Smarty Jones Stakes (Oaklawn Park)
The Smarty Jones Stakes is a Listed American Thoroughbred horse race for 3-year-olds contested on dirt at a distance of one mile (8 furlongs) run annually in mid-January at Oaklawn Park Race Track in Hot Springs, Arkansas. The Smarty Jones is worth $150,000.
| Listed race | |
| Location | Oaklawn Park Race Track Hot Springs, Arkansas, United States |
|---|---|
| Inaugurated | 2008 |
| Race type | Thoroughbred – Flat racing |
| Website | www.oaklawn.com |
| Race information | |
| Distance | 1 mile (8 furlongs) |
| Surface | Dirt |
| Track | Left-handed |
| Qualification | Two-year-olds |
| Weight | 124 lbs with allowances |
| Purse | $250,000 (2022) |
History edit
Named for the 2004 Kentucky Derby and Preakness Stakes winner, Smarty Jones, the inaugural race was held on January 21, 2008.[1]
It is the first in a series of races – including the Southwest Stakes, Rebel Stakes, and Arkansas Derby – held at Oaklawn that are commonly used as preps for the Kentucky Derby.[2]
Note that a second Smarty Jones Stakes, a Grade 3 race for 3-year-olds run at a distance of 1 and 1/16 miles, was created in 2010 and is held at Parx in late August or during Labor Day weekend.[3]
Since 2013 the event is part of the Road to the Kentucky Derby with qualification points given to the first four placegetters.
Records edit
Speed record:
- 1:36.32 – Uncontested (2017)
Speed record:
- 10+1⁄4 lengths - Caddo River (2021)
Most wins by a jockey:
- 2 – Eusebio Razo Jr. (2008, 2011)
- 2 – Jon Court (2013, 2016)
Most wins by a trainer:
- 2 – William H. Fires (2016, 2019)
- 2 – Brad H. Cox (2021, 2023)
Most wins by an owner:
- 2 – Robert V. LaPenta (2015, 2017)
- 2 – Harry T. Rosenblum (2015, 2017)
Winners edit
| Year | Winner | Jockey | Trainer | Owner | Time |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | Victory Formation | Flavien Prat | Brad H. Cox | Spendthrift Farm & Frank Fletcher Racing Operations Inc. | 1:38.14 |
| 2022 | Dash Attack | David Cohen | Kenneth G. McPeek | Catalyst Stable, Madalena Racing, Kevin Pollard and Patty Slevin | 1:39.44 |
| 2021 | Caddo River | Florent Geroux | Brad H. Cox | Shortleaf Stable | 1:38.19 |
| 2020 | Gold Street | Martin Garcia | Steven M. Asmussen | Mike McCarty | 1:39.63 |
| 2019 | Gray Attempt | Shaun Bridgmohan | William H. Fires | Dwight Pruett | 1:36.94 |
| 2018 | Mourinho | Drayden Van Dyke | Bob Baffert | Phoenix Thoroughbred III | 1:37.25 |
| 2017 | Uncontested | Channing Hill | Wayne M. Catalano | Robert V. LaPenta & Harry T. Rosenblum | 1:36.32 |
| 2016 | Discreetness | Jon Court | William H. Fires | Xpress Thoroughbreds | 1:38.05 |
| 2015 | Far Right | Mike E. Smith | Ron Moquett | Robert V. LaPenta & Harry T. Rosenblum | 1:38.43 |
| 2014 | Tanzanite Cat | Norberto Arroyo Jr. | Cody Autrey | James & Ywachetta Driver | 1:38.69 |
| 2013 | Will Take Charge | Jon Court | D. Wayne Lukas | Willis Horton | 1:38.64 |
| 2012 | Junebugred | Joe Bravo | Steve Hobby | Alex & JoAnn Lieblong | 1:38.45 |
| 2011 | Caleb's Posse | Eusebio Razo Jr. | Donnie K. Von Hemel | McNeill Stables & Cheyenne Stables | 1:43.07 |
| 2010 | Dryfly | Calvin Borel | Lynn S. Whiting | Charles J. Cella | 1:41.69 |
| 2009 | Flat Out | Julio A. Garcia | Charles L. Dickey | Oxbow Racing LLC (Art & Stephanie Preston) | 1:39.15 |
| 2008 | Liberty Bull | Eusebio Razo Jr. | Thomas M. Amoss | Kenneth Maier | 1:38.15 |