Smarty Jones
I can’t decide which would be worse: Smarty Jones losing the Belmont on Saturday, or Smarty Jones winning the Belmont. I feel like a little kid in the back of the station wagon going to Gradma’s. Instead of “Are we there yet?” however, the phrase repeating over and over in my head is “Is it over yet?”.
The local news station is currently asking Smarty Jones’ trainer if there is any truth linking Smarty Jones with Jennifer Lopez. They also want to know his (the horse’s) stand on the national debt. There is a running account following the progress of the horse’s police-accompanied van as it winds its way northward to Belmont Park. I’ve learned that Smarty Jones’ van has a speed pass for the local toll booths. I’ve learned that the PA state police escort traded off to the NJ state police at the border, and that the NJ police will trade off to the NY police in their turn. I’ve heard all about the lost-and-found again religious medal that was under Smarty Jones’s saddle for the first two races of the Triple Crown. And ohmygod did you know that he stepped on a safety pin in his stall so now they’re combing through the hay on the floor before he’s permitted into the barn?
My current mantra: The race is over at 6:48 on Saturday.
Meanwhile, I leave the radio on, hoping for word on the cat abuse case. So far there’s been no mention of that.