Undefeated Ewing continues training toward 3-year-old debut

Unbeaten Grade 2 winner Ewing and stablemate Strategic Risk arrived at Oaklawn around 5:30 a.m. EST on Monday after previously being based in Florida with trainer Mark Casse, said Caden Arthur, who oversees the dual hall of famer’s Oaklawn division.

Arthur said Ewing (two for two) is scheduled to work Sunday morning in advance of his 3-year-old debut, which Casse indicated could come in a January allowance sprint. Ewing is unraced since the Saratoga Special Stakes (G2) at 6 1/2 furlongs Aug. 2 at Saratoga.

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Arthur said Strategic Risk will work an “easy half-mile” Saturday morning in preparation for the $250,000 Smarty Jones Stakes on Jan. 3. The 1 1/16-mile Smarty Jones is Oaklawn’s first of four Kentucky Derby qualifying races. It will offer 21 Kentucky Derby qualifying points, apportioned 10-5-3-2-1, to its top five finishers.

“Going to do a half-mile seven days out, just to get over the surface a little and see how he does,” Arthur said Friday morning. “(Casse) said he’s been training great. He looks great.”

Strategic Risk, in his last start, was a nine-length winner of the restricted Florida Sire In Reality Stakes at 1 1/16 miles Nov. 29 at Gulfstream Park.

Arthur said Casse also plans to start Silent Tactic in the Smarty Jones, which would mark his dirt debut. Both of Silent Tactic’s starts have come over a synthetic surface at Woodbine in Canada, the last a runner-up finish in the Grey Stakes (G3) at 1 1/16 miles Nov. 2.

Arthur said Silent Tactic is also scheduled to work Saturday morning.

Entries will be accepted and post positions drawn Sunday for the Smarty Jones. Other early probables include Universe and Sleepingonfreedom for trainer Kenny McPeek. Trainer Tom Amoss said he plans to start Big Dom or Oscar’s Hope.