Meet the Contenders: 2024 Smarty Jones
Mystik Dan wins at Churchill Downs (Photo by Coady Photography)
Meet the horses running in the 2024 Smarty Jones at Oaklawn Park. For each horse, we're listing a pro, a con, and a rating of potential. The star rating of 1 to 5 represents opportunity to perform well. Be sure to follow these contenders by adding them to your Stable Alerts.
Informed Patriot (Photo by Coady Photography)
#1 Informed Patriot ***
Pro: Barn off to a solid start this meet, and this colt looks as fast as any here.
Con: Has lost ground late in each of his starts at a mile and beyond.
Catching Freedom at Churchill Downs (Photo by Coady Photography)
#2 Catching Freedom ****
Pro: Rough trip fourth when heavily favored last time and can do better.
Con: Pace doesn’t necessarily project to be as fast as he might need it to be.
Oaklawn Park - Coady Photography
#3 Lagynos ****
Pro: Won debut on grass but dirt proved no hindrance in allowance win over this distance.
Con: Like several others, has had no exposure racing or working over this strip.
Mystik Dan wins at Churchill Downs (Photo by Coady Photography)
#4 Mystik Dan ***
Pro: Impressively won second out and perhaps wheeled back too quickly last time.
Con: Might ultimately prove more effective around one turn.
Oaklawn Park - Coady Photography
#5 Mo Winning **
Pro: Impressively drew off to win debut by four lengths, albeit against lesser at Remington.
Con: Tough spot in which to make stakes and two-turn debut.
Gettysburg Address (Photo by Coady Photography)
#6 Gettysburg Address ****
Pro: Blinkers come off after speed-and-fade performance in Street Sense (G3).
Con: Remains with upside, though price figures to be relatively low.
Just Steel (inside) edging Be You in a Saratoga maiden special weight (Photo by Coglianese Photos/Susie Raisher)
#7 Just Steel ***
Pro: Most experienced member of the field upset stakes rivals at Churchill last time.
Con: Although a son of Justify, one-turn races has been his game so far.
Oaklawn Park - Coady Photography
#8 Chaperone *
Pro: Son of Curlin earned belated maiden win last time; might be coming around now.
Con: Hit to the road to Oklahoma to get diploma, and not in overly convincing fashion.
Fidget (Photo by Coady Photography)
#9 Fidget ***
Pro: Versatile colt is a perfect 2-for-2 around two turns since adding blinkers.
Con: Faces tougher rivals here than he did at Horseshoe Indianapolis.
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