Hard fought Smarty Jones goes to Edge of Reality

By: SPORTS NETWORK

Bensalem, PA (Sports Network) - Edge of Reality, part of the favored 5-2 entry, outlasted Speak Logistics down the stretch to win Labor Day's running of the $350,000 Smarty Jones Stakes at Parx Racing. The mile and 70 yard event for 3-year-olds is a prep for the track's Pennsylvania Derby on Saturday, Sept. 21.

Trained by Tony Dutrow for The Elkstone Group, Edge of Reality was ridden by local favorite Stewart Elliott who happened to be the jockey for 2004 Kentucky Derby champ Smarty Jones.

Edge of Reality got a good start and quickly took the lead of the 10-horse field over a muddy track. Pressing the pace in second was 47-1 longshot English Manor with Speak Logistics racing third.

The 3-1 co-second picks Micromanage and Uncaptured were running near the rear of the field as the horses went up the backstretch.

Edge of Reality continued to set the pace as Speak Logistics and jockey Roberto Alvarado Jr. moved into second to pressure the leader.

The two colts battled through the stretch with Edge of Reality posting a neck victory. Uncaptured, coming off a win in the Prince of Wales Stakes in Canada, advanced to finish third followed by Battier, Micromanage, Betweenhereandcool, Snake Pit, Norumbega, English Manor and Bellarmine.

The time for the Smarty Jones was 1:42.20 on a muddy surface.

Edge of Reality in winning his first stakes race collects $210,000 for the effort. The son of Lawyer Ron has won four of seven lifetime starts and $353,555.

Unraced as a 2-year-old, Edge of Reality has posted all four wins at Parx in five starts with a second. He was coming off a fourth-place finish on July 26 in the Curlin Stakes at Saratoga.

Edge of Reality returned $7.80, $4.40 and $3.20. Speak Logistics paid $6.80 and $6.00, and Uncaptured paid $3.20 to show.