Trainer Brad Cox is aiming for his fourth victory to surpass Smarty Jones’ record with the undefeated Rancho Santa Fe (2-2), a Tapit offspring owned by breeders Gary and Mary West. Oaklawn Park’s main event on Saturday is in Hot Springs, Arkansas, marking the first of four Kentucky Derby qualifying races. This race will award a total of 21 points (distributed as 10-5-3-2-1) toward securing a spot in the opening leg of the Triple Crown.
This winter, South Florida-based Rancho Santa Fe (5-2) made his stakes debut by winning a 1-mile novice special at Ellis Park on August 24 by three-quarters of a length and later, on October 11 at Keeneland, claimed the novice allowance over 1 1/16 miles by half a length.
“He’s progressing very well,” Cox stated. “His last workout at Payson was impressive. I think he has physically matured since his previous race at Keeneland. We purposely spaced out his races a bit, with a focus on Smarty Jones for now. Here we are.”
Smarty Jones will feature prominently in the 11-race card starting at noon CST, with his race slated for post time at 4:25 p.m., expected to go off 10th.
Here are the nine Smarty Jones runners and their details:
1. Universe, ridden by Joel Rosario, 117 lbs, morning line 3-1
2. Baytown Dreamers, Orlando Boca Chica, 117 lbs, 30-1
3. Boca Beach Club, Luis Saez, 117 lbs, 4-1
4. Silent Tactics, Jaime Torres, 117 lbs, 12-1
5. Rancho Santa Fe, Florent Geroux, 119 lbs, 5-2
6. Oscar Hope, Ricardo Santana Jr., 122 lbs, 8-1
7. Strategic Risk, Javier Castellano, 119 lbs, 6-1
8. Scarship, Ramon Vasquez, 117 lbs, 12-1
9. Sleeping Gon Freedom, Brian Hernandez Jr., 117 lbs, 5-1
Cox believes distance won’t be a problem for Rancho Santa Fe. Tapit has sired four winners in the 1.5-mile Belmont Stakes, the final Triple Crown race. Rancho Santa Fe’s dam, Family Tree, was a multiple winner at 1 1/16 miles, and he is also the half-brother to millionaire and Grade 3 winner Heroic Move.
“Obviously, he should handle a mile and a sixteenth,” Cox said. “He’s got the typical Tapit quality—the farther the distance, the better. He has a great stride, good movement, and a sharp mind. I’m excited about how he’s starting the year.”
Another horse trained by Cox running at Oaklawn this weekend is Catching Freedom (8-5 in Sunday’s allowance), considered one of the top 3-year-olds nationally in 2024 after winning the G2 Louisiana Derby alongside Smarty Jones and finishing fourth in the Kentucky Derby and third in the Preakness.
However, Catching Freedom has struggled recently, losing his last seven starts. His 4-year-old debut ended in seventh place in the Mineshaft Stakes (G3) at the Fairgrounds in February, followed by a second-place finish on October 24 at Keeneland.
Catching Freedom wrapped up 2025 with a third-place finish over 1 1/16 miles at Churchill Downs on November 21. Sunday’s race also covers 1 1/16 miles.
“I liked him right out of the gate, but his performance was inconsistent,” said Cox, who trains Catching Freedom at Albaugh Family Stables. “He showed improvement at Keeneland and ran well at Churchill. While he can be inconsistent, he’s always in good condition, which is encouraging. We’re working to get him back on track and hopeful we have the right setup. He’s training well, so it’s just a matter of putting it all together.”
Cox also trained Smarty Jones to victories at Caddo River in 2021 and Victory Formation in 2023.
This article originally appeared in the Paulick Report on January 1, 2026.
—
Fan Take: This update on Rancho Santa Fe and Catching Freedom offers horse racing fans exciting prospects, as both horses are showing potential to make significant impacts in upcoming races. Their progress highlights the ever-evolving competition in the sport, promising thrilling events and new champions for enthusiasts to follow.
