On the rebound: Smarty Jones' schedule planned

The horse's owners want a glorified ending to his career.
ASSOCIATED PRESS
The plan is not set, but the owners of Smarty Jones want their Kentucky Derby and Preakness winner to retire from racing "in a blaze of glory."
To that end, owners Pat and Roy Chapman said Wednesday that Smarty Jones could keep racing next year and return as early as the Haskell Invitational on Aug. 8.
"An awful lot of fans love Smarty and some may have doubts about his ability," Pat Chapman said, referring to Smarty Jones' loss in the Belmont Stakes that ended his Triple Crown bid.
"We don't want him to go out that way. We want him to go out the hero that he is. And if it takes racing when he's a 4-year-old, I hope he will be able to do it."
Trainer's agreement
Pat Chapman said trainer John Servis has yet to sign off on a racing schedule for Smarty Jones, and until he does "nothing is chiseled in stone." Smarty is at his home track at Philadelphia Park enjoying a few weeks off.
While the Haskell is a possibility, the Pennsylvania Derby at Philadelphia Park on Sept. 6 seems all but certain, along with the Jockey Club Gold Cup at Belmont on Oct. 2 and the Breeders' Cup Classic at Lone Stark Park in Grand Prairie, Texas, on Oct. 30.
"We don't know for sure, but we definitely would love to run him back in the Pennsylvania Derby because that would be great for the fans," Chapman said, "but if he can't tolerate a long layoff he may go in the Haskell."
The layoff between the Belmont and Haskell would be 64 days, from the Belmont to the Pennsylvania Derby would be 93 days.
Both Funny Cide and War Emblem returned in the Haskell after their failed Triple Crown tries in the Belmont. Funny Cide was third last year; War Emblem won in 2002.
Offspring
The Chapmans also are close to a decision on where Smarty Jones will stand at stud. After touring about 10 farms in Lexington, Ky., the list has been pared from 10 to "four or five."
"Every time we think there's a final offer, someone ups the bid," Chapman said. "It's been impossible, but we hope to have a decision by the end of the week."
Smarty Jones has a chance to become the all-time leading money-earner in North America by the end of the year.
With eight wins and a second in nine starts, Smarty has earned $7,563,535, including a $5 million bonus from Oaklawn Park for winning Rebel Stakes, Arkansas Derby and Kentucky Derby. Cigar is No. 1 at $9,999,815.
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