Smarty claims Preakness win

Smarty Jones eased to victory by a record margin

Smarty Jones claimed the second leg of the US Triple Crown with victory in the Preakness Stakes on Saturday.

The Kentucky Derby winner went ahead into the turn for home and won by a record 11-and-a-half lengths.

A total of 11 horses have won the Triple Crown but none have done so since Affirmed achieved it in 1978.

Smarty Jones, who is virtually blind in one eye after fracturing his skull in a stalls accident last year, has won all seven races of his career so far.

The margin of victory on Saturday topped the record of 10 lengths by Survivor in 1873, in the first Preakness.

The horse made a mockery of the field, sauntering behind Lion Heart around the first bend and along the backstretch, before showing compelling class in the final stages.

I thought he might win, but I never thought he'd blow them away like he blew them away Smarty Jones' owner Roy Chapman

Rock Hard Ten was a badly beaten second with Gary Stevens aboard while Eddington was third with Jerry Bailey in the saddle.

Afterwards Smarty Jones' jockey Stewart Elliott said: "He's just unbelievable. He just keeps getting better, this son of a gun. I mean, he just did it so easy.

"Once I got down the backside, my only concern was the closers. I just took him to the inside and he did the rest."

Stevens admitted his ride was simply no match for Smarty Jones.

"Unfortunately when I hit another gear, Smarty Jones hit about four more gears," said Stevens. "We might be seeing history in the making here."

The margin of victory, however, left the horse's owner stunned.

The 78-year-old Roy Chapman said: "I thought he might win, but I never thought he'd blow them away like he blew them away."

Smarty Jones will get the opportunity to win the final leg of the US Triple Crown in the Belmont Stakes on 5 June.