Creative Minister targets stakes breakthrough in Smarty Jones

Creative Minister, third in the Preakness, seeks his first stakes victory on Tuesday in Parx Racing’s Grade 3, $300,000 Smarty Jones Stakes for 3-year-olds at 1 1/16 miles.

Creative Minister’s trainer, Kenny McPeek, hopes the Smarty Jones provides a springboard to the Grade 1, $1 million Pennsylvania Derby on Sept. 24 at Parx.

“If he runs well in the Smarty Jones, that would be the next step,” McPeek said. “Either that or Oklahoma,” the Grade 3, $400,000 Oklahoma Derby at Remington Park on Sept. 25.

Although a late bloomer – he didn’t debut until March 5 – Creative Minister quickly made up for lost time. He won his next two starts, one of them a first-level allowance at Churchill on the Kentucky Derby undercard; finished 3 3/4 lengths behind Early Voting in the Preakness; and then ran fifth three weeks later in the Belmont.

Creative Minister recently finished third as the favorite, 6 1/4 lengths behind Artorius, in the restricted Curlin on July 29 at Saratoga.

“He’s a good, solid horse,” McPeek said. “I’m proud of him running third in the Preakness. The last race, he ran well. I think the winner’s a pretty good horse.”

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Despite the demanding schedule, McPeek noted that Creative Minister’s bullet workout over the Oklahoma training track on Aug. 17 at Saratoga was “excellent, maybe his best yet.”

Pioneer of Medina makes his first start since finishing 19th in the Kentucky Derby. The colt seemed hot in the paddock.

“I do think he was affected by it,” trainer Todd Pletcher said. “The Derby will do that to some of them, so I give him a bit of an excuse.”

Prior to the Derby, Pioneer of Medina took the Fair Grounds path to Churchill, finishing behind Epicenter when fourth in the Risen Star and third in the Louisiana Derby.

Pletcher mentioned the Smarty Jones didn’t come up “quite as soft a spot as I was hoping, but we’ve got to get started.”

Best Actor might have the most upside of the Smarty Jones entrants. Trained by Brad Cox, the Flatter colt won his first two starts before finishing second, beaten a half-length by Actuator, in his stakes debut, the Indiana Derby on July 9.

Best Actor didn’t have an easy trip in the Indiana Derby, as he stumbled at the start, was pinballed in between horses, then rallied widest turning into the stretch.

“Super big race,” Cox told Horseshoe Indianapolis track publicity after the Indiana Derby. “I think he’s a pretty good horse and he’s going to get a lot out of this.”

Golden Alchemist ships down from Saratoga for trainer Chad Brown after capturing a nine-furlong maiden special weight on July 29 with a 90 Beyer.

Clapton stretches out for Saffie Joseph Jr. after placing third in the Carry Back on July 9 at Gulfstream.

Camp David, fifth behind Cyberknife in the Matt Winn on June 12, makes his first start since behind purchased for $130,000 at Fasig-Tipton.

Witty, Icy Storm, Practical Coach, and Kissalot complete the quality group.