Smarty Jones Classic

[blackthroatedwind]

Originally Posted by randallscott35

Not being able to witness that Belmont, how much of a natural sprinter was he Andy? And how was he able to get him 12 furlongs.

To be honest my recall of specific careers isn't great from that time, though I was at Aqueduct when he won the 1975 Wood Memorial ( beating Songkisser easily ), but he was a bullet. He arrived in Saratoga in 1975 after having won, I believe, quite a few races in Puerto Rico, and simply demolished the field in one of the 2YO stakes leading up to the Hopeful. I cannot tell you what he did from there to the Wood. Honest Pleasure was all the rage going into that Derby, which I believe had a small field ( eight? ), after crushing in the Flamingo and Florida Derby ( where I believe he covered the 1 1/8 miles in 1:46 4/5 ). But, Bold Forbes wired him in the Derby. From there, Honest Pleasure's connections vowed not to let him get away on the lead in the Preakness, and all hell broke loose ( much like in 1988 ), and while Honest Pleasure faded to fifth or sixth ( there were only six ) Bold Forbes did manage to run third to Elocutionist who took great advantage of the pace. As usual, few were left for the Belmont, and Bold Forbes gamely held off McKenzie Bridge and Great Contractor ( who had actually run 1 1/2 previously having competed in a 1 1/2 grass stake in Florida against olders a couple months or so previous ). While his competition was not super strong, it was an amazing achievement, especially for a horse who less than a year earlier was the sensation in 2YO sprints in Puerto Rico.

The rest of the year for him is sketchy to me but he may have made his one and only other start in the 7F Vosburgh where he was upset by the mighty My Juliet.

On how he was able to carry his speed the 1 1/2 of the Belmont.....it felt as though Cordero carried him over the wire. I can still remember watching that race.