2024 KY Derby Prep – 1 Mile 1/16th – 3 Year-Olds – Purse $300,000
We’re headed to Oaklawn Park for the 2024 Smarty Jones Stakes. With nine contenders vying for valuable Derby points, the anticipation is palpable. On a day when all Thoroughbreds enjoy a happy birthday, Monday will also offer a special present for the connections of one fortunate newly turned 3-year-old in the Smarty Jones Stakes.
The $300,000 stakes at Oaklawn Park will provide the winner with the lion’s share of a hefty purse, coupled with the initial payout of 2024 Kentucky Derby qualifying points. Notably, 10-5-3-2-1 points will be awarded to the top finishers, making this race a pivotal moment in the journey to the Kentucky Derby.
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The Contenders
#1 Informed Patriot (8-1) is trained by Steve Asmussen and sired by Hard Spun. Having broken his maiden back in September at Churchill Downs, he has showcased promising potential. Despite being in contention multiple times, such as in the G3 Street Sense on a sloppy track, he’s shown a tendency to give way to an outside rival and fading late in the race.
#2 Catching Freedom (9-2) is a Brad Cox entry that scratched from last week’s Gun Runner Stakes to run here. However, he looks to bounce back from a disappointing 4th place finish in an allowance/OC race worth 100k. Going a mile and a 16th at Churchill Downs, he faced trip trouble in the stretch, getting caught behind horses and unable to advance. He’ll be coming off a 50-day layoff.
#3 Lagynos (6-1), another Asmussen entry, recently secured victory in a highly competitive Allowance race at CD, covering a mile and a 16th. In this race, open to non-winners of 2 with a purse of $127,000, five of the seven participating horses were at odds of 6-1 or better, highlighting the intensity of the competition. Notably, Lagynos emerged triumphant in this challenging field
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#4 Trained by Kenny McPeek, Mystik Dan (5-1) broke his maiden impressively two races back with a 7-length win in a 5.5f sprint, earning a 102 Equibase speed rating. Confident, McPeek swiftly entered him in the same Allowance race, where, stretching out to a mile, Mystik Dan briefly led before running out of gas in the final furlong.
#5 Mo Winning (20-1) is one for one breaking his maiden in a 6f sprint at Remington Park. He pressed the pace well, took on a rival in the stretch and blew by with a nice late kick to clear by 4 lengths.
#6 is Brad Cox’s Gettysburg Address (7-2). The promising colt sired by Constitution ran 4th in the Street Sense at Churchill Downs over 1m and a 16th in the slop. He showed the way early and took the lead into the stretch but tired late in the stretch. Coming off a 2-month layoff, he has been working at Oaklawn recently. He will look to the lead early on.
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#7 Just Steel (9-5), trained by the legendary D. Wayne Lucas, will look to improve off his win at the Ed Brown Stakes. He impressively pressed the pace early, then took the lead in the stretch under heavy urging by jockey Joel Rosario. While D. Wayne is not as prolific with the young colts as he once was, it’s essential not to dismiss his skills.
#8 Chaperone (30-1) recently broke his maiden at Remington Park earning just a 60 Equibase speed figure. It was just too easy a win because he settled in with a 47.23 half & 1:13.54 for the 6.5f sprint. This will be a step up for this son of Curlin.
#9 Fidget (15-1) is trained by Brad Cox, who I hear is pretty good with 2-year-olds. Sired by More Than Ready, this colt is 2 for 3 to start his career. Initially targeted for the Springboard Mile but scratched out, his win at the Horseshoe on November 9th, going a mile in a competitive Allowance race, was impressive. This is a nice value play.
Picks n’ Plays
When handicapping these prep races, you want to focus on horses showing improvement, backed by solid speed figures. I also lean on the best trainers when it comes to young colts and Brad Cox is the man.
I liked #7 Just Steel, but a 9-5 favorite tag pushes me toward value. The race could be a slower pace (Than Others Predict) on a chilly day in Hot Springs (47°F). This gives an opportunity for #6 Gettysburg Address to get out to an early lead. If he can set a reasonable pace, he could go wire-to-wire. #2 Catching Freedom is one I’ll use in exotics, along with #3 Lagynos.
