A field of eight goes in Monday’s $150,000 Smarty Jones Stakes at Oaklawn Park. (photo credit: Oaklawn Park)
A field of eight three-year-olds will line up on Monday in the $150,000 Smarty Jones, the first of four Road to the Kentucky Derby points races to be run at Oaklawn Park.
The Wayne Catalano trained Uncontested is the 2-1 morning line favorite in the Smarty Jones. The colt was fourth in the Kentucky Jockey Club (G2) at Churchill Downs in his last outing.
The colt is currently listed at +8000 in early Kentucky Derby wagering at Mybookie.ag.
His main rival appears to be Petrov (5-2) who was beaten just a head last out in the Kings Swan going six furlongs at Aqueduct.
Hall of Fame trainer D. Wayne Lukas sends out Warrior’s Club, who broke his maiden by winning the Spendthrift Stallion at Churchill Downs in his sixth career start, then ran third in the Kentucky Jockey Club last out, beaten five lengths by McCracken.
The race offers up 10-4-2-1 points toward entry into this spring’s Run for the Roses.
Upcoming Derby points races at Oaklawn Park are the $500,000 Southwest Stakes (G3) on Feb. 20, the $900,000 Rebel (G2) on Mar. 18 and the $1 million Arkansas Derby (G1) on April 15.
Let’s head out to Oaklawn Park for Monday’s featured race of the day:
Oaklawn Park Race 8 The Smarty Jones Post time 4:38 CT
6 Uncontested 2-1
1 Petrov 5-2
7 Romeo O Romeo 12-1
2 Warrior’s Club 7-2
Uncontested set the early fractions and weakened to finish fourth last out in the Kentucky Jockey Club (G2) at Churchill Downs in his first start against winners and around two turns. The colt took the field gate to wire two back to break his maiden in his debut at Keeneland at 10-1.
Three he beat in his maiden score have come back to graduate in their next starts. The colt looks quick enough he may be able to clear early and he is bred to handle a wet track, by Tiz Wonderful out of a Lil E Tee mare that has dropped six other winners, top earner stakes winner Solitary Ranger ($205,763).
Petrov tracked the early pace while saving ground and finished gamely to just miss winning the Kings Swan by a head at the Big A last out in his first start against winners. He broke his maiden two back at Churchill Downs in a sharp effort.
The colt goes two turns for the first time and has enough pedigree, by Flatter out of a Bertrando mare that has dropped three other winners. The colt is bred to handle a wet track as well.
Romeo O Romeo chased the early pace and faded to finish a well beaten 12th in the Kentucky Jockey Club last out at 53-1. The colt broke his maiden on poly and ran a decent second in the Arlington Washing Futurity (G3) and then a couple of thirds in stakes company, two back on turf in the Cup and Saucer at Woodbine.
Willing to give him another look on dirt here and he is bred to handle a wet track, by Macho Uno out of the stakes winner Romance Is Diane ($712,718).
Wagering:
WIN: Uncontested to win at 9-5 or better.
EXACTA: 1,6 / 1,2,6,7
TRIFECTA: 1,6 / 1,2,6,7 / 1,2,4,6,7
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