Winners show mixed emotions

By Beth Harris
The Associated Press

AL BELLO / GETTY IMAGES Gov. George Pataki, right, gives the trophy to Birdstone's trainer, Nick Zito, left, and owner Marylou Whitney, second from right, yesterday.

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ELMONT, N.Y. — For jockey Edgar Prado, his upset of Smarty Jones in the Belmont Stakes lacked some of the joy that usually comes with victory.

Sure, he was happy to ride 36-1 shot Birdstone to the win yesterday. But Smarty Jones had become America's horse, a fan favorite in a sport longing to end a 26-year stretch without a Triple Crown winner.

One of Prado's first reactions? An apology to Smarty Jones' trainer, John Servis, and the rest of that team.

"I'm very sorry for Mr. Servis and all the connections for Smarty Jones, but I had to do my job," Prado said. "This is part of the business, and I'm very sorry it had to be me."

The rest of Birdstone's camp felt badly, too, from trainer Nick Zito to owner Marylou Whitney.

"It's sad because Smarty is great for racing," said Zito, who won the Belmont for the first time. "We've all become fans of Smarty Jones. He will still go down as one of the greats now."

Boos rang out from the record crowd of 120,139 when Birdstone returned to the winner's circle, as was the case last year after Empire Maker spoiled Funny Cide's Triple Crown try.

Prado knows something about stunning upsets. He won his first Belmont in 2002 aboard Sarava, a 70-1 shot who spoiled War Emblem's Triple Crown try.

Smarty became known as the "people's horse" because of his humble pedigree, his roots at blue-collar Philadelphia Park and his down-to-earth trainer, jockey Stewart Elliott and owners Pat and Roy Chapman.

Birdstone comes from the ritzy side of town. The colt was bred in Kentucky by Whitney, whose family has been in racing for three generations.

"I'm sorry, sorry, sorry Smarty Jones couldn't win," she said. "We do love Smarty, and I think Smarty Jones has done more for the racing community and people who love horses.

"It gives everyone the chance to think, 'This could happen to me.' "

Her husband, John Hendrickson, added, "We do feel horrible."

Whitney seemed shaken by the booing as she clutched a small bouquet of white carnations in the winner's circle.

"Maybe they'll start loving Birdstone," she said.

Birdstone lost luster with an eighth-place showing in the Kentucky Derby, where one of his shoes came off during the race.

Zito never lost faith; he merely adjusted his game plan.

"You have to just keep working hard and something might happen," he said.

Zito kept Birdstone out of the Preakness, and the colt spent the last three weeks training in New York.

"Smarty Jones is still pretty good, but this horse is bred for the distance," Prado said. "The time between races had him nice and fresh. I was very comfortable all the way around. I had a feeling he would run a real good race after the Derby."

Zito breaks through
Birdstone gave trainer Nick Zito his first Belmont Stakes victory. Native New Yorker Zito has a win, five seconds and two thirds from his 13 Belmont Stakes starters. He has won each of the Triple Crown races at least once.
Year	Horse	Finish
2004	Birdstone	Won
2004	Royal Assault	3rd
2001	A P Valentine	2nd
1999	Stephen Got Even	5th
1999	Adonis	12th
1996	Louis Quatorze	4th
1996	Saratoga Dandy	11th
1995	Star Standard	2nd
1994	Go For Gin	2nd
1992	Agincourt	7th
1991	Strike the Gold	2nd
1990	Thirty Six Red	2nd
1984	Morning Bob	3rd

Copyright © 2004 The Seattle Times Company

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