Smarty Jones Stays Benched

The comeback of Kentucky Derby and Preakness winner Smarty Jones has been put on hold.

The 3-year-old son of Elusive Quality will not run in the $750,000 Pennsylvania Derby on Sept. 6 at Philadelphia Park. Owners Roy and Patricia Chapman had selected that race so fans at the track where the Pennsylvania-bred began his career would have another chance to see him run in person before he is retired to stud.

Smarty Jones, winner of eight of nine starts, was scheduled to run in the Pegasus Handicap at the Meadowlands after the Pennsylvania Derby, then take on older horses for the first time in the Breeders’ Cup Classic on Oct. 30 at Lone Star Park in Texas.

“[Trainer] John [Servis] told us that he didn’t feel Smarty Jones’ training was progressing to where he would be able to make the race,” said Hal Handel, Philadelphia Park’s chief operating officer. “Obviously, it’s a huge disappointment, but you have to understand how the industry works. This horse means an awful lot to a lot of people and you have to do what is in the best interest of the horse.”

Smarty Jones, who finished second to Birdstone in the Belmont Stakes on June 5 when thwarted in his attempt to become the first Triple Crown winner since 1978, had been scheduled to have his first workout since that race today.

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With Alex Solis, the regular rider for Pleasantly Perfect, expected to be sidelined for three months with back and rib injuries suffered in a spill on Friday at Del Mar, trainer Richard Mandella has gotten a commitment from jockey Jerry Bailey to ride the 2003 Breeders’ Cup Classic winner in both the $1-million Pacific Classic on Aug. 22 at Del Mar and the Breeders’ Cup Classic.

Because Bailey is scheduled to ride Sightseek in Sunday’s $250,000 Go For Wand at Saratoga, Mandella and owner Gerald Ford will use jockey Mike Smith, who rode the horse earlier in his career, on Pleasantly Perfect in Sunday’s $250,000 San Diego Handicap at Del Mar.

The prep for the Pacific Classic will be Pleasantly Perfect’s first start since he won the Dubai World Cup four months ago.

Bailey has finished second in two previous Pacific Classics. Dare And Go, who was trained by Mandella, ended Cigar’s win streak at 16 in the race in 1996, and Bailey was aboard Medaglia d’Oro last year when he was no match for Candy Ride.