Parx Racing: Edge of Reality holds off Speak Logistics in Smarty Jones Stakes

Edge of Reality notched easily his biggest victory Monday when capping a huge day for jockey Stewart Elliott in the Grade 3, $350,000 Smarty Jones Stakes at Parx Racing in suburban Philadelphia.

Leading all the way in a field of 10 3-year-olds, Edge of Reality held off a persistent rally from Speak Logistics to win the 1 1/16-mile race by a neck and give Elliott a second big-money stakes win on the day. Elliott, the 48-year-old veteran who rode Smarty Jones to win the 2004 Kentucky Derby and Preakness, won the $350,000 Turf Monster about a half-hour earlier aboard longshot Stormofthecentury.

Bred in Pennsylvania by his owners, the Elkstone Group LLC, Edge of Reality returned $7.80 as part of a slightly favored stable entry after finishing in 1:42.20 over a sloppy track. The win was his fourth in seven starts and came in his graded stakes debut. Based at the Fair Hill Training Center with Tony Dutrow, the Lawyer Ron colt was third in the ungraded Curlin Stakes at Saratoga in his prior start.

Speak Logistics, a 10-1 shot, finished another 4 1/4 lengths clear of Uncaptured, the 3-1 second choice. Battier was fourth at 10-1, a nose ahead of his Todd Pletcher stablemate, Micromanage, the 3-1 third choice.

Edge of Reality was coupled for wagering purposes with Snake Pit, who was never a factor when seventh.

The Smarty Jones, the last of four straight stakes on the Monday card at Parx, serves as the local prep for the track’s annual showcase, the $1 million Pennsylvania Derby, set for Sept. 21.

Dutrow said Edge of Reality will not return in 19 days for the Pennsylvania Derby.