stakes -- Trka u kojoj je Affirmed bio za njušku bolji od Derby/Preakness drugoplasiranog Alydar-a smatra se najboljom trkom u istoriji Belmont Stakes-a.
Workouts June 7 Bel 5f 1:01 --- June 1 Bel 8f 1:40 1/5

Seattle Slew (1977) Triple Crown Winner >>
Trener: Billy Turner
11.jun Belmont Stakes -- Prvi neporažen osvajač triple krune je ovom pobedom od 4 dužine došao do broja devet.
Workouts
June 10 Bel 3f :35 4/5
June 7 Bel 6f 1:11 3/5
June 2 Bel 8f 1:38 2/5

Secretariat (1973) Triple Crown Winner >>
Trener: Lucien Laurin
9.jun Belmont Stakes -- Durbin je bio od pomoći kada je Secretariat dobio Belmont sa 31 dužinom u rekordnom vremenu 2:24 koje je i danas rekord distance. On je ujedno i prvi osvajač triple krune posle 1948. kada je to uspelo Citation-u.
Workouts June 6 Bel 4f :46 3/5 --- June 1 Bel 8f 1:34 4/5 --- May 27 Bel 6f 1:12 1/5

Canonero II (1971) >>
Trener: Juan Arias
5.jun Belmont Stakes -- Canonero je rano poveo, ali je na kraju bio tek četvrti. Pobednik autsajder Pass Catcher.
Workouts June 2 Bel 5f 1:04 --- May 26 Bel 4f :53 2/5

Majestic Prince (1969) >>
Trener John Longden >>
7.jun Belmont Stakes -- Majestic Prince nije izdržao pritisak drugoplasiranog u Derby/Preakness, Arts and Letters, koji je imao dovoljno snage da dobije i "Metropolitan Handicap" između Preakness-a i Belmont-a.
Workouts June 5 Bel 4f :45 4/5 --- June 1 Bel 9f 1:51 4/5 --- May 27 Bel 5f :58 2/5

    Svi osvajači triple krune>> do sada su imali bar jedan start na Belmontu pre odlučujuće trke. Devet od njih jedanaest je pobedilo, dok su samo Gallant Fox i Omaha bili drugoplasirani u prethodnom trčanju na ovoj stazi. Ne i Smarty Jones. On nikada ranije nije trčao na ovoj brzoj ovalnoj stazi. Legendarni trener Woody Stephens koji ima pet uzastopnih pobeda u ovoj trci ima običaj da kaže: "Oni soliteri umeju biti prokleto visoki kada pređete reku Hudson". Ali mnogi ne misle tako...

      "The intriguing part of Smarty Jones is we don't feel like we've seen the bottom of him," Penny Chenery, vlasnica Secretariat-a koji je 1973 osvojio triplu krunu rekordnom pobedom u Belmonu od 31 dužine "He seems to have limitless ability."

Smarty Jones je posle Spectacular Bid-a 1979 koji je dobio KyDerby i Preakness kao favorit. Uz to je i nadmašio najveću marginu od 10d u cilju koju je do sada držao Survivor još od 1873. U poslednjih osam godina, šest grla je dobilo prve dve trke za triplu krunu (Silver Charm 97, Real Quiet 98, Charismatic 99, War Emblem 02, Funny Cide 03, Smarty Jones 04) ali je Smarty imao najmanju kvotu (1.7) na kladionici od svih. Ide Belmont...

     Hipodrom Pimlico, Baltimore je otvoren 1870 na inicijativu guvernera Merilenda Oden Bowiea kada je i nastupio Preakness, prvo veliko ime tadašnjeg galopa SAD koje je potrčalo na ovoj stazi. Preakness Stakes je ustanovljen 1873, dve godine pre nego je Lewis M.Clark postavio Kentucky Derby u trkački kalendar i prvobitna distanca je bila 2.400m. Potom je smanjena na 1.800m da bi od 1920 zadržana na 1.900m. Neko vreme je trčan na Gravesend hipodromu, Brooklyn (15 godina). 1909 trka je vraćena u Pimlico. Takođe, 20-tih i početkom 30-ih godina 20.veka, Preakness se trčao pre KyDerby-ja, a zatim se trčao samo nedelju dana posle trke ruža. sadašnji raspored na dve nedelje datira od početka 40-ih godina.

$1,000,000 "Preakness Stakes" 1.900m

1. Smarty Jones (S.Elliott) 1:55.59 111/2d 1.7
2. Rock Hard Ten (G.Stevens)
3. Eddington (J.Bailey)
4. Lion Heart (M.Smith)
5.Imperialism 6.SirShackleton 7.Borrego 8.LittleMatthMan 9.SongoftheSword 10.WaterCannon
dubl po redu 12.3 / triling po redu 88.6
hipo kare po redu 115.3

st.b   pobeda   poslednji pobednik
----     -------     -----------
  1         9         1994 - Tabasco Cat
  2        11        1986 - Snow Chief
  3        11        1993 - Prairie Bayou
  4        12        2000 - Red Bullet
  5        10        1976 - Elocutionist
  6        14        1999 - Charismatic
  7        11        1997 - Silver Charm
  8         9         2002 - War Emblem
  9         3         2003 - Funny Cide
 10        2         1998 - Real Quiet
 11        2         2001 - Point Given
 12        2         1981 - Pleasant Colony

*  1918. Preakness je imao dva trčanja

   Sudeći po treneru Servisu, nismo uzalud kao najveće favorite uz prva tri iz derbija predstavili upravo grla Eddington i Rock Hard Ten...

    ``When my horse goes to make his move, I think Rock Hard Ten and Eddington will move, too,'' trener  Smarty Jones-a, John Servis  ``Instead of one horse, Lion Heart will have three or four chasing him.'The last thing I want is for my horse to go too soon,''

    ``We play to win, obviously,'' trener Lion Heart-a, Biancone ``I know it's going to be very difficult to beat Smarty Jones, but we are going to try. If we do it, well done. If we cannot, we cannot. You cannot punish your horse because another one is better than him.''

    ``When my horse goes to make his move, I think Rock Hard Ten and Eddington will move, too,'' trener  Smarty Jones-a, John Servis  ``Instead of one horse, Lion Heart will have three or four chasing him.'The last thing I want is for my horse to go too soon,''

    We've had a lot of luck with number seven," trener  Smarty Jones-a, John Servis  Otac Smarty-ja, Elusive Quality je sa iste startne pozicije dobio u svoje vreme Rebel Stakes, a i Smarty je do sada nanizao sedam pobeda...

    "We may surprise some people," trener Lion Heart-a, Biancone"I took post one because we want to be on the inside. We're happy with the draw. If we had gone first we still would have taken Post 1."

    "We're ready for Saturday," trener Eddington-a, Mark Henning"He's been anxious. He was ready to run two weeks ago, and since then we've tried to keep him on an even keel. We opened his blinkers just a touch for this race.

Preakness workouts
sreda
Song of the Sword 1:01.8 1.000m
ponedeljak
Little Matth Man 0:46.8 800m / 0:59.4 1.000m
Rock Hard Ten 1:01.0 1.000m
Borrego 0:46.0 800m / 0:59.2 1.000m
nedelja
Sir Shackleton 0:59.2 1.000m
subota
The Cliff's Edge 0:48.4 800m

Imperialism (Langfuhr--Bodhavista/Pass the Tab) je u finišu San Rafael Stakes osetio slast pobede nad Lion Heart-om u poslednjim metrima. U derbiju je kasno "uhvatio tlo pod nogama" na teškoj stazi i sa 17. došao na treće mesto. Ovoga puta će biti manja gužva na stazi, a i startuje tik uz prvog favorita Smarty-ja. Jak, borac u finišu, ima jednu veliku trku više kao iskustvo. Tu je i veliki džokej Kent Desormeaux. InBreeding 3x4  Northern Dancer, 4x4x5 Nearctic, 4x5 Natalma, 5x5 Nearco, 5x5 *Lady Angela Dosage 3.00
2003 2.--Mecke S. 3.--Foolish Pleasure S.
2004 1.--San Rafael S. (G2) 1.--San Vicente S. (G2) 2.--Santa Anita Derby (G1) 3.--Kentucky Derby (G1)

Lion Heart (Tale of the Cat - Satin Sunrise / Mr.Leader) veoma brz, možda i najbrži od svih trogodaca koji su konkurisali za KyDerby. Naše podsećanje da ga "hvataju" u poslednjim metrima na distancama od 1.800m se potvrdilo i u derbiju na 2.000m. Ipak, srčanog borca konstantna forma i malo kraća staza ovoga puta 1.900m drži u vrhu favorita za Preakness. Ono malo što nedostaje kada je najteže možda konačno pronađe 15.maja. InBreeding  3x5  Hail to Reason // Dosage 3.00
2003 1.--Hollywood Futurity (G1) 1.--Hollywood Prevue S. (G3)
2004 2.--Kentucky Derby (G1) 2.--Blue Grass S. (G1) 2.--San Rafael S. (G2)

Eddington(Unbridled-FashionStar/Chief'sCrown) sin Unbridled-a (KyDerby 1990) plasiran u svih 6 startova stiže u Pimlico. U sedlu će biti Jerry Bailey koji ima dve pobede u Preakness-u (Hansel 1991, Red Bullet 2000) i čiji je prvi izbor za trku ruža bio upravo Eddington (poslednji plasman "Wood Memorial" III mesto; za 1/2d ispred su bili Tapit i Master David).  “Everything with the horse is okay, he is definitely doing well,” trener Mark Hennig. “He will do his usual routine today (Tuesday) and go out for a mile and three-quarters gallop.”  InBreeding 5x5  Aspidistra, 5x5  Somethingroyal // Dosage 1.92 

Rock Hard Ten(Kris S.-Tersa/Mr.Prospector) jedan je od najinteresantnijih učesnika. Privukao je pažnju istrčavši 101 u svom prvom startu u Santa Aniti. Formu je ponovio sa 99 i u drugom startu i pobedi. U trećem startu bio je drugi iza Castledale u "Santa Anita Derby"-ju ali je distanciran na treće mesto zbog ometanja Imperialism-a. Ovo se pokazalo fatalnim za ulazak u prvih 20 za derbi. U sedlu će biti Gary Stevens koji ga je jahao u prve dve pobede i koji posebno za ovu priliku dolazi iz Francuske gde jaše ove sezone. InBreeding  3x4  Hail to Reason, 4x5  *Turn-to, 4x5  Nothirdchance, 4x4  Nashua, 5x5 to *Nasrullah // Dosage  2.11

Smarty Jones (Elusive Quality-I'll Get Along/Smile)  InBreeding  5x5x5 to Bold Ruler  // Dosage  3.4

    Smarty Jones je istrčao istu formu (107) kao i u pripremnim trkama "Rebel Stakes" i "Arkansas Derby", Read the Footnotes("Fountain of Youth" 113) i The Cliff's Edge i Lion Heart("Blue Grass Hand."111) su trčali bolje ove godine, dok je Pollard's Vision istrčao istu formu 107 dobivši "Illinois Derby". Većina je u derbiju podbacila:
Borrego (Kentucky Derby-83; Arkansas Derby 105)
Castledale (Kentucky Derby-70; Santa Anita Derby 103)
Friends Lake (Kentucky Derby-54; Florida Derby 92)
Master David (Kentucky Derby 80-Wood Memorial 97)
Minister Eric (Kentucky Derby 53-Keeneland allow. 100)
Pollard's Vision (Kentucky Derby 48; Illinois Derby 107)
Pro Prado (Kentucky Derby 78; Arkansas Derby 102)
Song of the Sword (Kentucky Derby 82; Lexington 97)
Tapit (Kentucky Derby 84; Wood Memorial 98)
The Cliff's Edge (Kentucky Derby 89; Blue Grass 111)
    Jedino grlo koje "nije osetilo" tešku stazu u finišu je Imperialism koji je sa 17.mesta došao treći. Grla retko imaju pad forme od 20-30 pa i 50, ne bez razloga. Ovoga puta jednostavno se većina nije snašla po veoma teškoj stazi, a slučaj je hteo da derbi bude jedna od onih trka koje su imale teške uslove.
   Smarty je istrčao konstantno dobru formu. Njegova pobeda nije bila slučaj, niti da to ne može ponoviti za dve nedelje. Prateći vremena u brzom radu pred derbi, Smarty je imao najbolje vreme. To nije bilo razmetanje. Uz napomenu da ovoga puta startuju i Eddington(prvi izbor Bailey-a) i Rock Hard Ten, samo malo nedostaje da Smarty Jones "napravi siguran posao".

      Guverner Pensilvanije Ed Rendell posetio Smarty Jones-a povodom proglašenja 15.maja za  Smarty Jones Day u Pensilvaniji.
     Smarty Jones prvi put na Philadelphia Park-u na javnom treningu posle derbija pred velikim brojem gledalaca. Smarty je poslednji put trenirao na domaćoj stazi još prve nedelje januara, kada ga je bolje poznavala tek nekolicina.
      Stewart Elliott dobio licencu za Preakness Stakes!!!
     Eddington i Jerry Bailey će konačno biti u prilici da pokažu da im je bilo mesta među 20 na Churchill Downs. Očekuje se njihov siguran nastup u Preakness Stakes 15.maja
     Dan pre Preakness Stakes u $500,000 "Pimlico Special" Gr-1 očekuje se start: Funny Cide(dobio Preakness prošle godine sa 93/4d), Midway Road, Dynever, Southern Image i Evening Attire. Tip bgturf-a je Southern Image...
      Smarty Jones ipak siguran putnik za Baltimor. Očekivani starteri su još i derbisti LionHeart, TheCliff'sEdge, Imperialism, Borrego uz "novajlije" RockHardTen, Eddington i WaterCannon. "He's doing great," trener Smarty-ja, John Servis "I see no reason why we wouldn't be heading to the Preakness. This story is great for our industry."
   Rock Hard Ten i Eddington najavljeni za Preakness Stakes. U poslednjih 50 godina samo šest grla je dobilo Preakness, a da nisu prethodno startovala u derbiju: GreekMoney (1962), BeeBeeBee (1972), Aloma'sRuler (1982), DeputedTestamony(1983) i RedBullet (2000). Najpoznatiji pobednik Preakness-a  bez starta u derbiju je Man o' War(1920).

$500,000 "Pimlico Special" 1.900m
1.Southern Image (V.Espinoza) 1:55.89 2.9
2. Midway Road (R.Albarado) 11/4d
3. Bowman's Band (R.Dominguez)
4. Evening Attire (E.Prado)
5. Dynever (C.Nakatani)
6. Ole Faunty (P.Day)
Funny Cide nije startovao (fav 1.5 uz Dynever)
dubl po redu 17.0 / triling po redu 125.4
hipo kare po redu 168.4
Šesta pobeda u sedam startova za Southern Image, lakše nego što govori margina od 11/4d. Da podsetimo da je Southern Image bio i naš tip za ovu trku, iako su svi očekivali revanš Funny Cide i Midway Road iz prošlogodišnjeg Preakness Stakes, kao i Dynever-a koji tokom čitave trke nije bio "u igri".
``That was quite a stretch duel,'' džokej Espinoza ``I didn't know when we would go by, but I had confidence we would. I thought I had the best horse and that's why I didn't want to move too soon.''

Ultimatebet.com 1,000 Guineas Stakes
Newmarket Gr-1 1.609m
1 Attraction (K Darley) 11-2
2 Sundrop (K McEvoy) 16-1
3 Hathrah (R Hills) 6-1
16 grla ½l, ½l.

Ultimatebet.com 2,000 Guineas Stakes  
Newmarket Gr-1 1.609m
1 Haafhd (R Hills) 11-2
2 Snow Ridge (L Dettori) 8-1
3 Azamour (M Kinane) 25-1
14 grla Dist: 1¾l, 1l.

Kentucky Derby $1,000,000 Gr-1 2.000m 3g.