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Farms in East steal Kentucky's thunder

By ASSOCIATED PRESS
Published May 17, 2006

PHILADELPHIA - A couple years ago, whenever he strolled around the barns in Delaware, Philadelphia or almost anywhere on the East Coast, John Servis had a resume like no other trainer.

He had Smarty Jones, winner of the Kentucky Derby and Preakness, and just missed racing immortality by a mane in the Belmont. These days, however, Servis is just another guy in a growing Triple Crown club in the Mid-Atlantic area.

Standing outside his barn in Delaware Park, Servis can find a slew of trainers and jockeys who have done more than sip mint juleps at the Kentucky Derby. Michael Matz, trainer of this year's Kentucky Derby winner, Barbaro, has a barn near Servis. So does Tim Ritchey, the trainer who led Afleet Alex to wins in the final two legs of last year's crown races.

Michael Trombetta's barn also produced a Derby entry.

Jockeys like Stewart Elliott (Smarty Jones) and Jeremy Rose (Afleet Alex) also ride lower-grade horses - sometimes against each other - at Delaware Park, and maybe share a story or two about their runs in the national winners circle.

Forget the ol' Kentucky home. Suddenly, it seems the place to find a winner is in Delaware or Philadelphia.

"I think it's kind of a coincidence, but I do think this area has an awful lot of very good trainers and horsemen," Richey said.

The last three years have been prosperous for a region never known for being a major player in horse racing. Smarty Jones, Afleet Alex and Barbaro all had Philadelphia ownership.

Afleet Alex and Barbaro both broke their maidens at Delaware Park. Smarty Jones was stabled at Philadelphia Park.

"Unfortunately, we're not always the ones in the spotlight because of this area," Rose said.

That is changing. Some of it is because of better horsemen. Some of it has been plain luck.

Pat and Roy Chapman were committed horse lovers and owners who never won much of anything until finding Smarty Jones shortly before thinking of bailing out of the business. Barbaro is owned by Roy and Gretchen Jackson, who live outside Philadelphia.

Afleet Alex was a long-shot winner for the five Philadelphia-area owners who bought him for a bargain price of $75,000.

"They got lucky. They got the right horse," Servis said. "The Jacksons and Chapmans put a lot of work, a lot of money into their breeding programs. Just because they're a Pennsylvania program doesn't mean they're not as good as the Kentucky ones."

Ritchey believes slot machines have been a boon for the tracks, generating the revenue needed for larger purses and nicer facilities.

FIELD GROWS: The Preakness field grew to nine Tuesday with Greeley's Legacy and Platinum Couple joining expected favorite Barbaro, Brother Derek, Sweetnorthernsaint, Bernardini, Diabolical, Hemingway's Key and Like Now.

DRIVERS "GOOD": Harness racing resumed Tuesday night at Harrington Raceway in Dover, Del., a day after driver Hal Belote was killed in a track pileup. Two injured drivers, Brandon Givens, 19, and Steve Warrington, 54, were listed in good condition at a Newark hospital.

[Last modified May 17, 2006, 01:29:12]