Wide-open Smarty Jones has field of 14
There will be no big birthday celebrations for at least 14 Thoroughbreds turning 3 on Saturday at Oaklawn Park. They’ll be working.
Ben Diesel, Kavod, and Barber Road are among those chasing Kentucky Derby eligibility points in the $250,000 Smarty Jones. The mile race that ends at the sixteenth pole has been moved up on the calendar to New Year’s Day, which is the “clerical” birthday for Thoroughbreds in North America.
The first four finishers will earn points on a scale of 10-4-2-1.
Ben Diesel is the field’s lone entrant listed on the Kentucky Derby points leaderboard, as he picked up one point for his fourth-place finish in the Grade 2 Kentucky Jockey Club Stakes on Nov. 27 at Churchill Downs. The effort came following a debut win in a maiden special weight over 1 1/16 miles Oct. 31 at Churchill.
“He won first time out going long as a 2-year-old and that gives you hope,” said Dallas Stewart, who trains Ben Diesel for breeder Willis Horton. “Hopefully, he’s going to be a really good 3-year-old.
“He’s a good-looking homebred for Mr. Horton. We like him a lot.”
Ben Diesel is a son of champion Will Take Charge and the mare Girls Secret, making him a full brother to Will’s Secret. She won two-thirds of Oaklawn’s series for 3-year-old fillies last year before running third in the Kentucky Oaks.
Ben Diesel will break from post 14 in the Smarty Jones.
“He might be a little wide, but he won’t get in trouble,” Stewart said.
“He should be a good miler. I know he wants to run even further. Going a mile and a sixteenth, he’s been showing speed.”
Jon Court, who has ridden Ben Diesel in each of his races, has the mount again Saturday.
Kavod is the field’s lone stakes winner and will be stretching out after winning the $150,000 Advent over six furlongs Dec. 3 at Oaklawn. The son of Lea is looking for his first win at two turns, and trainer Chris Hartman hopes the configuration of the race works in favor of Kavod.
“The short-stretch first wire, I think that’s going to be to our benefit,” he said. “We’ll be forward in the race.”
Kavod sat just off the pace in the Advent and rallied for a length win. He covered the distance in a sharp 1:09.97 and earned a career-high Beyer Speed Figure of 83.
“I thought the horse ran a really good race,” Hartman said. “If he can improve off that race, I think he’ll be very competitive in this spot. There’s some nice young horses that are looking to go forward.”
Hartman said added ground is a concern for Kavod.
“I’m not sold on the idea,” he said. “We’ve got to do something. This is in our backyard and it’s good timing for him, so we’re going to try it.
“A mile doesn’t necessarily mean they’re going to stretch. I’ve always thought you can get one by here sometimes – a sprinter going around there.”
Francisco Arrieta has the mount from post 4 for James Rogers and Michael Robinson.
Barber Road is moving back to two turns off a runner-up finish in the $200,000 Lively Shively on Nov. 27 at Churchill. His maiden win came over 1 1/16 miles at Keeneland.
The Smarty Jones is the first of four Kentucky Derby points races at Oaklawn.