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Oaklawn’s Opening Day Smarty Jones Stakes Kicks Off Arkansas Road To The Kentucky Derby

More than a decade after winning the final major local Arkansas Derby prep, trainer Mac Robertson will try to capture the first when he sends out Martini Blu, a sharp winner of his only career start, in the $150,000 Smarty Jones Stakes for 3-year-olds Jan. 22 at Oaklawn in Hot Springs, Ark.

The one-mile Smarty Jones is Oaklawn's first of four Kentucky Derby points races and highlights the opening-day nine race program. Probable post time for the Smarty Jones, which goes as the eighth race, is 4:11 p.m. (Central). It is the first of 33 scheduled stakes races during the 57-day meeting that ends May 1.

The Smarty Jones will offer 17 points (10-4-2-1) to the top four finishers, respectively, toward starting eligibility for the Kentucky Derby. Oaklawn's Kentucky Derby points series continues with the $750,000 Southwest Stakes (G3) Feb. 15, $1-million Rebel Stakes (G2) March 13 and the $1-million Arkansas Derby (G1) April 10.

Post positions for the Smarty Jones were drawn Friday, with Martini Blu among the seven horses entered. Robertson sprang an upset in the 2009 Rebel with late-running Win Willy (56-1) and Martini Blu will represent the trainer's second Smarty Jones starter after Stormy Holiday finished fourth in 2013.

Martini Blu, a son of Maclean's Music, already owns a victory around two turns after winning his Dec. 27 career debut at Hawthorne by 5 ¼ lengths when under the care of Robertson's father, trainer Hugh Robertson. Martini Blu, who stalked the leader, covered a mile and 70 yards in 1:42.70 over a fast track to earn a Beyer Speed Figure of 64.

“He was kind of a speed-crazy horse this summer and I didn't want to run him,” Mac Robertson said. “He was showing too much speed, just go to the front. Sometimes it takes longer than you would like for them to tone down a little, even their first time. Once you run them, it's hard to slow them down. But he rated some the first time, passed horses and probably got something out of the race.”

Robertson said Martini Blu was green-lighted for the Smarty Jones after working a half-mile in :49.80 over a fast track Thursday morning at Oaklawn. He had previously been breezing at Hawthorne.

“He worked good over this surface, and it's not like there's a two-turn race any time soon,” Robertson said. “It just made practical sense.”

A $40,000 Keeneland September Yearling Sale purchase in 2019, Martini Blu is owned by Robertson's longtime client, Novogratz Racing Stables Inc. (Joseph Novogratz). Robertson and Novogratz also campaign multiple stakes winner Amy's Challenge, who is scheduled to make her 2021 debut in the $150,000 American Beauty Stakes for older female sprinters Jan. 30 at Oaklawn.

The projected Smarty Jones field from the rail out: Martini Blu, Francisco Arrieta to ride, 115 pounds; Lawlessness, David Cohen, 115; Cowan, Ricardo Santana Jr., 115; Big Thorn, David Cabrera, 117; Hardly Swayed, Martin Garcia, 115; Moonlite Strike, Joe Talamo, 115; and Caddo River, Florent Geroux, 115.

Cowan and Big Thorn are trained by Hall of Famer Steve Asmussen, who won the 2020 Smarty Jones with Gold Street. Cowan finished a fast-closing second in the $1-million Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf Sprint (G2) Nov. 6 at Keeneland and completed his 2-year-old campaign with a runner-up finish in the $200,000 Springboard Mile Dec. 18 at Remington Park.

Caddo River exits a powerful front-running maiden special weights victory Nov. 15 at Churchill Downs for trainer Brad Cox and breeder/owner John Ed Anthony of Hot Springs.

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Equibase Analysis: Regular Guy With Fancy Pedigree Ready To Excel

A field of 11 is entered to run in the Grade 3, $200,000 Lecomte Stakes, the stepping stone to the Risen Star Stakes and to the Louisiana Derby, all run at Fair Grounds on the “Road to the Kentucky Derby.” As is usually the case for newly turned 3-year-olds in early Kentucky Derby prep races, few have run in stakes at this point in their careers. Of those with stakes credentials, Midnight Bourbon might be most notable as he finished second in the Grade 3 Iroquois Stakes last September then third in the Grade 1 Champagne Stakes in October. Game Day Play won the Clever Trevor Stakes in October and is trying two turns for the first time. Red N Wild missed by a head in the Clever Trevor then two races later was third, beaten nine lengths, in the Remington Springboard Mile Stakes.

Arabian Prince is another who has made a mark in stakes races, albeit a small one, when finishing third in the Grade 2 Kentucky Jockey Club Stakes at the end of November. Lastly among those with stakes experience, Dyn O Mite finished fifth in the Grade 1 American Pharoah Stakes and Grade 1 Del Mar Futurity last summer as a maiden. He has won two races in a row since then.

Among the horses which are stepping into the stakes ranks for the first time are Beep Beep, Manor House, Regular Guy and Santa Cruiser, who exit maiden races all won in visually impressive fashion. Mandaloun and Proxy earned wins in their most recent starts in first level allowance races.

I'm going to start my list of horses I think can win the Lecomte Stakes with Regular Guy. This colt didn't run well at all in his first two starts, both sprints and both last summer, finishing ninth then sixth. Given two months off to mature and stretching out to a mile, Regular Guy finished second behind Santa Cruiser (who is also entered here) and earned a stellar 96 Equibase Speed Figure, which is the second best figure earned by any horse in this field. Making his first start at Fair Grounds and first start around two-turns four weeks ago, Regular Guy didn't run as fast but he won fairly easily in a field of nine.

Besides logical improvement in his second two-turn race and second at the meeting, Regular Guy also put in a very strong five furlong workout in 100.4 which was the third best of 37 on the day and that total likely included a number of older and more seasoned horses. Even better, Regular Guy has the breeding to be something special as a STATS Race Lens pedigree query yields his dam (the Unbridled's Song mare Rebridled Dreams) has produced two exceptional 3-year-olds in her short breeding career. One was Farrell, who earned over $1 million and won the 2017 Fair Grounds Oaks, and the other was Carpe Diem, winner of $1.5 million including the Tampa Bay Derby and Blue Grass Stakes in 2014. As such, I expect Regular Guy to take a big step forward just as his siblings did during their 3-year-old campaigns and post the upset win in this year's Lecomte Stakes.

Santa Cruiser hasn't been seen since winning at a mile in November and beating Regular Guy by a length and one-half. That effort earned a 98 Equibase figure, which is the best earned by any horse in the field. I don't think the time off is of any concern particularly as Santa Cruiser has put in three straight workouts at Fair Grounds in preparation for this race. Trainer Keith Desormeaux (who also saddles Dyn O Mite) has had his share of success on the “Road to the Derby,” sometimes at high odds (Sonneteer at 99/1 in the 2017 Rebel Stakes). Therefore if Desormeaux thinks Santa Cruiser is ready for this level of competition, as well as if I think Regular Guy is a contender – as he was beaten by Santa Cruiser the only time they met, then improved to win – I must give Santa Cruiser a strong look as a contender in this race.

Mandaloun is two-for-two in his career to date, winning with a nice rally from ninth in his debut in October then improving to win a first level allowance race at seven furlongs in late November. Improving to a 94 figure with that win, the third best figure in the field, Mandaloun is on a pattern for even better in the Lecomte, provided he runs as well in his first route. That shouldn't be an issue as a son of Into Mischief, who has produced some top 3-year-olds in recent years including Authentic, Audible and Owendale. Trainer Brad Cox is already off to a sparkling start at the Fair Grounds meeting, winning 24% (13 of 55) races through last weekend, and jockey Florent Geroux rides Mandaloun again after being aboard for his first two wins.

Midnight Bourbon, like Santa Cruiser, has “Road to the Derby” breeding to go along with stakes quality form. His dam, the Malibu Moon mare Catch the Moon, produced 2015 Iroquois Stakes winner Cocked and Loaded as well as one of the top 3-year-olds in 2017, Girvin, who won the Risen Star and Louisiana Derby leading to $1.6 million in career earnings. Midnight Bourbon finished second in last year's Iroquois Stakes after making the lead and opening up with an eighth of a mile to go, earning a 91 figure which, if improved upon, is definitely competitive with the main contenders. Getting the ground saving rail and moving to trainer Asmussen's number one jockey in Ricardo Santana Jr. for the first time, Midnight Bourbon absolutely rounds out a strong quartet of win contenders in the Lecomte Stakes.

The rest of the Lecomte Stakes field, with their best Equibase Speed Figures: Arabian Prince (87), Beep Beep (91), Dyn O Mite (84), Game Day Play (80), Manor House (87), Proxy (85) and Red N Wild (91).

Win Contenders, in preference order:
Regular Guy
Santa Cruiser
Mandaloun
Midnight Bourbon

$200,000 Lecomte Stakes – Grade 3
Fair Grounds
Saturday, January 16, 2021 – 13th Race. Post Time 6:49 PM E.T.
Three Year Olds

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Keepmeinmind Gearing Up For 2021 Debut In Southwest Stakes

Keepmeinmind moved closer to his 2020 debut with a half-mile workout late Tuesday morning at Oaklawn in Hot Springs, Ark., going in :48.80 just after the first surface renovation break under regular rider David Cohen.

Keepmeinmind was breezing locally for the second time since winning the $200,000 Kentucky Jockey Club Stakes (G2) for 2-year-olds Nov. 28 at Churchill Downs. The track was rated fast after training was delayed 3 ½ hours because of freezing temperatures early Tuesday morning.

The $750,000 Southwest Stakes (G3) Feb. 15 at Oaklawn, trainer Robertino Diodoro said Tuesday afternoon, remains a target for Keepmeinmind, who was among the country's leading 2-year-olds.

“That's the rough plan,” Diodoro said.

Keepmeinmind's time ranked fifth among 55 half-mile works published. Clockers caught Keepmeinmind galloping out 5 furlongs in 1:01.40 and 6 furlongs in 1:15.60. Diodoro said Keepmeinmind was to breeze alone, but he received some unexpected company in the final quarter-mile of the work from a Chris Hartman trainee who shadowed the late-running son of Laoban on the outside approaching the regular finish line.

“He never did let that horse pass him, even on the gallop out,” said Diodoro, Oaklawn's leading trainer in 2020. “Worked good. It was a very strong gallop out. Like I said, the plan was just to work by himself, but he hooked into another horse. That made him probably finish up a little stronger than needed to be. But at the same time, it was good for us.”

Keepmeinmind breezed a half-mile in :50.20 Jan. 6 under Cohen, Oaklawn's leading rider in 2019. The colt arrived Dec. 27 after previously being in light training at WinStar Farm in Kentucky following the Kentucky Jockey Club Stakes, Diodoro said.

The 1 1/16-mile Southwest is Oaklawn's second of four Kentucky Derby points races. Keepmeinmind raced four times (all routes) last year, finishing second in the $400,000 Breeders' Futurity (G1) Oct. 3 at Keeneland and third in the $2 million Breeders' Cup Juvenile (G1) Nov. 6 at Keeneland before breaking his maiden as the 2-1 favorite in the Kentucky Jockey Club Stakes under Cohen.

Keepmeinmind ranks second on the Kentucky Derby leaderboard with 18 points, according to Churchill Downs. Unbeaten Breeders' Cup Juvenile winner Essential Quality has 30 points to top the standings. Essential Quality, the probable 2-year-old male champion, is under consideration for the Southwest, trainer Brad Cox said.

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Lawlessness Aiming For Derby Points In Oaklawn’s Smarty Jones Stakes

Lightly raced Lawlessness will make his two-turn and stakes debut in the $150,000 Smarty Jones for 3-year-olds Jan. 22 at Oaklawn, trainer Ingrid Mason said Tuesday afternoon.

Post positions for the one-mile Smarty Jones, Oaklawn's first of four Kentucky Derby points races, will be drawn Friday. The race will offer 17 points (10-4-2-1) to the top four finishes, respectively, toward starting eligibility for the Kentucky Derby.

A son of Congrats, Lawlessness compiled a 1-0-2 record from three starts last year. Lawlessness broke his maiden Oct. 4 at Hawthorne and finished third in his last start – an entry-level allowance sprint – Oct. 30 at Hawthorne.

“He's named appropriately because he's a little turkey,” Mason said. “He's a little screwball.”

Lawlessness was purchased for just $14,000 at the Ocala Breeders' Sales Co.'s spring sale of 2-year-olds in training by Mike Waters, Mason's significant other. Mason said she picked out the colt, who covered a quarter-mile in 21.80 in his under tack preview work. Mason and Waters teamed to finish seventh in last year's Smarty Jones with Lykan, another son of Congrats who was making his two-turn and stakes debut.

“It's funny,” Mason said. “They actually are a lot alike, as far as personality, him and Lykan, and they're by the same sire. The mothers are different, obviously. You don't really call them brothers, but they have a lot of the same personality. Congrats kind of stamps out his babies most of the time, it seems. I think Lawlessness, at this stage, is more talented than Lykan was, and I think the longer he goes the better he's going to be. I think the distance for him, the mile, is going to suit him really, really well.”

Following the Smarty Jones, Lykan returned to sprints and was a first-level allowance winner at Oaklawn before finishing third in its $90,000 Gazebo Stakes and $100,000 Bachelor Stakes.

Mason said David Cohen, Oaklawn's leading jockey in 2019, will ride Lawlessness for the first time in the Smarty Jones. Another locally based horse pointing for the Smarty Jones is Caddo River, a powerful Nov. 15 Churchill Downs maiden special weights graduate for trainer Brad Cox.

Oaklawn's Kentucky Derby points series continues with the $750,000 Southwest Stakes (G3) Feb. 15, $1 million Rebel Stakes (G2) March 13 and the $1 million Arkansas Derby (G1) April 10. The Smarty Jones closed Jan. 7 with 96 nominations, the bulk part of an expanded early bird date linked to the other three Kentucky Derby points races for the first time.

The 2020 Smarty Jones closed with 51 nominations.

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