Kentucky Derby 2019 Daily: Smarty Jones field assembles
Welcome to Horse Racing Nation’s Kentucky Derby Daily, which will each day leading up to the May 4 race at Churchill Downs detail all the news and notes related to contenders in one convenient space.
Trainer Steve Asmussen’s 1-2 Springboard Mile finishers, Long Range Toddy and Bankit, will be back Jan. 25 to lead a forming cast for the $150,000 Smarty Jones Stakes.
As with Saturday’s Lecomte Stakes (G3) at Fair Grounds and other 2019 Kentucky Derby preps run so far, the Smarty Jones will pay out qualifying points on a 10-4-2-1 scale to the Top 4 finishers. The draw is set for Friday after the race attracted a record 49 nominations.
Long Range Toddy will carry a three-race winning streak into the Smarty Jones. Following his final breeze Monday at Oaklawn Park, Asmussen told the track’s publicity department it’s “unbelievable how much that horse has improved.”
A son of Take Charge Indy, Long Range Toddy beat the fast-closing Bankit by a diminishing head when they last raced Dec. 16 at Oklahoma’s Remington Park.
Other probable runners include the recent winner of Fair Grounds’ Sugar Bowl Stakes, Gray Attempt; Louisiana Downs’ Big Drama winner, Six Shooter; and Super Steed, a Churchill Downs allowance winner who ran fourth in the Sugar Bowl.
Two-time Oaklawn riding champion Terry Thompson tuned Super Steed up Monday with a five-furlong breeze in 1:00.80.
“It was a really good work,” Jones said. “And, Terry said he just had his ears up the whole way. He said at the eighth pole that he just kind of picked it up on his own. He said he finished up good. We were real happy.”
Possible to enter are Jack Van Berg — the horse, trained by the late trainer’s son, Tom — along with B P Rocket and Admire. The last name on that list will scratch from the Lecomte, said Jason Loutsch, racing manager for owner Albaugh Family Stables. Admire drew the outside in a field of 14.
“That post position gave us no chance,” Loutsch said.
A son of Cairo Prince, Admire could also skip running this weekend all together. Connections are also looking for room on a flight from Florida to New York for the Feb. 2 Withers (G3) at Aqueduct.
Trainer Bob Baffert, who won the 2018 Smarty Jones with the ill-fated Mourinho, nominated Grade 3 winner Mucho Gusto along with maiden winners Kingly, Metropol and Much Better. Baffert said Thursday he does not anticipate entering a contender in this year’s race.
For locals on the fence, there’s a decision to make: Run in the Smarty Jones going a mile and two turns, or sign up for a $77,000 maiden special weight event? Oaklawn’s condition book lists races both Jan. 25 and Jan. 26 for 3-year-olds.
Another Lecomte scratch?
Mentioned in Fair Grounds’ barn notes, Mo Speed, who along with War of Will is trained by Mark Casse, isn’t certain to run in Saturday’s Derby prep.
“We’re still contemplating it,” said Casse, who anticipates a race day decision. “He hasn’t proven that he is that caliber, but I do see the race possibly setting up for him. We may run him just to see how he fits in the big picture.”
The Uncle Mo colt broke his maiden Nov. 11 at Woodbine and beat winners Dec. 21 in allowance company at Fair Grounds. Regardless of whether the $500,000 purchase scratches, the Lecomte’s also-eligible runner, West Texas, should draw in with Admire’s defection. West Texas won his Dec. 16 debut in maiden claiming company for trainer Bernie Flint.
We’ll have more on the Lecomte on Friday in an interview with Joe Kristufek, Fair Grounds’ track handicapper who offered us his selections.
Derby links
• The forecast indicates rain on Saturday in New Orleans, but War of Will — called “Wow” around the Casse barn — figures to fire ran or shine in the Lecomte.
• Speaking of, courtesy of Brisnet, free Lecomte past performances are available now. A good number of runners in the field have off track experience.
• This week’s HorseCenter video show includes current Derby Top 10 lists from hosts Matt Shifman and Brian Zipse. There’s agreement on the No. 1 spot, but they differ from there.
The works
Code of Honor — The defeated Mucho Macho Man Stakes favorite returned to the work tab Wednesday, now pointing toward Gulfstream Park’s March 2 Fountain of Youth (G2). He breezed a half mile in 49 seconds flat at the Payson Park Training Center.
Harvey Wallbanger — With news that a Derby prep winner for the barn, Cairo Cat, is off the trail, perhaps this maiden winner can help fill the void. The colt made his third drill of the new year a speedy one, going the four-furlong bullet half mile Thursday at Gulfstream in 47.60 seconds.
In case you missed it…
Wednesday’s Derby Daily report featured an interview with Butch Reid, trainer of Remsen (G2) winner Maximus Mischief, on the colt’s progress and his desire to attend a Derby — but only if he’s saddling a horse in it.