Sunday, May 02, 2004
Rosenblatt on Racing: Servis still a ``Philly guy''
The morning after John Servis won the Kentucky Derby with Smarty Jones, the trainer was still having a hard time taking it all in.
"It's still a little overwhelming," Servis said on a rainy Sunday at Churchill Downs. "It'll probably be sinking in for the next few days."
Servis said Smarty Jones came out of the race healthy and would be shipped back to his home base at Philadelphia Park on Monday or Tuesday to begin training for the Preakness at Pimlico on May 15.
When Servis returns to his home in Bensalem, Pa., about a mile from the track, he might have a better idea how popular Smarty Jones has become.
Servis already knows a huge roar went up from the Phillies crowd when the race was shown on the giant video screen before Saturday's game. And friends told him folks at Philly Park were "jumping on tables" to celebrate Smarty's win.
"The city is embracing it, the whole state is embracing it," Servis said. "It'll be fun. We're very fortunate to be part of it."
Asked if Smarty Jones might be more popular than the Flyers, Servis said: "His winning streak's a little longer then theirs so I'd have to say Smarty -- but we'll be rooting for them."
Winning the Derby is a golden opportunity for a trainer to move up in the ranks, and perhaps set up shop at a bigger track like Santa Anita or Belmont Park or Churchill Downs.
But just listening to Servis, there's no way the 45-year-old trainer born in West Virginia is about to leave Philly. With a wife and two teenage children, and living in a city he loves, Servis seems quite comfortable, Derby win or not.
He's been approached about leaving, but says he's not interested.
"My oldest son is going to be a senior next year and that's my last year with him," he said. "There's nothing more important to me than my family. I'm not going anywhere."
With his wife, Sherry, standing next to him holding a long-stemmed red rose, Servis then related a touching moment with his 16-year-old son Blane before the race.
The horses enter the track from the backstretch and are led all the way around the track with owners, trainers and family walking along. Blane, Servis said, is a quiet kid. "I could feel him coming up behind me, and he said `Dad, I'm getting so excited.' That was good. That was great."
Servis was away from his family for almost two months while Smarty Jones prepped for the Derby at Oaklawn Park in Hot Springs, Ark. The colt won the Southwest Stakes, the Rebel Stakes and the Arkansas Derby during that time, and then arrived at Churchill Downs less than two weeks ago.
Together for Derby week, the Servis' soaked up the scenes, especially the moments when fans where cheering for Smarty Jones before the race.
"We're walking out between the barns, and when we made the cut to head down (onto the track), the people were lined up on both sides," Servis said. "When they saw his number, they just started clapping, and I'm trying to quiet them ... The way over people were calling out 'Smar-tee! Smar-tee!' It was great to have that support."
Smarty's win made instant celebrities of Servis, Philly Park jockey Stewart Elliott and owners Roy and Patricia Chapman. After Smarty Jones put away Lion Heart in what turned out to be a two-horse race instead of the predicted wide-open affair, the Servis' got a taste of fame.
Walking through their hotel lobby late Saturday night, Servis said people just started applauding. They also met a couple from Scotland who invited them to the Melbourne Cup in Australia.
"We'd love to have you there." Serivs said. "I said, 'I know my wife would love to go there, but it's the first week of November, that's Breeders' Cup time."'
Added Servis' wife: "And he said, 'Well, we can't change our parade for you, John."'
The morning after John Servis won the Kentucky Derby with Smarty Jones, the trainer was still having a hard time taking it all in.
"It's still a little overwhelming," Servis said on a rainy Sunday at Churchill Downs. "It'll probably be sinking in for the next few days."
Servis said Smarty Jones came out of the race healthy and would be shipped back to his home base at Philadelphia Park on Monday or Tuesday to begin training for the Preakness at Pimlico on May 15.
When Servis returns to his home in Bensalem, Pa., about a mile from the track, he might have a better idea how popular Smarty Jones has become.
Servis already knows a huge roar went up from the Phillies crowd when the race was shown on the giant video screen before Saturday's game. And friends told him folks at Philly Park were "jumping on tables" to celebrate Smarty's win.
"The city is embracing it, the whole state is embracing it," Servis said. "It'll be fun. We're very fortunate to be part of it."
Asked if Smarty Jones might be more popular than the Flyers, Servis said: "His winning streak's a little longer then theirs so I'd have to say Smarty -- but we'll be rooting for them."
Winning the Derby is a golden opportunity for a trainer to move up in the ranks, and perhaps set up shop at a bigger track like Santa Anita or Belmont Park or Churchill Downs.
But just listening to Servis, there's no way the 45-year-old trainer born in West Virginia is about to leave Philly. With a wife and two teenage children, and living in a city he loves, Servis seems quite comfortable, Derby win or not.
He's been approached about leaving, but says he's not interested.
"My oldest son is going to be a senior next year and that's my last year with him," he said. "There's nothing more important to me than my family. I'm not going anywhere."
With his wife, Sherry, standing next to him holding a long-stemmed red rose, Servis then related a touching moment with his 16-year-old son Blane before the race.
The horses enter the track from the backstretch and are led all the way around the track with owners, trainers and family walking along. Blane, Servis said, is a quiet kid. "I could feel him coming up behind me, and he said `Dad, I'm getting so excited.' That was good. That was great."
Servis was away from his family for almost two months while Smarty Jones prepped for the Derby at Oaklawn Park in Hot Springs, Ark. The colt won the Southwest Stakes, the Rebel Stakes and the Arkansas Derby during that time, and then arrived at Churchill Downs less than two weeks ago.
Together for Derby week, the Servis' soaked up the scenes, especially the moments when fans where cheering for Smarty Jones before the race.
"We're walking out between the barns, and when we made the cut to head down (onto the track), the people were lined up on both sides," Servis said. "When they saw his number, they just started clapping, and I'm trying to quiet them ... The way over people were calling out 'Smar-tee! Smar-tee!' It was great to have that support."
Smarty's win made instant celebrities of Servis, Philly Park jockey Stewart Elliott and owners Roy and Patricia Chapman. After Smarty Jones put away Lion Heart in what turned out to be a two-horse race instead of the predicted wide-open affair, the Servis' got a taste of fame.
Walking through their hotel lobby late Saturday night, Servis said people just started applauding. They also met a couple from Scotland who invited them to the Melbourne Cup in Australia.
"We'd love to have you there." Serivs said. "I said, 'I know my wife would love to go there, but it's the first week of November, that's Breeders' Cup time."'
Added Servis' wife: "And he said, 'Well, we can't change our parade for you, John."'
