Smarty Jones Bets 2026 at a Glance

While people will say, “Happy New Year!” All thoroughbreds celebrate their birthday on Thursday. Horses that were 2 at the start of the week will turn 3 on Thursday and that’s when the conversation about the 2026 Kentucky Derby Presented by Woodford Reserve really starts to intensify. On Saturday, the Smarty Jones Stakes from Oaklawn Park will serve as one of the two 3-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.

1. Universe (3-1): He finished second in a pair of Churchill Downs races at this distance in his last 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 ½ 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): Races 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 after two starts, most recently capturing a fee 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 ½ 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 Amos

7. Strategic risk (6-1): Last time ran 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 at sprints for Louisiana-bred horses without a win. This seems like a big ask, even for a trainer who won Oaklawn’s 2022 Rebel Stakes at odds of 75.40-1 against the one-eyed Un Ojo.

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 LONG SHOT: Oscar’s hope

SUPERFECT: 5-1-6-7

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