The 2023 Kentucky Derby is nonetheless 5 months absent, but the Kentucky Prep period is in whole force. The Smarty Jones Stakes is the first prep race of 2023 and will just take New Year’s Day at Oaklawn Park.
Oaklawn Park Hosts 1st Kentucky Prep In 2023 – The Smarty Jones
The 2023 Kentucky Derby is having closer by the working day. Whilst the “The War of the Roses” is around five months absent, the Kentucky Derby Prep time is in total force.
Oaklawn Park, found in Very hot Springs (Ark.), hosts the initially prep race of 2023 with the Smarty Jones Stakes on New Year’s Working day. The Smarty Jones is a just one-mile occasion for 3-year-previous horses named right after the 2004 Kentucky and Preakness winner. The inaugural celebration was held in 2009 though it wasn’t an formal Derby qualifier until eventually 2013.
The Smarty Jones Stakes is the season’s 11th 2023 Kentucky Derby Prep race. Hence, the top 5 finishers make points for the Derby on a 10-4-3-2-1 sliding scale. Given that 2010, seven Kentucky Derby runners have raced in the Smarty Jones Stakes.
8 Horse Discipline
8 freshly minted 3-year-olds will go the two-transform mile, worth $250,000, this calendar year. The Smarty Jones Stakes is the eighth race on Oaklawn’s 9-card field, with article time set at 5:10 p.m. (ET).
Victory Formation is the morning line favourite at 6-5 and commences from the outside the house write-up. The proficient colt has received equally of his prior begins though Monday marks the 1st time he has stretched out to 8 furlongs. Coach Brad Cox does not feel that the distance will be a challenge.
“I assume he’ll be capable to stretch out. He’s bred to do it. It seems like he’ll do it. He’s obtained a fantastic head. Energized about giving him an chance. “ – Cox reported
The son of Tapwrit, the 2017 Belmont Stakes, was sold for $340,000 past spring. He will have Favien Prat in the saddle as jockey Luis Saez, who had previously ridden him, has racing commitments in Florida.
Ten Times Afterwards is second on the early morning line at 7-2. He has one gain and three 3rd-put finishes in 5 commences. This will be the fifth various monitor that Ten Days Afterwards has raced at although the very first outdoors of Kentucky.
Dennington, a son of Gun Runner, is the only horse in the subject with graded stakes experience and has earned a point in the race for the Kentucky Derby. He garnered the tally for ending fifth in the Grade 2 Kentucky Jockey Club Stakes the previous time out on November 26. Dennington is a stablemate of Ten Times Late.
Conversation Strategy is the fourth preference on the early morning line at 5-1. The Bolt d’Oro colt broke his maiden the past time out soon after getting Lasix for the very first time. He has hit the board in all 4 of his starts in general.
How Did He Do That (12/1) and Angel of Empire (15/1) are other contenders. In the meantime, Western Ghent and C. J.’s Storm are both equally prolonged shots at 30/1.
Kentuck Prep Standings
Forte remains at the prime of the 2022 Kentucky Derby Prep standings with 40 points. Forte is the only horse to earn two prep races, capturing the Breeders Cup Futurity and the Breeders Cup Juvenile.
Curly Jack is second with 17 factors, as he won the Iroquis, adopted by Blazing Sevens with 16. Jace’s Highway has 13 factors, Prompt Coffe (12), Dubyuhnell (10) and Functional Transfer (10) all have at least 10 points. All totaled 29 horses have at the very least a single point.
