Smarty Jones Update

Smarty Jones was one of the more popular Triple Crown contenders in recent years as he was the first undefeated winner of the Kentucky Derby since Seattle Slew in 1977. He went on to win the Preakness, but just got edged by Birdstone to miss becoming only the twelfth Triple Crown winner in history.

Birdstone of course, is again in the limelight as a stallion having sired both Kentucky Derby winner Mine That Bird and Belmont Stakes winner Summer Bird. Birdstone's stallion fee of $10,000 will surely be much more expensive for those wanting to breed their mares to him in 2010.

Breedings to Smarty Jones are available privately for Smarty Jones who like Birdstone, has his oldest runners now racing as 3-year-olds.

While browsing through some things posted by friends on Facebook, I happened on a this photo of a Smarty Jones' offspring posted by Three Chimney Farms where Smarty Jones now resides near Lexington, Kentucky. Kiddari (Top Photo), a 3-year-old filly owned and bred by Frank and Jane Lyon's Summer Wind Farms, is shown winning her second consecutive race at Churchill Downs Saturday. This was a $50,200 allowance race, (the highest level of races behind only stakes) and boosted her earnings to $63,355 in her young career.

The top money earner for Smarty Jones is Be Smart, who as a 2-year-old filly last year was a second-place finisher in the grade 1 Darley Acibiades Stakes at Keeneland behind Dream Express and has earned $137,500.


His other recent winner is Backtalk, a 2-year-old colt trained by Tom Amoss who broke his maiden at Churchill Downs last Thursday. Backtalk won in his first try and is Smarty Jones' first winner from his class. Another recent maiden winner is Ritzy Jones (Bottom Photo) shown winning at Philadephia Park.