Mr. Z seeks elusive stakes win in Smarty Jones

HOT SPRINGS, Ark. – Mr. Z has run too well not to be a stakes winner, having placed in five graded races in his young career. But his status could change Monday, when he starts as the probable favorite in the $150,000 Smarty Jones at Oaklawn Park.

The Smarty Jones, a one-mile race for 3-year-olds that ends at the sixteenth pole, is the meet’s first look at horses targeting the Arkansas Derby.

It drew a deep field of nine, including Lucky Player, the winner of the Grade 3 Iroquois at Churchill Downs; Bayerd, who captured the $250,000 Springboard Mile at Remington Park; Private Prospect, who exits the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile; Far Right, a troubled third in the Grade 3 Delta Downs Jackpot; and Hebbronville, the runner-up in the Grade 2 Futurity at Belmont Park.

“It will not be an easy race,” said D. Wayne Lukas, who trains Mr. Z for Zayat Stables. “There are no easy spots anymore. There’s no place to hide anymore. From here on out, into February, March, and April, there’s no place to hide.”

Smarty Jones (Race 8)

KEY CONTENDERS

Mr. Z (Last 3 Beyers: 91-90-89)

◗ He’s missed by a nose and a head in his last two starts, when second in the Delta Downs Jackpot on Nov. 22 and third in the Grade 1 Los Alamitos Futurity on Dec. 20.

“I think he’s starting to show his consistency now,” Lukas said. “That was by far his best speed figure last out. He’s a racehorse. He’s the type that you like to have in the barn. He shows up every time.”

◗ Mr. Z set a brisk pace in the Los Alamitos Futurity, a 1 1/16-mile race that went in a quick 1:40.80, and will be backing up a little in distance for the Smarty Jones.

“He’s got good tactical speed,” Lukas said. “The mile’s a good option for him after a little layoff.” ◗ Mr. Z will carry 115 pounds under the conditions of the Smarty Jones, seven fewer than multiple stakes winners Bayerd and Private Prospect.

◗ Jon Court has the mount from post 3.

Bayerd (Last 3 Beyers: 84-76-92)

◗ He’s been a consistent sort, too, winning three of five starts and never finishing worse than third since launching his career at Saratoga in July.

“Bayerd has run five excellent races,” said trainer Steve Asmussen, adding that the horse’s third-place finish in his debut came against Competitive Edge, who returned in his next start to win the Grade 1 Hopeful.

◗ Bayerd won the Springboard Mile in his last start, proving a head best in his two-turn debut Dec. 14. He’s since been based at Fair Grounds, and there were a couple of different reasons to target the Smarty Jones, said Asmussen.

“He’s proven around two turns, and I think the Smarty Jones is good timing for him,” he said.

Private Prospect (Last 3 Beyers: 73-85-75)

◗ He’s a stakes winner at a mile who is making his first start since the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile at Santa Anita on Nov. 1. Private Prospect pushed the pace, then ended up ninth after being stepped on out of the gate in an incident that bent and displaced the right front shoe on which he raced, said trainer Mike Campbell.

“He still ran a valiant race,” Campbell said. “I don’t know how he did. He certainly can get beat, but he’s not the kind of horse to throw in the towel, so I knew something had gone wrong.”

Campbell said the displaced shoe was removed back at the barn after the Breeders’ Cup.

◗ Private Prospect had won three of his first four starts heading into the Breeders’ Cup, with his lone loss a second-place finish by a head in the Grade 3 Arlington-Washington Futurity.