The 2026 Smarty Jones Stakes takes place on Saturday, January 3rd, 2026, at Oaklawn Park and serves as a key early stop on the Road to the Kentucky Derby.

Run at 1 1/16 miles on the dirt, the $250,000 Smarty Jones Stakes features 9 three-year-old contenders competing for 10 Kentucky Derby qualifying points to the winner.

This is the first of four Derby prep races at Oaklawn Park and often introduces horses who will shape the rest of the 2026 Kentucky Derby trail.

In this video, I evaluate the 2026 Smarty Jones Stakes horse by horse, telling the story behind each contender’s past performances, pedigree, trainer, and Derby potential — focusing on context, not just speed figures.

🐎 2026 SMARTY JONES STAKES CONTENDERS

1. Universe (Trainer: Kenny McPeek) A proven graded-stakes performer who has never missed the board and has already finished second twice at this distance. Universe brings class, stamina, and top-level experience into the 2026 Smarty Jones Stakes.

2. Baytown Dreamer (Trainer: Paul McEntee) The most experienced horse in the field with eight starts, Baytown Dreamer returns to dirt after several turf attempts. He looks to rediscover form while stepping into a deeper field at Oaklawn Park.

3. Boca Beach Club (Trainer: James DiVito) Lightly raced but extremely fast, Boca Beach Club owns the highest speed figure among the 2026 Smarty Jones Stakes entrants. With prior Oaklawn experience, the question is whether his sprint speed will carry two turns.

4. Silent Tactic (Trainer: Mark Casse) Already proven at the Smarty Jones distance on Woodbine’s synthetic surface, Silent Tactic now transitions to dirt. He must answer whether his tactical style translates to Oaklawn Park’s speed-favoring track.

5. Rancho Santa Fe (Trainer: Brad Cox) Undefeated in two starts and improving with every race, Rancho Santa Fe is by Tapit and trained by Brad Cox. His professionalism and upward trajectory make him a serious 2026 Smarty Jones Stakes contender.

6. Oscar’s Hope (Trainer: Tom Amoss) Always in the exacta and consistently fast, Oscar’s Hope brings strong speed figures into Oaklawn Park. He now stretches out to 1 1/16 miles while carrying the highest weight in the field.

7. Strategic Risk (Trainer: Mark Casse) Coming off a dominant confidence-boosting win, Strategic Risk returns to open company for the 2026 Smarty Jones Stakes. His pedigree suggests stamina, but this race will determine if he belongs at this level.

8. Scar Ship (Trainer: Ricky Courville) A Louisiana-bred stepping into open company, Scar Ship stretches out in distance and adds blinkers for the first time. He has shown heart and speed but faces multiple new challenges at once.

9. Sleeping on Freedom (Trainer: Kenny McPeek) A consistent winner who has already handled the distance, Sleeping on Freedom draws the outside post in the 2026 Smarty Jones Stakes. He adds intrigue as the second McPeek-trained entrant in the field.

🏁 FINAL WORD The 2026 Smarty Jones Stakes at Oaklawn Park offers an early look at the next wave of Kentucky Derby contenders. Nine horses. Ten Derby points. One opportunity to take a major step forward on the Derby trail.