ANd I was a nonbeliever in Smarty to begin with. Here was the process.

1. Must win the Arkansas to get into the Derby, the pressure is on, will he fold, no. I thought he would.
2. The Derby. Sloppy track, could be a fluke. The field destroyed.
3. Preakness. Some of the good runners holding off till the Belmont. Crushes the field. Im saying Ok he is good.
4. BELMONT: Double teamed by two very very good horses, he crushes them both, he HOLDS form grudgingly letting Birdstone by, in one of the most wonderful displays of courage I have ever seen by a horse.

Smarty JOnes was shaking in his stall after the race. He could barely stand. The horse was magical. Small, breeding questionable compared to many others, so some people blow the performance off. THAT BELMONT WAS ONE OF THE GREATEST DISPLAYS OF EFFORT EVER.

Smarty is annointed by Pope pgardn at that point. One loss in his career. His last. AT 1 1/2 miles. Dont diss my Smarty. He got the chance to show his stuff. Lets hope Bernardini gets that chance by please letting him run at Four... This is just not a deep BCC year. Megs, Congaree, Pleasantly Perfect, a younger Perfect Drift, where are you...