Saturday
Belmont Stakes 5:30 p.m., NBC
The four ominous words roll off Tom Durkin’s tongue like they were the name of a horse.
“The Burden of History,” says the NBC race-caller.
That burden, as much as genuine challengers Rock Hard Ten and Eddington, might be Smarty Jones’ biggest obstacle in the Belmont Stakes on Saturday as he tries to capture horse racing’s first Triple Crown in more than a quarter century.
Durkin, like most of the free world, thinks Smarty will take the Crown. But he points out that, in five of the past seven years, horses won the Kentucky Derby and Preakness, only to blink when staring down history.
In 1997, Chris McCarron’s brilliant ride on Touch Gold beat Silver Charm. In ’98, Real Quiet lost by a nose to Victory Gallop. In ’99, Charismatic suffered a sore tendon about 100 yards from the finish and dropped to third.
In 2002, War Emblem failed to gain the lead early and lost to Sarava. And last year, Funny Cide worked out way too hard before the race, Durkin said, and a sloppy track did him in.
Dave Johnson – just as he did before the Derby and the Preakness – will pick Smarty to win Saturday.
Johnson, who will have the radio call, also knows his history. He points out that there’s a reason there have only been 11 previous Crown winners.
It is hard to win three races in five weeks.
“He could beat himself,” said Johnson, who was the track announcer for Secretariat’s Triple Crown-capping Belmont win in ’73.
“Anything can happen. I think if he loses, it is because it took its toll on him. I don’t think another horse ‘beats’ him.”
Mike Battaglia, NBC’s oddsmaker, doesn’t think there’s much doubt about it. Battaglia said undefeated Smarty has greatness written all over him.
So it’s Smarty Jones against the “Burden of History.”
“The Triple Crown itself,” Battaglia said when asked what can trip up Smarty Jones.
“I think he is definitely the best horse. Three races in five weeks – that can beat a horse. That’s what makes it such a major and tough accomplishment.”