Study Guide: 2026 Smarty Jones Stakes

Dec 29, 2025 J. Keeler Johnson/TwinSpires.com

Oscar's Hope winning at Churchill Downs (Photo by Coady Media)

Nine horses will vie for 21 Road to the Kentucky Derby qualification points in Saturday’s $250,000 Smarty Jones S. at Oaklawn Park.

The 1 1/16-mile race awards its points on a 10-5-3-2-1 split to the top five finishers. In 2024, the Smarty Jones was contested by Mystik Dan, who went on to claim victory in the 150th Kentucky Derby (G1).

Let’s meet the horses entered in the 2026 Smarty Jones:

Universe

Start(s): 4
Wins: 1
Place: 2
Show: 1

Owner: 4 G Racing, Gregg Day, Steven Crain, and Magdalena Racing
Breeder: Becky Pietras
Trainer: Kenny McPeek
Jockey: Joel Rosario

Top Speed Rating: (91) when finishing second in the Street Sense (G3) at Churchill Downs.
Total Earnings: $233,400

Sire: Global Campaign
Dam: Equalityforall
Color: Bay

Universe is shaping up as the favorite after finishing third in the Champagne (G1), second in the Street Sense (G3), and second in the Kentucky Jockey Club (G2) on the Road to the Kentucky Derby. Facing easier competition in the Smarty Jones should help Universe snatch first prize for Kenny McPeek, the trainer of Mystik Dan.

Further Ado picks up 10 Kentucky Derby points in the G2 Kentucky Jockey Club at @ChurchillDowns! 🌟🏆@iradortiz was aboard for trainer @bradcoxracing and @spendthriftfarm!

🎥 #TwinSpiresReplay pic.twitter.com/SDJKbZ5jiJ

— TwinSpires Racing 🏇 (@TwinSpires) November 29, 2025

Baytown Dreamer

Start(s): 8
Wins: 1
Place: 1
Show: 2

Owner: Baytown Partnerships
Breeder: Brookstone Farm, Lee Mauberret, and James Blazek
Trainer: Paul McEntee
Jockey: Orlando Bocachica

Top Speed Rating: (85) when finishing fourth in the Tremont S. at Saratoga.
Total Earnings: $200,438

Sire: Mendelssohn
Dam: Colerful Bride
Color: Chestnut

With eight races under his belt, Baytown Dreamer is the most experienced horse in the Smarty Jones field. But he’s winless on dirt and must improve his Brisnet Speed ratings to challenge for a top-five finish.

Boca Beach Club

Start(s): 2
Wins: 1
Place: 1
Show: 0

Owner: Doubledown Stables
Breeder: Rebel Thoroughbreds, Rowland Hancock, and David Walker
Trainer: James DiVito
Jockey: Luis Saez

Top Speed Rating: (91) when finishing second in the Advent S. at Oaklawn Park.
Total Earnings: $47,100

Sire: Omaha Beach
Dam: Best of Times
Color: Chestnut

Boca Beach Club showed talent in the 5 1/2-furlong Advent S. at Oaklawn on Dec. 12, finishing second with a promising 91 Brisnet Speed rating. If he handles stretching out over 1 1/16 miles, Boca Beach Club can challenge for a top-five finish.

Silent Tactic

Start(s): 2
Wins: 1
Place: 1
Show: 0

Owner: John C. Oxley
Breeder: Don Alberto Corporation
Trainer: Mark Casse
Jockey: Jaime Torres

Top Speed Rating: (83) when finishing second in the Grey (G3) at Woodbine.
Total Earnings: $53,172

Sire: Tacitus
Dam: Magical Sign
Color: Bay

Silent Tactic has run well in two starts over the synthetic Tapeta track at Woodbine, most notably finishing a close second in the 1 1/16-mile Grey (G3). His pedigree suggests switching to dirt won’t be an issue, so don’t count Silent Tactic out of the mix.

Rancho Santa Fe

Start(s): 2
Wins: 2
Place: 0
Show: 0

Owner: Gary and Mary West Stables
Breeder: Gary and Mary West Stables
Trainer: Brad Cox
Jockey: Florent Geroux

Top Speed Rating: (86) when winning a $100,000 allowance optional claimer at Keeneland.
Total Earnings: $130,707

Sire: Tapit
Dam: Family Tree
Color: Chestnut

Rancho Santa Fe is unbeaten in two starts for trainer Brad Cox, who has won three of the last five editions of the Smarty Jones. Rancho Santa Fe was last seen conquering a strong field in a 1 1/16-mile $100,000 allowance optional claimer, suggesting he has the talent to challenge Universe for supremacy this Saturday.

Oscar’s Hope

Start(s): 5
Wins: 3
Place: 2
Show: 0

Owner: Michael McLoughlin
Breeder: Stonestreet Thoroughbred Holdings
Trainer: Tom Amoss
Jockey: Ricardo Santana Jr.

Top Speed Rating: (86) on three occasions, including when winning the Jean Lafitte S. at Delta Downs.
Total Earnings: $231,684

Sire: Twirling Candy
Dam: Hopeful Princess
Color: Bay

After starting his career with four solid performances in six-furlong sprints, Oscar’s Hope stretched out over 7 1/2 furlongs to dominate the Jean Lafitte S. at Delta Downs. The Smarty Jones is a tougher race, but Oscar’s Hope is progressing in the right direction and shouldn’t be underestimated.

Strategic Risk

Start(s): 5
Wins: 2
Place: 0
Show: 1

Owner: John C. Oxley
Breeder: John Oxley Living Trust
Trainer: Mark Casse
Jockey: Javier Castellano

Top Speed Rating: (98) when winning the FTBOA Florida Sire In Reality S. at Gulfstream Park.
Total Earnings: $253,550

Sire: Noble Bird
Dam: Strategize
Color: Bay

Bred in Florida, Strategic Risk has shown flashes of serious talent competing against fellow Florida-breds at Gulfstream Park. Last time out, he smashed the 1 1/16-mile FTBOA Florida Sire In Reality S. by nine lengths with a powerful 98 Brisnet Speed rating, suggesting he’s fast enough to vie for victory in the Smarty Jones.

Scar Ship

Start(s): 4
Wins: 1
Place: 2
Show: 0

Owner: Rebecca Farms
Breeder: Rebecca Farms
Trainer: Ricky Courville
Jockey: Ramon Vazquez

Top Speed Rating: (89) when finishing second in the Louisiana Champions Day Juvenile S. at Fair Grounds.
Total Earnings: $60,400

Sire: Midshipman
Dam: Hopeful Union
Color: Bay

Scar Ship has competed exclusively against Louisiana-breds so far, with his best effort being a runner-up finish in the six-furlong Louisiana Juvenile S. He’s bred for speed, so it remains to be seen how he’ll handle stretching out over 1 1/16 miles for the first time.

Sleepingonfreedom

Start(s): 3
Wins: 2
Place: 1
Show: 0

Owner: Dream Big Racing, Fern Circle Stables, and Magdalena Racing
Breeder: Jay Goodwin, Danny Guidry, and Michael Hore
Trainer: Kenny McPeek
Jockey: Brian Hernandez Jr.

Top Speed Rating: (86) when winning a $50,000 starter allowance at Churchill Downs.
Total Earnings: $114,060

Sire: Independence Hall
Dam: Siesta
Color: Dark bay/brown

Sleepingonfreedom unleashed a big late rally to win a recent 1 1/16-mile $50,000 starter allowance at Churchill Downs by 1 1/2 lengths. He’s developing in the right direction for Kenny McPeek, but must improve upon his career-best 86 Brisnet Speed rating in order to beat the Smarty Jones favorites.