HOT SPRINGS, Ark. – A first look at the 3-year-old picture at Oaklawn Park comes Monday, when stakes winner Just Steel stretches out against a collective five route runners from trainers Steve Asmussen and Brad Cox in a well-matched renewal of the Smarty Jones. The $300,000 race that carries eligibility points for the Kentucky Derby has had a makeover since last season. The purse is up by $50,000, and the distance of the race has been increased from a mile to 1 1/16 miles. The first five finishers in the nine-horse field will pick up points on a scale of 10-5-3-2-1. The Smarty Jones is the first of four Kentucky Derby prep races at Oaklawn. The series culminates March 30 with the $1.5 million Arkansas Derby. Between now and then, the local division will sort itself out in racing’s annual pursuit of a blanket of roses on the first Saturday in May. “That’s the goal,” Cox said. “That’s why we do it.” Cox on Monday will send out Gettysburg Address, Catching Freedom, and Fidget in search of his third win in the Smarty Jones. Asmussen will counter with Lagynos, who is coming off an allowance route win at Churchill Downs, and Informed Patriot, a full brother to Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile winner Spun to Run. Just Steel moves back to two turns off a sprint stakes win for trainer D. Wayne Lukas. “It’s a good race,” Cox said. “I think all three of our horses have got to step forward, no doubt about it.” Cox said he sees reasons for them to do so. Gettysburg Address will be making his second two-turn start after setting the pace and finishing fourth last out in the Grade 3 Street Sense on Oct. 29 at Churchill Downs. The race came following a debut win over six furlongs at Ellis Park. “We’re taking the blinkers off and hope he breaks well and does relax,” Cox said. “He’s bred to go long, and we want to give it another chance and see how it goes. He works like a horse that will stretch out.” Flavien Prat, who teamed with Cox to win last year’s Smarty Jones with Victory Formation, has the mount from post 6. Catching Freedom starts from post 2 under Cristian Torres. He won his debut in a one-turn mile maiden race Oct. 1 at Churchill. Catching Freedom then moved to two turns and ran fourth in a first-level allowance at the same track Nov. 9. “He could have been a touch more focused down the lane,” Cox said. “He wasn’t wanting to do what the rider wanted from him. He did get in a little bit of a tight spot as well. I’m hoping he’ll move forward with just experience and time.” Fidget is looking for his third straight win, after a maiden score on turf and an entry-level allowance win on dirt. Both races came at a mile at Horseshoe Indianapolis. “He showed his ability to run on the dirt,” Cox said. “It’s a step up in class, but he’s jumped up and won two in a row.” :: Bet with the Best! Get FREE All-Access PPs and Weekly Cashback when you wager on DRF Bets. Martin Chuan has the mount from post 9. Lagynos is making his stakes debut, and Informed Patriot is moving back into stakes company after running third in the Street Sense. “They both obviously have run well,” Asmussen said. “This time of year, 2-year-olds turning 3 have to continue to prove themselves.” Lagynos is one of just two horses in the field with a win at two turns, the other being Fidget. Lagynos was a winner at 1 1/16 miles last out in an entry-level allowance Nov. 25. “He’s coming off a nice win at Churchill, stepped up nicely,” said Asmussen, who has given the mount to Joel Rosario. Ricardo Santana Jr. rides Informed Patriot, who breaks from the rail. “He’s kept good company his whole career,” Asmussen said. “It’s nothing new for him Monday.” Just Steel rallied from off the pace to win the Ed Brown by 2 1/2 lengths on Nov. 25 at Churchill. The Beyer Speed Figure of 90 that he earned for the 6 1/2-furlong race is the best last-race number in the Smarty Jones. Just Steel is moving back to two turns Monday and in his lone route attempt he set the pace and finished sixth in the Grade 1 Breeders’ Futurity on Oct. 7 at Keeneland. Ramon Vazquez has the mount from post 7. Mystik Dan can make an impact with a repeat of the Beyer of 96 he earned two starts ago for a maiden sprint win at Churchill, while Mo Winning has been supplemented off a sharp debut score at Remington. Chaperone is a son of the Grade 1-winning mare It Tiz Well. :: Want to learn more about handicapping and wagering? Check out DRF's Handicapping 101 and Wagering 101 pages.