New Stakes race at Oaklawn
 

Just noticed that Oaklawn has created a stakes race for 3YO named after Smarty Jones. The race will be run the first weekend of the meet.

THE SMARTY JONES

$50,000
3-YEAR-OLDS
6 FURLONGS

Is it a prep for the Birdstone?

nope, the Stewart Elliott.

hah

I assume that race is restricted to amateur riders.

Where is the GIACOMO Stakes???? :confused: :confused: :confused:

If any horse in the history of Oaklawn deserves a race named after him, it's Smarty Jones.

Ouch!

A prep for the Fernando Jara...

I thought it was a prep for the Oaklawn Buzzer Stakes

Speaking of which, according to one of my insane index cards, Billy Patin is back riding again.

saw a while back he was reinstated, any luck getting work?

he's had 329 rides over the last year - won at a 10.9% clip - and his mounts have yielded an 11.5% loss on the betting dollar.

I assume someone is going to chime in any second now and declare Valhol the worst Ark Derby winner ever - since isolating the worst seems to be all the rage today.

However - 141/1 mega longshot Rockamundo, with a rail skimming Calvin Borel ride for trainer OJ Glass has to rate way up there.

Rockamundo did beat Kissin Kris in that race (who was 2nd to Sea Hero in his career Beyer top Travers win) He retired with two career wins - never won again.

Other bum Ark Derby winners include Sir Cherokee and Private Emblem.

Is that a new race or did they just rename the Mountain Valley (or whatever the name of the race was that Afleet Alex made his 3yo debut in)?

The race is at a Mile and it is the first running of it is on Monday Jan. 21