Smarty Jones kicks off 3-year-old prep season at Oaklawn
Kentucky Derby points would seem to be the perfect birthday present for racing’s newly turned 3-year-olds Sunday, and Oaklawn Park will be doling them out in the $250,000 Smarty Jones, which marks the two-turn debut for both the undefeated Victory Formation and stakes winner How Did He Do That.
The race, which will be run at one mile, awards its first five finishers points on a scale of 10-4-3-2-1. It’s the first Kentucky Derby qualifier of 2023 and the first of four points races at Oaklawn.
Victory Formation is the probable favorite under Flavien Prat. Other chief contenders in the eight-horse race, which ends at the sixteenth pole, include How Did He Do That, the field’s most accomplished member as a stakes winner, and Denington and Ten Days Later, a pair of two-turn winners for trainer Kenny McPeek.
Victory Formation is stretching out after winning both of his starts – a maiden special weight over 6 1/2 furlongs Oct. 21 at Keeneland and a first-level allowance at six furlongs Nov. 26 at Churchill Downs.
“He’s obviously gotten off to a good start,” said Brad Cox, who trains Victory Formation for Spendthrift Farm and Frank Fletcher. “I’m hopeful that he’ll handle the two turns based on his physical and his pedigree and the way he’s trained. He’s quick enough to obviously be effective around one turn and I think, and hope, he’ll be a better horse around two turns.”
Victory Formation is by Tapwrit and a half-brother to Bellamore, who is Grade 1-placed at 1 1/4 miles. Victory Formation’s first-level allowance win came over Two Eagles River, who was to run back Saturday at Oaklawn in the Renaissance. Victory Formation won in a swift 1:09.52 for a Beyer Figure of 85. It’s the best career number in the Smarty Jones.
Cox also will saddle Angel of Empire, a winner of two races from three career starts. Both victories were at a mile at Horseshoe Indianapolis.
“We do know he likes two turns,” Cox said. “He’s 2 for 2 around two turns. This is obviously a step up for him. He’s going to be able to handle the distance and maybe even more ground in the future. It’s a good spot to give him an opportunity against stakes horses and see how he stacks up.”
Joe Talamo has the mount from post 7 for Albaugh Family Stables. Victory Formation breaks from post 8.
Denington enters off a close fifth-place finish in the Grade 2 Kentucky Jockey Club Stakes on Nov. 26 at Churchill. He earned a career-high Beyer of 80.
“He’s a Gun Runner colt who ran respectably in the Kentucky Jockey Club,” McPeek said. “He needs to find another level, another gear. He’s capable of that.”
Denington, co-bred by McPeek, is out of Stronger Than Ever, a winner of the Silverbulletday at Fair Grounds. Francisco Arrieta has the mount from post 6.
Ten Days Later exits a close third-place finish in a first-level allowance route Nov. 26 at Churchill. He earned a career-high Beyer of 82.
“He ran super in his last start,” McPeek said. “This is a colt that’s done everything right.”
David Cabrera has the mount from post 5.
McPeek won last year’s Smarty Jones with homebred Dash Attack.
“He’s back in training,” McPeek said. “He’d been off five months. He’s currently in Florida.”
Trainer Steve Asmussen also will saddle two runners in the Smarty Jones – How Did He Do That and Communication Memo.
How Did He Do That was part of a quick pace and prevailed in the Zia Park Juvenile over six furlongs Nov. 22. He gets pedigree support for the move to two turns as a son of champion Good Magic. How Did He Do That could show the way or track primary pace rival Victory Formation. Isaac Castillo has the mount from post 2.
Communication Memo was a supplement to the Smarty Jones following a dominant maiden win at this distance Dec. 16 at Oaklawn. One start prior, he was second to Corona Bolt, who went on to win the Sugar Bowl at Fair Grounds with a 97 Beyer Figure. Ricardo Santana Jr. has the mount from post 3.
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