Late Saturday morning, the Oak Lawn Horse Racing Board announced nine potential contenders and two additional horses for the $250,000 Smarty Jones Stakes, a race for 3-year-olds scheduled on January 3. Entries are now open for this 1 1/16-mile race, which is the first of four Kentucky Derby qualifying events at Oak Lawn. The final lineup will be determined on Sunday. The Smarty Jones Stakes offers a total of 21 points (allocated as 10-5-3-2-1) needed to secure a spot in the first leg of the Triple Crown.
Among the horses set to compete are Baytown Dreamer, Boca Beach Club, Honeys to Blame, and Large Risk, trained by Paul McEntee, Jimmy DiVito, Kenny McPeek, and Ciplier, respectively. Other entries include Rancho Santa Fe (Brad Cox), Silent Tactics (Mark Casse), Speed It Up (Steve Asmussen), Strategic Risk (Mark Casse), and Universe (Kenny McPeek). Trainer Tom Amos is expected to enter either Big Dom or Oscar’s Hope.
Universe has faced some of the nation’s top 2-year-olds, finishing third in the one-mile Champagne Stakes (G1) at Aqueduct on October 4, second in the Street Sense Stakes (G3) at Churchill Downs on October 26, and second in the Kentucky Jockey Club Stakes (G2) on November 29, both at 1 1/16 miles. Notably, McPeek and the co-owners of Universe, 4G Racing (Brent and Sharilyn Gassaway), joined forces with Mystic Dan, who came fifth in the previous Smarty Jones, aiming for a 2024 Kentucky Derby win.
Undefeated Rancho Santa Fe, half-brother to millionaire G3 winner Heroic Move, is set to make his stakes debut with trainer Brad Cox after winning his first two races in Kentucky. Strategic Risk recently won the 1 1/16-mile Florida Sire Stakes Reality division by nine lengths at Gulfstream Park on November 29. Silent Tactic will be making his first dirt track appearance after finishing second in the Gray Stakes (G3) on a synthetic track at Woodbine on November 2.
On Saturday, both Strategic Risk and Silent Tactic completed half-mile workouts at Oaklawn’s Fast Track, recording times of 48.60 and 49 seconds, respectively. Caden Arthur, overseeing Kass’ Oak Lawn division, remarked that Strategic Risk looked great, while Silent Tactic, though not a hard worker, appeared to be in excellent condition.
Following the Smarty Jones, Oaklawn will host the Kentucky Derby qualifying events: the $1 million Southwest Stakes (G3) at 1 1/16 miles on January 31, the $1 million Rebel Stakes (G2) at 1 1/16 miles on March 1, and the $1.5 million Arkansas Derby (G1) at 1 1/8 miles on March 28. Trainer Kass, noted for winning last season’s Arkansas Derby with Sandman, continues to be a key figure in the series.
This news is a thrill for horse racing fans as it marks the beginning of the crucial path toward the Kentucky Derby, showcasing emerging talent and competitive prospects that could define the next generation of champions. The intensity and excitement from these early qualifiers can set the tone for the entire Triple Crown season, potentially elevating the sport’s popularity and engagement.
