Watch out for Mourinho on the 2018 Kentucky Derby trail

I know Monday’s $150,000 Smarty Jones Stakes was not the strongest 2018 Kentucky Derby prep yet — nor was it deep with just five runners — but I don’t much understand the negativity surrounding its winner, Mourinho.

If anything, after the running of the Smarty Jones, the Bob Baffert-trained son of Super Saver deserves to rank among top contenders heading into the first Saturday in May.

Mourhino bounced out of the gate to establish a length lead in the early stages of the race. And facing a short run into the first turn, it took a an opening quarter of :23.33 to do it.

After that, Mourinho relaxed nicely for jockey Drayden Van Dyke while maintaining his advantage. He got a breather during the next quarter of the race, hitting the half in :48.09, but from that point on just kept pouring on the speed. 

Mourinho clocked six furlongs in 1:27.27, meaning his third internal quarter went in :24.18, which was more than a half second quicker than his second internal quarter. Despite the early move, Mourinho kept opening up on his pursuers around the turn.

By the time he had hit the stretch, Mourinho had a four-length lead. The only one to close any ground at the end was the Steve Asmussen-trained Combatant, who cut the margin down to just over three lengths by the time Mourinho hit the wire.

However, don’t by into the theory that Combatant was only closing due to Mourinho tiring. Mourinho coasted across the finish line, getting his final eighth in a solid :12.35 seconds, which was actually faster than the previous furlong he ran in :12.63.

Judging by those two splits, I’d say it’s safe to say Mourinho was definitely not tired, and had plenty left in the tank. Combatant quite simply ran a very good race in defeat with a very solid closing effort, and he too will stay on the Derby trail because of it.

I understand many still want to see Mourinho tested or going longer, but that can be said of most impressive winners this early on the trail to the Kentucky Derby. Just because he wasn’t challenged — and won like a good horse should — shouldn’t take away from how impressive his performance was.

Combatant is no slouch, either. He was second in Remington’s Springboard Mile by 2 1/4 lengths to Greyvitos, a horse he and Mourinho share in their past performances. Greyvitos topped Mourinho by 1 1/2 lengths back on Nov. 11 when both were sprinting in Del Mar’s Grade 3 Bob Hope.