The Smarty Jones Stakes is a Listed American Thoroughbred horse race for 3-year-olds contested on dirt at a distance of one mile (8 furlongs) run annually in mid-January at Oaklawn Park Race Track in Hot Springs, Arkansas. The Smarty Jones is worth $150,000.
History
Named for the 2004 Kentucky Derby and Preakness Stakes winner, Smarty Jones, the inaugural race was held on January 21, 2008.
It is the first in a series of races – including the Southwest Stakes, Rebel Stakes, and Arkansas Derby – held at Oaklawn that are commonly used as preps for the Kentucky Derby.
Note that a second Smarty Jones Stakes, a Grade 3 race for 3-year-olds run at a distance of 1 and 1/16 miles, was created in 2010 and is held at Parx in late August or during Labor Day weekend.
Since 2013 the event is part of the Road to the Kentucky Derby with qualification points given to the first four placegetters.
Records Speed record: 1 mile: 1:36.32 – Uncontested (2017)
Speed record: lengths - Caddo River (2021)
Most wins by a jockey: 2 – Eusebio Razo Jr. (2008, 2011) 2 – Jon Court (2013, 2016)
Most wins by a trainer: 3 – Brad H. Cox (2021, 2023, 2024)
Most wins by an owner: 2 – Robert V. LaPenta (2015, 2017) 2 – Harry T. Rosenblum (2015, 2017)
Winners Year Winner Jockey TrainerOwner Time2026Strategic RiskJavier CastellanoMark E. CasseJohn C. Oxley1:45.062025Coal BattleJuan P. VargasLonnie BrileyNorman Stables LLC 1:46.432024Catching Freedom Cristian A. TorresBrad H. CoxAlbaugh Family Stables 1:44.592023Victory FormationFlavien PratBrad H. CoxSpendthrift Farm & Frank Fletcher Racing Operations Inc. 1:38.142022Dash AttackDavid Cohen Kenneth G. McPeekCatalyst Stable, Madalena Racing, Kevin Pollard and Patty Slevin1:39.442021Caddo River Florent Geroux Brad H. Cox Shortleaf Stable 1:38.192020Gold Street Martin GarciaSteven M. AsmussenMike McCarty 1:39.632019Gray AttemptShaun BridgmohanWilliam H. FiresDwight Pruett1:36.942018MourinhoDrayden Van DykeBob BaffertPhoenix Thoroughbred III1:37.252017UncontestedChanning HillWayne M. CatalanoRobert V. LaPenta & Harry T. Rosenblum1:36.322016DiscreetnessJon CourtWilliam H. FiresXpress Thoroughbreds1:38.052015Far RightMike E. SmithRon MoquettRobert V. LaPenta & Harry T. Rosenblum1:38.432014Tanzanite CatNorberto Arroyo Jr.Cody AutreyJames & Ywachetta Driver1:38.692013Will Take ChargeJon CourtD. Wayne LukasWillis Horton1:38.642012JunebugredJoe BravoSteve HobbyAlex & JoAnn Lieblong1:38.452011Caleb's PosseEusebio Razo Jr.Donnie K. Von HemelMcNeill Stables & Cheyenne Stables1:43.072010DryflyCalvin BorelLynn S. WhitingCharles J. Cella1:41.692009Flat OutJulio A. GarciaCharles L. DickeyOxbow Racing LLC (Art & Stephanie Preston)1:39.152008Liberty BullEusebio Razo Jr.Thomas M. AmossKenneth Maier1:38.15
See also Road to the Kentucky Derby
References