Lion Heart embraces underdog status

BALTIMORE (AP) _ A bold performance by Lion Heart in the Kentucky Derby wasn't convincing enough to stir any doubt that Smarty Jones is the most esteemed horse in the Preakness. <br/><br/>Lion Heart

Thursday, May 13th 2004, 6:09 am

By: News On 6

BALTIMORE (AP) _ A bold performance by Lion Heart in the Kentucky Derby wasn't convincing enough to stir any doubt that Smarty Jones is the most esteemed horse in the Preakness.

Lion Heart took control of the Derby at the outset, then gamely galloped through the muck before Smarty Jones charged to victory by less than three lengths.

Now, in the Preakness, Lion Heart is little more than one of 10 horses standing in the way of Smarty Jones' ride to the Triple Crown. The oddsmakers have made Smarty Jones the 8-5 favorite, and Lion Heart trainer Patrick Biancone readily acknowledges his role as the underdog.

``Each race is like a football game,'' Biancone said. ``You know who is favored, you know who is the challenger, and sometimes the challenger beats the favorite.''

That didn't happen in the Derby. It was the third straight runner-up finish for Lion Heart, and Biancone can't guarantee the streak will end in the Preakness.

``I've never said I think he's going to win this time. I said we're the challenger, and we're going to try to beat the other horses, that's all,'' he said.

As of Thursday, there was still some question as to how many horses Lion Heart would have to beat. The Cliff's Edge, who finished fifth in the Derby, has been bothered by a sore front right foot and could be scratched as soon as Friday, dropping the field to 10.

``It's got to be 100 percent all right,'' trainer Nick Zito said. ``We'll do what's right for the horse. We just want to get him back OK.''

Lion's Heart and the other horses are more concerned with Smarty Jones, the first undefeated Kentucky Derby winner since Seattle Slew in 1977.

``We play to win, obviously. We're going to try to win,'' Biancone said. ``But I'm a very objective person, and I know it's going to be very difficult to beat Smarty Jones. But we, as the challenger, are going to try to do so. If we do it, well done. If we cannot, we cannot. You cannot punish your horse because another one is better than him.''

Biancone picked the No. 1 post because his horse loves to break to the front early. The question is: If that happens, can Lion Heart hold onto the lead this time?

Not if Smarty Jones can help it.

``We have Lion Heart inside us. He's going to show early speed I'm sure, and we'll sit just off of him and try to gain control of the race,'' Smarty Jones trainer John Servis said.

Lion Heart isn't the only horse in the field to finish second to Smarty Jones. Borrego was runner-up in the Arkansas Derby, closing fast but coming up short by 1 1/2 lengths.

Borrego finished 10th in the Derby, 16 1/4 lengths off the pace, but trainer C. Beau Greely believes that race wasn't indicative of the difference between the two horses.

``Smarty Jones is a very nice horse,'' Greely said. ``I'm not taking anything away from him, but I don't think we're 16 lengths worse than he is.''

The Preakness could play out like the Derby.

There's a good chance Lion Heart jockey Mike Smith will break from the inside and take the early lead. Smarty Jones, under Stewart Elliott, starts from the No. 7 gate and will likely stalk Lion Heart, along with Eddington and Rock Hard Ten.

Then it's up to Elliott to decide when to make his move with Smarty Jones. Once he does, Servis said Lion Heart could have more company than usual in the stretch.

``When my horse goes to make his move, I think Rock Hard Ten and Eddington will move, too,'' Servis said. ``Instead of one horse, Lion Heart will have three or four chasing him.''

If Lion Heart can hold off the challenge, then his run of second-place finishes will end. So will Smarty Jones' bid to become the first Triple Crown winner in 26 years.