Mapping the 2026 Smarty Jones Deployment at Oaklawn Park

While people will say, “Happy New Year!” On January 1, all thoroughbreds celebrate their birthday.

That serves as the final reminder that the spring classics will soon take shape. Horses that were 2 at the start of the week will turn 3 on Thursday and talk of the 2026 Kentucky Derby (G1) will continue to heat up.

The Smarty Jones Stakes takes place on Saturday Oaklawn Park will serve as one of two three-year-old stakes of the day, along with the Jerome Stakes at Aqueduct. Both races offer 10-5-3-2-1 race qualifying points for the Roses to their top five finishers. The odds below are the morning line.

1. Universe (3-1): Finished second in a pair Churchill Downs graded stakes races at this distance in his past two starts. Gets jockey Joel Rosario and should be a key player off the rail.

JOCKEY: Joel Rosario; TRAINER: Ken McPeek

2. Baytown dreamer (30-1): Dream seems the optimal word for a horse with one win and one second in eight starts on grass and sand.

JOCKEY: Orlando Bocachica; TRAINER: Paul McEntee

3. Boca Beach Club (4-1) Bred for distance, but has yet to race beyond 5 1/2 furlongs. The fractions were fast and so were the speed figures, meaning he will likely be at or near the lead. Difficult to take into account the low odds on the morning line as you race around two corners for the first time.

JOCKEY: Luis Saez; TRAINER: James DiVito

4. Silent tactics (12-1): Racing on dirt for the first time after running on all-weather surfaces in his first two starts. His work on dirt doesn’t increase enthusiasm for his chances.

JOCKEY: Jaime Torres; TRAINER: Mark Casse

5. Santa Fe Ranch (5-2): Undefeated in two starts, most recently capturing a compensation-level race at Keeneland at this distance. It certainly seems like he’s capable of making the step up to stakes and becoming one of the top contenders.

JOCKEY: Florent Geroux; TRAINER: Brad Cox

6. Oscar’s hope (8-1): Has never been worse than second in five starts. Stretched to 7 1/2 furlongs and won a Delta Downs stakes race last time. Has the breeding to handle the extra distance and works well for this breed.

JOCKEY: Ricardo Santana Jr.; TRAINER: Tom Amoss

7. Strategic risk (6-1): Last run by nine lengths in a stakes race for Florida-bred horses. That win was a big improvement and he should be in the picture if he takes another step forward.

JOCKEY: Javier Castellano; TRAINER: Mark Casse

8. Scar ship (12-1): Has raced without a win at sprints for Louisiana-bred horses. This seems like a big ask, even for a trainer who won Oaklawn’s 2022 Rebel Stakes (G2) by a 75-1 margin with the one-eyed One eye .

JOCKEY: Ramon Vazquez; TRAINER: Ricky Courville

9. Sleep on freedom (5-1): Has shown steady improvement in his three starts and could be a threat in his stakes debut if that trend continues. The outpost doesn’t help his chances.

JOCKEY: Brian J. Hernandez Jr.; TRAINER: Ken McPeek

THE CHOICE: Rancho Santa Fe
LIVE LONGSHOT: Oscar’s Hope
SUPERFECT: 5-1-6-7