Parx's Smarty Jones draws eight with Pennsylvania Derby dreams
A field of eight 3-year-olds is set to compete in Monday's Grade 3, $300,000 Smarty Jones Stakes at Parx in the local prep for the the Pennsylvania Derby (G1) that's expected to feature Maximum Security.
No fewer than five stakes winners were entered for the 1 1/16-mile Smarty Jones, which offers a free nomination and starting fee to its winner for the $1 million Pennsylvania Derby run Sept. 21.
Gray Magician was overmatched when 19th in the Kentucky Derby, but he's since come back from a freshening to run second in the Indiana Derby (G3) and then score in the Ellis Park Derby. Corey Lanerie will be aboard from post No. 4. Gray Magician's also entered in a stakes race Wednesday at Indiana Grand.
Majid won the Easy Goer at Belmont in June and came back to run fifth in the Dwyer Stakes (G3) in his most recent start for Rudy Rodriguez. He will break from the outside post with Kendrick Carmouche in the irons.
Cairo Cat flashed promise as a 2-year-old winning the Iroquois Stakes (G3) in September, but he was sidelined following that race. Trained by Ken McPeek, the son of Cairo Prince finally resurfaced to run third in a 1 1/8-mile allowance race at Saratoga on Aug. 9. Cairo Cat will break from post No. 7 under David Cohen.
Bethlehem Road is a potential horse for course, as he won the Parx Derby back in the spring for trainer Dee Curry. The Quality Road gelding, who will break from the two hole with Castro Rodriguez up, exits a sixth-place finish in the Haskell.
Additionally, Top Line Growth won the listed Iowa Derby at Prairie Meadows earlier this summer via disqualification before running running fourth in the West Virginia Derby (G3) on Aug. 3 for trainer Kelly Rubley. The son of Tapizar will break from post No. 5 with Joe Bravo in the saddle.
Grumps Little Tots, Spun to Run and War Treaty round out the field.
The 1 1/8-mile Pennsylvania Derby is shaping up as one of the top 3-year-old races of the season. In addition to Maximum Security, other big-name sophomores pointing to the race are Mucho Gusto, War of Will, Improbable, Mr. Money, Spinoff and Tax.
The Smarty Jones, which is scheduled for 5:45 p.m. ET, is one of seven stakes races set for Monday's card at Parx. A race prior to the Smarty Jones, the Turf Monster (G3) goes at five furlongs with Purse Sensation looking to win it for the fourth time in five years.