Study Guide: 2025 Smarty Jones Stakes

Dec 31, 2024 J. Keeler Johnson/TwinSpires.com

Coal Battle wins the Springboard Mile at Remington Park.

Coal Battle wins the Springboard Mile at Remington Park. (Photo by Dustin Orona Photography)

The $250,000 Smarty Jones S. at Oaklawn Park isn’t a graded stakes, but it’s nevertheless a highly productive Road to the Kentucky Derby qualifier.

Since its inaugural running in 2008, the Smarty Jones has produced a dozen Kentucky Derby starters, including 2024 Derby winner Mystik Dan.

Eight horses have entered the 2025 Smarty Jones, all vying for the Kentucky Derby qualification points awarded on a 10-5-3-2-1 basis to the top five finishers. Let’s meet the field:

Kale’s Angel

Start(s): 5
Wins: 2
Place: 0
Show: 0

Owner: Tom Kagele and Ernest Marchosky
Breeder: Brereton C. Jones
Trainer: Peter Miller
Jockey: Ramon Vazquez

Top Speed Rating: (97) when winning the Advent S. at Oaklawn Park.
Total Earnings: $139,750

Sire: Complexity
Dam: Love Affair
Color: Bay

Kale’s Angel didn’t achieve all that much in his first four starts on turf, but when he switched to dirt for the 5 1/2-furlong Advent S. at Oaklawn Park, he drew off to dominate by 5 3/4 lengths. The 97 Brisnet Speed rating he posted is the highest number in the Smarty Jones field, but can Kale’s Angel repeat that number while stretching out over 1 1/16 miles? The added distance is a question mark, but there’s a good chance Kale’s Angel’s speed and talent will carry him to a gate-to-wire victory.

Hot Gunner

Start(s): 6
Wins: 1
Place: 0
Show: 2

Owner: 7 Cedars Farm
Breeder: Erv Woolsey and Ralph Kinder
Trainer: Scott Young
Jockey: Harry Hernandez

Top Speed Rating: (79) when winning a Lone Star Park maiden special weight.
Total Earnings: $54,130

Sire: Exaggerator
Dam: You Flatter Me
Color: Dark bay/brown

Hot Gunner has recorded top-five finishes in a trio of stakes, but his career-best 79 Brisnet Speed rating looks a little light against this tough Smarty Jones field.

Optical

Start(s): 7
Wins: 2
Place: 0
Show: 1

Owner: Don’t Tell My Wife Stables 2023
Breeder: Stoneriggs Farm
Trainer: Keith Desormeaux
Jockey: Axel Concepcion

Top Speed Rating: (84) when winning a Churchill Downs $50,000 starter allowance.
Total Earnings: $119,562

Sire: City of Light
Dam: Espressoandacheck
Color: Bay

Optical pulled up after encountering some early trouble in the Breeders’ Futurity (G1), his first foray on the Road to the Kentucky Derby. He’s since bounced back with a couple of respectable tries in $50,000 starter allowances, winning his latest start by a head, but his career-best 84 Brisnet Speed rating ranks him slower than several of his Smarty Jones rivals.

Bon Temps

Start(s): 2
Wins: 0
Place: 0
Show: 0

Owner: Calumet Farm
Breeder: Calumet Farm
Trainer: D. Wayne Lukas
Jockey: Martin Garcia

Top Speed Rating: (73) when finishing fourth in an Oaklawn Park maiden special weight.
Total Earnings: $6,773

Sire: Bravazo
Dam: Winning Image
Color: Bay

Bon Temps has missed the top three in his first two starts sprinting against maiden special weight competition. He’ll need to improve while stretching out over 1 1/16 miles if he’s going to factor against tougher competition.

Mo Quality

Start(s): 2
Wins: 1
Place: 1
Show: 0

Owner: Walmac Farm
Breeder: Titletown Racing Stables
Trainer: Christopher Davis
Jockey: Junior Alvarado

Top Speed Rating: (90) when winning a Churchill Downs maiden special weight.
Total Earnings: $87,500

Sire: Mo Town
Dam: Revealing Quality
Color: Bay

Mo Quality unleashed a big rally to finish second in his debut, then employed pace-pressing tactics to win a 6 1/2-furlong maiden special weight at Churchill Downs with a sharp 90 Brisnet Speed rating. His pedigree suggests stretching out over 1 1/16 miles won’t be an issue, so victory isn’t out of the question for Mo Quality in the Smarty Jones.

Hot Property

Start(s): 1
Wins: 1
Place: 0
Show: 0

Owner: Gary and Mary West Stables
Breeder: Gary and Mary West Stables
Trainer: Brad Cox
Jockey: Flavien Prat

Top Speed Rating: (87) when winning a Fair Grounds maiden special weight.
Total Earnings: $34,800

Sire: Medaglia d’Oro
Dam: Milwaukee Appeal
Color: Bay

Hot Property impressed when debuting in a 1 1/16-mile maiden special weight at Fair Grounds, leading all the way and kicking clear to win by 3 3/4 lengths over a next-out winner. His 87 Brisnet Speed rating is strong for a debut performance, and Hot Property is eligible to run even faster in his second start for trainer Brad Cox, who has won three of the last four editions of the Smarty Jones. Hot Property is a strong win contender.

Curvino

Start(s): 7
Wins: 1
Place: 1
Show: 3

Owner: Roncelli Family Trust, Thomas Kagele, and Michael Roney
Breeder: Machmer Hall
Trainer: Peter Miller
Jockey: Francisco Arrieta

Top Speed Rating: (85) when finishing second in a Santa Anita maiden special weight.
Total Earnings: $74,880

Sire: Vino Rosso
Dam: Queenie’s Pride
Color: Chestnut

After running well without winning in his first six starts against maiden special weight competition, Curvino dropped in class for a 1 1/16-mile $100,000 maiden claimer at Oaklawn and rallied to win by three-quarters of a length. He’s sticking to the same course and distance this Saturday, but the Smarty Jones is a much tougher race.

Coal Battle

Start(s): 5
Wins: 3
Place: 0
Show: 0

Owner: Norman Stables
Breeder: Hume Wornall and Jay Adcock
Trainer: Lonnie Briley
Jockey: Juan Vargas

Top Speed Rating: (92) when winning the Remington Springboard Mile S. at Remington Park.
Total Earnings: $307,625

Sire: Coal Front
Dam: Wolfblade
Color: Dark bay/brown

Coal Battle is 3-for-3 on dirt and joined the Road to the Kentucky Derby with a stretch-running triumph in the one-mile Remington Springboard Mile S. However, it’s worth noting Coal Battle received a favorable pace setup in the Springboard Mile. The Smarty Jones may unfold at a more relaxed tempo, leaving Coal Battle with more work to do down the homestretch.

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