Handicapping: Smarty Jones Stakes Headlines Oaklawn Park Opening Day

By Rick Francis —-

With Kentucky Derby points on the line, a field of seven three-year-old colts are slated to go to post in the Smarty Jones Stakes, Oaklawn Park’s feature race kicking off their 117th season; let’s take a look at the field.

Race 8) 1 Mile. Smarty Jones S. Purse $150,000 THREE YEAR OLDS
Post Time: 5:11/( 4:11)/ 3:11/ 2:11
ADVANCED FORECAST: Slight Chance Rain Showers then Partly Sunny, High 54, Low 33

1) Martini Blu (Robertson/Francisco); exits a textbook score at Hawthorne; though field strength is a bit of a question, trainer Robertson is always successful here so don’t be quick too dismiss.

2) Lawlessness (Mason/Cohen); Congrats colt goes long for the first time and does so with first time blinkers, a strong 28 percent conditioning angle for Mason.

3) Cowan (Asmussen/Santana); the field’s most accomplished stakes player exits a second in the Springboard Mile, his third consecutive place effort; two back, it was a closing try in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf Sprint, so this Kantharos colt knows quality opposition; he’ll be the one to beat.

4) Big Thorn (Asmussen/Cabrera); makes first start in the Asmussen barn following a disappointing sixth at Gulfstream in the Mucho Macho Man; his two wins against Florida-breds were both solid efforts.

5) Hardly Swayed ( Hernandez/Garcia); Bernardini colt enters having won two straight, both sprinting at Mahoning Valley. It’s easy to dismiss some of these based on competition, but you have to remember, they had to race where they could. Bloodlines here are hard to ignore.

6) Moonlite Strike (Joseph/Talamo); Liam’s Map colt held on last out against pricey first level OC’s at Gulfstream; picks up last years stakes riding beast Talamo so he’ll be a threat.

7) Caddo River (Cox/Geroux); speaking of a stakes riding beast, Florent Geroux moves his tack here and will be on most of trainer Cox’s elite starters, one of which could possibly this colt out of Hard Spun. After placing at both Saratoga and Belmont, he dominated a Churchill field back in November for his maiden score; hot work tab to view.

Selections: 7, 3, 5, 6