Road to the Kentucky Derby: Smarty Jones Stakes

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Chet Fussman

Last Updated: Dec 30^th, 2022

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Road to the Kentucky Derby: Smarty Jones Stakes

The Smarty Jones Stakes at Oaklawn Park in Hot Springs, Ark., is one of more than three dozen prep horse races on the road to the 2023 Kentucky Derby.

The 1-mile race on Sunday, Jan. 1, is the first Derby prep of the calendar year, offers a $250,000 purse, and is a prelude to three other Derby preps at the Arkansas track: the Southwest, Rebel and Arkansas Derby.

The Smarty Jones offers 10 Kentucky Derby qualifying points to the winner, four points for second, and 3-2-1 for third through fifth place.

The road to the Derby began in September 2022 and will continue through April 15, 2023. The top 20-point qualifiers earn automatic entry into the 148th Kentucky Derby, set for May 6 at Churchill Downs.

Current 2023 Kentucky Derby Qualifier Standings

Rank	Horse	Points	Earnings
1	Forte	40	$1,545,650
2	Curly Jack	17	$348,120
3	Blazing Sevens	16	$411,000
4	Jace’s Road	13	$89,100
5	Instant Coffee	12	$265,065
6	Dubyuhnell	10	$137,500
7	Practical Move	10	$132,000
8	Hayes Strike	7	$95,750
9	Red Route One	5	$78,375
10	Loggins	4	$106,500
11	Verifying	4	$100,000
12	Honed	4	$58,200
13	Artic Arrogance	4	$50,000
14	Raise Cain	4	$39,750
15	Gulfport	3	$267,070
16	Tuskegee Airmen	3	$90,000
17	Echo Again	3	$46,625
18	Determinedly	3	$20,500
19	Andiamo a Firenze	2	$51,000
20	Gunflash	2	$24,000
21	Quick to Accuse	2	$15,000
22	Tall Boy	2	$12,000

Smarty Jones Stakes

Date: Sunday, Jan. 1, 2023

Distance: 1 mile

Purse: $250,000

Position	Horse	Trainer	Rider	Odds
1	C.J.’s Storm	John Haran	Angel Rodriguez	30-1
2	How Did He Do That	Steve Asmussen	Isasc Castillo	12-1
3	Communication Memo	Steve Asmussen	Ricardo Santana	5-1
4	Western Ghent	D. Wayke Lukas	Christian Torres	30-1
5	Ten Days Later	Ken McPeek	David Cabrera	7-2
6	Denington	Ken McPeek	Francisco Arrieta	4-1
7	Angel of Empire	Brad Cox	Joe Talamo	15-1
8	Victory Formation	Brad Cox	Flavian Pratt	6-5

Smarty Jones Stakes Analysis and Selections

The Smarty Jones, the eighth race on a nine-race card, is an early prep and not likely to have a significant impact on the Kentucky Derby field, though 2022 Smarty Jones runner-up Barber Road made it to the Derby starting gate and finished sixth.

The eight-horse field is likely to have a solid betting favorite in Victory Formation, who is unbeaten in two lifetime starts. The 3-year-old colt is trained by Brad Cox, who has two horses in the field, as do trainers Steve Asmussen and Ken McPeek. Note that the one-mile distance at Oaklawn Park ends a sixteenth of a mile before the finish line. That means a shorter stretch and an advantage for horses on or close to the lead.

Smarty Jones Selections

1. Morning-line favorite Victory Formation is difficult to look past. While his two wins were at shorter distances, the stretch out to a mile shouldn’t pose a problem. Last time out, he was passed in early stretch, then came back to win. In addition to having the fastest speed figures, Victory Formation is quick out of the gate and should be on or near the lead. With the short stretch, the race sets up tactically for him. That top jockey Flavien Prat flies in to ride is another positive sign.

2. Communication Memo was soundly beaten by Victory Formation in October, but is improving and is the only horse in the field with a win over the Oaklawn surface. He comes back on short two-week rest.

3. Angel of Empire is 2-for-3, his lone loss in a grass race. Will need to improve, but figures to be a square price.