BENSALEM, Pa. (AP) – While Smarty Jones stirred fans Saturday in his first public gallop since winning the Kentucky Derby, the colt’s rider had little to say about his failure to disclose his criminal record on a license application.

“Everybody looks for something bad to say,” jockey Stewart Elliott said.

Elliott’s story was a minor distraction at “Smarty Jones Day” on the colt’s home turf at Philadelphia Park. More than 4,000 fans packed the park early Saturday morning to get their first glimpse of the horse since his improbable Derby win.

They also gave a huge ovation to Elliott.

The jockey pleaded guilty to assault three years ago but didn’t disclose the information when applying for a license to ride at Churchill Downs. His agent, Ray Lopez, said Elliott made a mistake when filling out the form to ride in Kentucky.

The future includes riding Smarty Jones in next Saturday’s Preakness Stakes, the second leg of the Triple Crown. Mike Hopkins, executive director of the Maryland Racing Commission, said Elliott “has no problems here.”

Hopkins said stewards at Pimlico contacted Elliott and asked him to submit an amended application to ride in Maryland. Elliott complied with the request.

Smarty Jones looked fit and ready after another hard 1-mile run with exercise rider Pete van Trump aboard.

“He was full of run,” said trainer John Servis, who wore a Philadelphia Flyers jersey on the track.

Smarty Jones had walked and galloped this week on private runs on the closed track. The track was again closed for any horse not named Smarty, only this time the park, which is normally deserted on a Saturday morning, was stuffed with fans who gobbled free doughnuts and coffee.

Instead of racing simulcasts, a Smarty Jones highlight video played on the monitors, and T-shirts and hats were as hot as a winning daily double ticket.

“I thought there might be 40 or 50 people. I didn’t know,” Servis said. “It shows you what a great place this is and how everybody loves this horse and rallies around him.”

Fans who weren’t pressed against the rail craned their necks and stood on their toes to catch a glimpse of the colt. Some stood on benches with cameras and camcorders as Smarty was introduced as the horse “forever immortalized as Philadelphia Park’s Kentucky Derby champion.”

“I wanted to see the jockey,” said Ryan Dydak, a 10-year-old from Philadelphia, holding a glazed doughnut bigger than his hand.

Said Don Forsyth, of Stratford, N.J.: “It’s a little bit of racing history. I’ve never been this close to a Kentucky Derby winner. I think it’s fantastic.”

Smarty Jones was awarded the keys to the city by Bensalem Mayor Joseph DiGirolamo. Donna Chapman accepted on behalf of her parents, the horse’s owners Pat and Roy Chapman. She said the family fully backed Elliott and that he would always ride the horse. Chapman said her father, who suffers from severe emphysema, was feeling better and expected to attend the Preakness.

“This adrenaline rush will keep him healthy,” she said.

As local politicians talked about the need for slot machines, one fan shouted that she’d rather see the horse.

Still, slots would generate more revenue and bigger purses at the track, and could prevent jockeys and trainers from looking elsewhere.

“I like it here and I really don’t want to leave, but it’s kind of hard to stay here when you have offers to ride for bigger purses,” Elliott said. “We’ve been waiting the last three years for the slots.”

While Smarty Jones has been the main event at Philadelphia Park, he will have local company at the Preakness. Trainer Martin Ciresa said he would run Little Matth Man, who is stabled 11 barns down from Smarty.

“I’ve been rooting for Smarty Jones,” Ciresa said. “He has to improve a lot to beat Smarty Jones. Smarty’s a freak.”

AP-ES-05-08-04 1718EDT