Firsts all around as Mourinho cruises in Smarty Jones

HOT SPRINGS, Ark. – The $150,000 Smarty Jones on Monday at Oaklawn Park represented firsts for winner Mourinho, his trainer, Bob Baffert, and his rider, Drayden Van Dyke. Mourinho conquered two turns in his first attempt at a mile, Baffert won his first Smarty Jones after capturing 12 other races in the 3-year-old series at Oaklawn, and Van Dyke registered his first win in Hot Springs.

The Smarty Jones was a points race for the Kentucky Derby and Mourinho picked up 10, while Combatant, who finished 3 1/4 lengths behind the winner, earned 4. Third-place finisher Tap Daddy gained 2, and fourth-place finisher Bode’s Maker, 1.

Mourinho ($3.20) moved to the lead soon after the start of the Smarty Jones and took the field through fractions of 23.33 seconds for the opening quarter, 48.09 for the half-mile, and 1:12.27 for six furlongs. He cruised to the wire, which was at the sixteenth pole, while covering one mile in 1:37.25.

“He coasted along,” said Southern California-based Van Dyke, who was aboard for owner Phoenix Thoroughbred III.

“It’s my first victory [at Oaklawn],” said Van Dyke, who has come in to ride five horses in Arkansas. “It’s my hometown, so I’m very happy.”

Van Dyke was born in Kentucky, but raised in Arkansas and graduated from Lake Hamilton High School in Hot Springs.

Van Dyke was teaming with Mourinho for the second time Monday.

“He rides my horses with a lot of confidence,” Baffert said in a teleconference with the media after the race.

Mourinho, who put blinkers back on Monday, has shown speed in his races, winning his debut on the front end over eventual Lecomte hero Instilled Regard, and also finishing second in both the Speakeasy in October at Santa Anita and the Grade 3 Bob Hope in November at Del Mar.

“He’s a very fast horse, really quick” Baffert said. “His speed in his weapon. On paper, he was the fastest horse in the race. He’s got natural speed and we don’t want to take it away from him.”

Baffert said Mourinho was scheduled to return to Southern California on Tuesday and will be considered for Oaklawn’s next race in the series, the Grade 3, $500,000 Southwest Stakes on Feb. 19.

Mourinho earned $90,000 for his win in the Smarty Jones, which was his second career victory from four starts. He has now earned $154,360. Mourinho is a son of Super Saver and he was bred in Kentucky by WinStar Farm.