Smarty Jones coming home to Keystone State

By: SPORTS NETWORK

Midway, KY (Sports Network) - Former Kentucky Derby and Preakness winner Smarty Jones will be returning to his home state of Pennsylvania from Kentucky.

Three Chimneys Farm announced on its website that the 2004 champion three- year-old will be based in his native state for the 2011 breeding season.

"It was a difficult decision to move the horse from Three Chimneys," the farm stated in an open letter to fans of Smarty Jones, "especially considering his progeny's recent successes and Rogue Romance winning the Bourbon (G3), a "Win and You're In" event for the Breeders' Cup. The decision ultimately came down to what was in the best interest of Smarty and his stallion career. Much of the breeding interest in Smarty Jones in recent years has come from the East Coast and, having hailed from Pennsylvania, the Chapman Family is eager to bring him home. The fact that it is in Smarty Jones' best interest and is what the Chapmans want gives us confidence that we're making the right decision."

Smarty will take up residence at Ghost Ridge Farm near York, PA in the south- central part of the commonwealth.

During his two years of racing, Smarty carried the colors of Someday Farm of Pat Chapman and her late husband Roy. The colt won the Arkansas Derby, Rebel and Southwest Stakes as a three-year-old. His victory in the Run for the Roses along with the Oaklawn Park wins netted the Chapmans a bonus of $5 million.

After winning the Preakness by 11 1/2-lengths, Smarty was the 3-10 favorite for the Belmont Stakes. Trained by John Servis and ridden by Stewart Elliott, the colt set the pace in the 1 1/2-mile Test of Champions.

Smarty was caught approaching the finish by the late running Birdstone and lost by a length in his effort to become the first Triple Crown winner since 1978.

He was retired with the Belmont loss as the only blemish on his record. Smarty won eight of nine career starts for $7,613,155.

Three Chimneys will host a public open house on Wednesday, November 3 to allow fans of Smarty Jones to say goodbye.