Elliott still cashing in
By ROB LONGLEY, TORONTO SUN
There was a quick hug for his mom and an even quicker hello to his uncle Bill when Stewart Elliott arrived at Woodbine early yesterday morning. The Toronto-born jockey was making his first trip home as a Kentucky Derby champion and was a man in demand.
It has been that way since May when the then-unknown rider won the first two jewels of the U.S. Triple Crown aboard Smarty Jones.
Hoping for some leftover Smarty mania, Woodbine officials whisked Elliott to the track to help drum up interest for tomorrow's 145th running of the Queen's Plate.
Elliott will ride Long Pond, one of 13 horses in the opening jewel of the Canadian Triple Crown. The colt is the fourth choice in the morning line at 8-1 and at yesterday's post position draw, trainer Mark Casse was stuck with the rail.
For Elliott, the mount is the latest boost the Derby win has heaped on a previously productive but nondescript career.
"I thought it would be nice to ride in it someday but not really thinking it would come true," said Elliott, whose previous ride at Woodbine was in 1987. "First it was the Kentucky Derby, now here I am back in Canada in the Queen's Plate. I'm excited."
Not nearly as much as his mother, Myhill, an assistant trainer at Woodbine. Her ex-husband, Dennis, was a Woodbine jock when Stewart was born 39 years ago but never rode in the Plate. Their son learned to ride in the U.S., but Myhill always dreamed of him returning for a big race.
"It's so wonderful Stewart's coming home to ride," said Myhill, who works for her brother, Bill Stewart. "It's fantastic what they've done to bring him back for Canada's biggest race."
APPEARANCE FEE
Long Pond's owner, Toronto millionaire Eugene Melnyk, paid an undisclosed appearance fee to secure Elliott. The move has a hint of self-promotion for Melnyk, who isn't shy of the spotlight. But it also was based on past success and a genuine passion for Canadian racing.
In 1998, Melnyk hired Kent Desormeaux, who won the Derby with Real Quiet, to ride Archers Bay and got his first and only Plate win to show for it.
Some years, the race sells itself. Other years, the big stake can use a little sizzle. With a relatively unheralded bunch -- 2-1 favourite A Bit O' Gold (Post 10) is one of only two stakes winners -- track officials felt this one could use some help.
So, they flew in Elliott, greased him with another appearance fee and made sure a helicopter was waiting at LaGuardia yesterday to get him back to Monmouth Park in time to ride at the New Jersey track.
The hype got thick in spots. In the track program this week, an ad claimed Elliott was the first Derby-winning jockey to ride in the Plate in 34 years.
In reality, he'll be the fourth since 1995 joining Desormeaux, the late Chris Antley ('99) and Gary Stevens ('95).
Elliott may be the most popular, however. He says he is over Smarty's loss to Birdstone in the Belmont Stakes, which prevented the Triple Crown sweep, and looking ahead.
"I've watched the race quite a few times," Elliott said. "At first it was hard ... but what can you say? He really did run, he just didn't win."
Long Pond is sure to take additional betting money because of Elliott, who will sign autographs in the morning until post time and will be the Plate's star attraction. Other than increased business and more money in his pocket, Elliott said he is the same guy Kentucky papers referred to as "Stew Who?" prior to the Derby.
"People recognize me who ordinarily wouldn't," he said, "But other than that, not much has changed."
To his adoring mom, that's just another source of pride.
"He handled the whole thing and it didn't change him, not even winning the Derby," Myhill said. "He's the same guy he was before he ever got on Smarty Jones and that's what I'm most proud."
