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Originally Posted by somerfrost
Just a reminder, Smarty ran the following fractions in the Belmont:
24 2/5, 48 4/5, 1:11 3/5, 1:35 2/5, 2:00 2/5....before struggling home in 2:27 3/5.
That means his first half mile was in 48 4/5
The second suicidal half he ran in 46 3/5 including 22 4/5 for the two furlongs between 4-6f
so...2f splits: 24 2/5, 24 2/5, 22 4/5, 23 4/5, 25, 27....horses can't do that second half in a 12f race and survive!
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I was a big fan of Smarty but did bet Birdstone also that day. Birdstone had the rest, the breeding, the trainer, plus the price.
The thing we forget, is what Birdstone was doing during those fractions. He wasn't exactly standing still either. He ran a very good race and may have won anyway. With slower middle fractions Smarty might have had more left and won -- but then maybe Birdstone would have tackled him earlier and won in a long duel. It's tough to say. Zito had Birdstone primed that day.
It seems that right now both Smarty and Birdstone are almost never mentioned in the press.
Smarty was a hell of a horse who brought serious game every time he was in the gate. Some of his races as a two year old were stunning.