Stakes Advance – Smarty Jones
At 0h02, on January 1, 2024 • By OAKLAWN PARK
Just Steel was just great in his last start. Now, the son of Triple Crown winner Justify gets another chance around two turns in Monday’s $300,000 Smarty Jones Stakes, Oaklawn’s first Kentucky Derby points race this season.
The Smarty Jones anchors a 10-race card, with probable post time 5:14 p.m. (CST). It is the ninth race. Racing begins at 1:30 p.m.
The Smarty Jones was extended to 1 1/16 miles in 2024 after being run at one mile since its inception in 2008. It will offer 21 points (10-5-3-2-1, respectively) to the top five finishers toward starting eligibility for the Kentucky Derby.
The nine-horse field, in post-position order: Informed Patriot (#1), Ricardo Santana Jr., to ride, 117 pounds, 8-1 on the morning line; Catching Freedom (#2), Cristian Torres, 117, 9-2; Lagynos (#3), Joel Rosario, 119, 6-1; Mystik Dan (#4), Julien Leparoux, 117, 5-1; Mo Winning (#5), Harry Hernandez, 117, 20-1; Gettysburg Address (#6), Flavien Prat, 117, 7-2; Just Steel (#7), Ramon Vazquez, 119, 9-5; Chaperone (#8), Keith Asmussen, 117, 30-1; and Fidget (#9), Martin Chuan, 117, 15-1.
Program favorite Just Steel has had a rollercoaster seven-race career for Hall of Fame trainer D. Wayne Lukas, breaking his maiden by a nose Aug. 5 at Saratoga and posting a sharp 2 ½-length victory in his last start, the $225,000 Ed Brown Stakes Nov. 25 at Churchill Downs. Sandwiched around those sprint victories (6 and 6 ½ furlongs, respectively) were three consecutive losses, including a sixth in the 8 ½-fulrong $600,000 G1-Breeders’ Futurity Stakes Oct. 7 at Keeneland.
Just Steel, who held the lead approaching the top of the stretch, was beaten 16 lengths in the Breeders’ Futurity, his only start around two turns.
