Philly's Horse Wins The Derby!
Philly Horse Rallies For Win
Philly's blue-collar thoroughbred Smarty Jones is now Philadelphia's favorite son.
The blue-collar thoroughbred rallied down the stretch to beat Lion Heart in a thrilling win in the Kentucky Derby.
Smarty stalked Lion Heart for most of the race in second place, then passed Lion Heart to win by several lengths.
The victory triggered the biggest payoff in the game, with the undefeated Smarty Jones earning a $5 million bonus from Oaklawn Park along with the Derby winner's share of $854,800.
Smarty Jones became the pre-race favorite after a sudden rainstorm turned the race track sloppy.
Smarty Jones was a 4-1 bet, while Lion Heart was 5-1, Tapit was 6-1 and the former favorite, The Cliff's Edge, was 8-1.
Heavy rain sent fans scurrying about two hours before the Derby went off. Within minutes a waist-deep lake materialized in the infield and already-soaked spectators took turns jumping in.
An undersized chestnut, Smarty Jones had difficulties getting to the Derby that could fill two barns.
Barely nine months ago, before his first race, Smarty's handlers were training him in the starting gate when the horse suddenly reared, struck his head on an iron bar and knocked himself cold.
But the strivers and unknowns hitched their star to the gritty Chester, Pa.-bred. They watched him win race after race -- six in all without a defeat -- all the way to the starting gate at Churchill Downs.
Philly Horse Rallies For Win
Philly's blue-collar thoroughbred Smarty Jones is now Philadelphia's favorite son.
The blue-collar thoroughbred rallied down the stretch to beat Lion Heart in a thrilling win in the Kentucky Derby.
Smarty stalked Lion Heart for most of the race in second place, then passed Lion Heart to win by several lengths.
The victory triggered the biggest payoff in the game, with the undefeated Smarty Jones earning a $5 million bonus from Oaklawn Park along with the Derby winner's share of $854,800.
Smarty Jones became the pre-race favorite after a sudden rainstorm turned the race track sloppy.
Smarty Jones was a 4-1 bet, while Lion Heart was 5-1, Tapit was 6-1 and the former favorite, The Cliff's Edge, was 8-1.
Heavy rain sent fans scurrying about two hours before the Derby went off. Within minutes a waist-deep lake materialized in the infield and already-soaked spectators took turns jumping in.
An undersized chestnut, Smarty Jones had difficulties getting to the Derby that could fill two barns.
Barely nine months ago, before his first race, Smarty's handlers were training him in the starting gate when the horse suddenly reared, struck his head on an iron bar and knocked himself cold.
But the strivers and unknowns hitched their star to the gritty Chester, Pa.-bred. They watched him win race after race -- six in all without a defeat -- all the way to the starting gate at Churchill Downs.
Great Race, happy for All!
