Field of nine kicks off new year in Smarty Jones

Dec 29, 2023 Vance Hanson/Brisnet.com

Trainers Brad Cox and Steve Asmussen have combined to win three of the past four editions of the $300,000 Smarty Jones S. at Oaklawn and will be collectively represented by five of the nine starters in Monday's renewal of the 1 1/16-mile event for newly turned three-year-olds.

The Smarty Jones is the first point-scoring opportunity of 2024 in the Road to the Kentucky Derby series. The respective top five finishers will earn points of 10-5-3-2-1.

Cox, who saddled past winners Victory Formation (2023) and Caddo River (2021), has entered three. Both Gettysburg Address and Coaching Freedom are sons of Constitution exiting fourth-place efforts at Churchill Downs, with Gettysburg Address attempting to rebound from a loss in the Street Sense (G3) in which he set the early pace. He races without blinkers in the Smarty Jones, while Catching Freedom will look to improve off a 2 1/4-length allowance loss in which he was the near even-money favorite.

#8 Liberal Arts and @cristaintorr64 take the G3 Street Sense S. at Churchill Downs for trainer Robert Medina, earning 10 points towards the 150th Kentucky Derby! 🏆

🎥 #TwinSpiresReplay pic.twitter.com/b8KXFCO0E5

— TwinSpires Racing 🏇 (@TwinSpires) October 29, 2023

Cox's third entry is the Calumet Farm-owned Fidget, who defeated maidens on the turf and allowance foes on the dirt in his last two starts, both at Horseshoe Indianapolis.

Asmussen, who captured the Smarty Jones four years ago with Gold Street, relies on last-out Churchill allowance winner Lagynos and Informed Patriot, who finished third in the Street Sense before occupying the same slot against allowance company in his most recent start.

Just Steel, who upset the six-furlong Ed Brown S. at Churchill in late November as a 12-1 chance, tries two turns for only the second time in the Smarty Jones. The son of Triple Crown hero Justify is trained by D. Wayne Lukas, who notably won the 2013 Smarty Jones with eventual three-year-old champion Will Take Charge.

The field is rounded out by Mystik Dan and recent Remington Park graduates Mo Winning and Chaperone.

The Smarty Jones, which has a post time of 5:14 p.m. ET, can be watched and wagered on at TwinSpires.com.