Trainer's focus placed on prepping Smarty Jones

John Servis hasn't gotten a chance to enjoy Kentucky Derby and Preakness wins.
BENSALEM, Pa. (AP) -- John Servis has worked himself to exhaustion trying to fulfill the obligations that come with training Smarty Jones.
There's the daily gallop with the star colt, the daily updates and hours of interviews. Plus, he has to tend to his other horses, and fit time in with his family.
With the Belmont Stakes and a shot at the first Triple Crown since Affirmed in 1978 only days away, Servis has had little time to savor Smarty Jones' Kentucky Derby and Preakness victories.
"It's a trainer's responsibility to look toward the next race," Servis said. "The fact that he's getting a break after the Belmont is really going to give me a chance to sit back and enjoy what we've accomplished so far. I haven't really had a chance to do that, so I'm looking forward to that."
Cashing in
First, there is the Belmont, where another major payday awaits Smarty Jones. The colt has earned $7,413,155 in his career, which includes an 8-0 record. He received a $5 million bonus from Oaklawn Park for winning the Kentucky Derby, Arkansas Derby and Rebel Stakes.
The Belmont purse is $1 million, and Visa will award a $5 million bonus to Smarty's owners if the horse sweeps the Kentucky Derby, Preakness and Belmont.
Going into Saturday's race, Smarty Jones is fourth on the career money list of North American horses behind leader Cigar, who earned $9,999,815.
Smarty's earnings could skyrocket even more in stud fees. But Servis said Tuesday that owners Pat and Roy Chapman are leaning toward letting the colt run at least the rest of this year and delaying his possible entry into retirement.
"I think the chances of him being run are very good as long as he remains healthy and there are no problems," said Servis, who downplayed the risks of extending Smarty's career. "Mr. and Mrs. Chapman love the business and they want to race, so I don't think it will be a problem."
Homecoming
Servis has talked about having Smarty Jones run in the Pennsylvania Derby on Labor Day on the colt's home turf, Philadelphia Park. It would be a record handle for the park, which has seen nearly 15,000 fans turn out for two public workouts.
"As long as it's financially feasible for them to race the horse, they're going to do it," Servis said. "The feedback I'm getting from them is, I think that's the way they're going to go."
Smarty's next trip is to New York for the Belmont. Team Smarty expected another circus-like atmosphere today for the trip -- complete with police escort -- from Philadelphia Park to New York.
"It's an amazing thing, but really I'm not letting it sink in too much because I'm concentrating on the Belmont," Servis said. "Hopefully after that's over it can sink in all it wants."
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