Expert Pick of the Week: 2026 Smarty Jones Stakes

Dec 31, 2025 John Mucciolo/TwinSpires.com

Universe wins at Saratoga. (Photo by Coglianese Photo)

A talented and well-matched field of nine recently turned three-year-olds will travel 1 1/16 miles at Oaklawn Park on Saturday in the $250,000 Smarty Jones S. The 2026 Road to the Kentucky Derby challenge series qualifying tilt will reward the top-five finishers with points towards the Run for the Roses on a 10-5-3-2-1 structure.

I will go for an upset in the fine field with Silent Tactic. One of two in the group for Hall of Fame trainer Mark Casse, the son of young sire Tacitus, made his first appearance at Woodbine Race Course in Canada on Oct. 10 and rallied for a nice win at the same distance as the Smarty Jones. The horse, which was purchased for a hefty $500,000 in Florida in April, next showed up in the Grey (G3) at the same track and fell less than a length shy at the finish when ultimately second best.

The bay horse has never competed on the natural dirt as of yet, as both lifetime runs occurred on the synthetic strip in Canada, but he has trained well in two morning workouts at Oaklawn Park leading up to this race, and I expect him to handle the transition with relative ease. He will be unhurried in the early going of this race and put in a big run late with Jaime Torres riding him for the first time.

Universe has hit the board in three straight graded stakes races as of late for Derby-winning trainer Kenny McPeek and gets the rail for his first run in Arkansas. The colt ships in from Churchill Downs off of two good second-place results, and his best race will have him challenging for the win on Saturday with Joel Rosario riding him for the first time.

Universe pulls away to win on debut at 17/1 in R8 at Saratoga! @kennymcpeek trains and Christopher Elliot was in the irons. 💰 pic.twitter.com/SV4SJlJvoZ

— TwinSpires Racing 🏇 (@TwinSpires) August 30, 2025

Rancho Santa Fe is perfect from two races so far for trainer Brad Cox, who has been on quite a roll recently. This three-year-old is by standout sire Tapit, and following a nice win in his first run at Ellis Park in the summer, the colt defeated a very good allowance field at Keeneland on Oct. 11. He is a half-brother to millionaire Heroic Move and could be on his way to duplicating him going forward. Regular rider Florent Geroux will be in the saddle, and he will have the colt close from the start.

Expert Pick

An exacta with #4 Silent Tactic on top of #1 Universe and #5 Rancho Santa Fe in the 2026 Smarty Jones Stakes is the Best Bet of the Week.