The Smarty Jones Stakes is a Listed American Thoroughbred horse race for three years olds, over a distance of one and one-sixteenth miles on the dirt track held annually in early September at Parx Casino and Racing racetrack in Bensalem, Pennsylvania. The event currently carries a purse of $200,000.
History The race was inaugurated in 2010 with an attractive purse offered of $300,000 as a preparatory race for the Grade I Pennsylvania Derby where the winner was given automatic entry.
The event is named in honor of the 2004 Kentucky Derby and Preakness Stakes winner, and hometown Pennsylvania hero Smarty Jones.
Originally the distance of the event was set as 1 mile and 70 yards but was extended in 2016 to the current distance of miles.
In 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic in the United States, Parx Racing did not schedule the event.
In 2024 the event was downgraded by the Thoroughbred Owners and Breeders Association to Listed status.
Records Speed record: miles – 1:42.27 - Pavel (2017) 1 mile and 70 yards – 1:40.89 - Wilburn (2011)
Margins: 7 lengths – Awesome Slew (2016)
Most wins by a jockey 2 – Paco Lopez: (2016, 2019) 2 – Joe Bravo: (2014, 2018) 2 – Florent Geroux: (2021, 2022) Most wins by a trainer:
2 – Steven M. Asmussen: (2010, 2011) 2 – Brad H. Cox: (2021, 2022) 2 – Todd A. Pletcher: (2014, 2025)
Most wins by an owner
No owner won this race more than once
Winners Year Winner Jockey Trainer Owner Distance Time Purse Grade Ref2025Tip Top ThomasJohn R. VelazquezTodd A. Pletcher James J. Bakke & Gerald Isbister miles1:42.50$200,000Listed2024Gould's Gold Emmanuel EsquivelKenneth G. McPeekFour G Racing, Lance Gasaway & Magdalena Racing miles1:45.55$200,000Listed2023Il MiracoloLuis SaezAntonio SanoEduardo Soto miles1:48.59$300,000III2022Best ActorFlorent GerouxBrad H. CoxGary West & Mary West miles1:44.14$300,000III2021 Fulsome Florent Geroux Brad H. Cox Juddmonte miles1:45.57$300,000III2020Race not held2019 Spun to Run Paco Lopez Juan Carlos Guerrero Robert P. Donaldson miles1:44.14$300,000III2018 Axelrod Joe Bravo Michael W. McCarthy Slam Dunk Racing miles1:45.34$300,000III2017 Pavel Mario Gutierrez Doug F. O'Neill Reddam Racing miles1:42.27$300,000III2016 Awesome Slew Paco Lopez Edward Plesa Jr. Live Oak Plantation miles1:42.92$300,000III2015 Island Town Brian Hernandez Jr. Ian R. Wilkes Six Column Stables, Randell L. Bloch, John Seiler and David Hall1 mile and 70 yards1:44.10$300,000III2014 Protonico Joe Bravo Todd A. Pletcher International Equities Holding1 mile and 70 yards1:41.17$300,000III2013 Edge of Reality Stewart Elliott Anthony W. Dutrow The Elkstone Group1 mile and 70 yards1:42.20$350,000III2012 Easter Gift Kendrick Carmouche Nicholas P. Zito Robert V. LaPenta1 mile and 70 yards1:42.05$350,000III2011 Wilburn Corey Nakatani Steven M. Asmussen Stonestreet Stables1 mile and 70 yards1:40.89$300,000Listed 2010ThiskyhasnolimitJamie TheriotSteven M. AsmussenMark Zollars, Bob Wagner, and Cathy Wagner1 mile and 70 yards1:40.49$300,000Listed
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