KENTUCKY DERBY Philadelphia welcomes Smarty Jones back to its championship-starved area

There's grassroots support for the inspirational underdog.
ASSOCIATED PRESS
Kentucky Derby winner Smarty Jones had a playful walk around the shedrow Monday, one day before returning to Philadelphia Park.
Trainer John Servis said the colt was to leave for home today and would not return to the track until he gets to Bensalem, Pa.
"He came out of the race great," Servis said of Saturday's Kentucky Derby. "He's super. I couldn't be happier.
"This morning, he was playing as he was walking around. It's a nice and cool morning, so he came out on his toes. I couldn't ask him to come out of the race any better."
No parade
There will be no ticker tape parade -- or is that gallop? -- in downtown Philadelphia like there would be if the Flyers won the Stanley Cup or the Eagles won the Super Bowl.
Suddenly, title-starved Philadelphia, where the fans can be tougher than yesterday's cheesesteak and crankier than Phillies manager Larry Bowa addressing reporters after a loss, have found love in the underdog.
Sure, there was "Rocky" and the Villanova men's basketball team that won the national championship in 1985.
But this has been the year of the little teams that could.
First, it was tiny Saint Joseph's that softened the blow of the Eagles' third straight loss in the NFC title game by captivating college basketball with a 27-0 start and a run to the tournament's regional final.
"Everybody said this couldn't be done. The same thing with our team," said Saint Joe's coach Phil Martelli, a Philly native. "I do find it entertaining. I'm pulling hard for them."
Like any underdog that rises to a championship, Smarty Jones' story has been inspirational.
"It keeps everybody's dreams alive," said Harry Vega, a 15-year jockey. "It brings everything into focus as to what you can do for yourself."
Overnight change
Life as an anonymous journeyman may be over for jockey Stewart Elliott, whose first career win was on a horse named Jack's Ruby. Elliott was recognized Sunday at a Kentucky mall and signed autographs at the airport. He was greeted by fans and television cameras when he arrived home, and free time has been nonexistent.
He slept in Monday and arrived a little later than usual at Philadelphia Park, one of the few venues where it's still acceptable to have a beer and cigarette before noon.
Fans filled the paddock and some even lobbed questions. They snapped pictures, asked for autographs and all felt like they where sharing in the win.
Limehouse, the fourth-place finisher in the Kentucky Derby, likely will not run in the Preakness, Dogwood Stables President Cot Campbell said Monday.
Campbell said Limehouse had little chance to win with the current lineup for the May 15 race at Pimlico.
In good shape
Limehouse is in good shape, but will probably head for the Belmont on June 5 or the Ohio Derby on June 12, Campbell said.
"He came out of the race in great shape, and there are many worlds to conquer, but none of them seem to be in Baltimore on May 15," Campbell said.
Rock Hard Ten, excluded from the Derby because of insufficient career earnings in graded stakes races, was scheduled to work today in preparation for an expected run in the Preakness, Churchill Downs said.
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