Three takeaways from 2024 Smarty Jones

Jan 02, 2024 James Scully

The first of four Road to the Kentucky Derby series qualifiers at Oaklawn Park, the 1 1/16-mile Smarty Jones S. on Jan. 1 offered points on a 10-5-3-2-1 scale toward a berth in the 150th running of the Kentucky Derby (G1) on May 4.

Here are three takeaways from the Smarty Jones.

Catching Freedom rolls in stakes debut

Bet down to 17-10 favoritism among nine rivals, Catching Freedom established himself as a serious Kentucky Derby contender for Brad Cox, overhauling Just Steel in deep stretch and drawing away to a 2 1/2-length decision.

He refused to change leads smoothly when asked by jockey Cristian Torres and still has some learning to do from a mental standpoint, racing greenly in all three career starts. An impressive maiden winner, Catching Freedom rebounded smartly from a troubled fourth-place effort versus allowance rivals at Churchill Downs in mid-November where he was stymied in traffic for most of the stretch drive, and the bay colt appears to have plenty of upside.

By Constitution, Catching Freedom is based at Fair Grounds and will have options for future engagements, but Cox mentioned sending him back to Oaklawn for the next prep race. The $1.25 million Rebel (G2) on Feb. 24 is a likely target.

FULL RACE REPLAY 🎥
#2 CATCHING FREEDOM ($5.40) reels in the pacesetters in the 2024 Smarty Jones S. @OaklawnRacing to earn 10 @kentuckyderby points. 🌹

The 3yo son of Constitution was ridden to victory by jockey @cristiantorr64 for Trainer @bradcoxracing. #TwinSpiresReplay pic.twitter.com/KDgaChGBhR

— TwinSpires Racing 🏇 (@TwinSpires) January 1, 2024

Speed rating improvement

Catching Freedom will need to run faster in upcoming engagements after registering an 89 Brisnet Speed rating, one point lower than his career best from a pair of juvenile starts. In his defense, the late runner closed into slow internal fractions and it’s still early in the season.

There’s precedent for significant improvement. In 2013, Orb registered an 89 Speed rating winning an allowance in late January. Always Dreaming posted 89 and 84 figures for early-season wins over maiden and allowance rivals in 2017. Both three-year-olds went on to register triple-digit numbers in preps, as Orb earned a 102 for his Fountain of Youth (G1) victory and Always Dreaming received the same number for Florida Derby (G1) score, before capturing the Kentucky Derby.

Catching Freedom is a candidate to keep progressing from a Speed rating standpoint, as well.

Other runners of interest

Runner-up Just Steel was wide the entire way and took the lead in upper stretch, giving way late to the winner. A sharp scorer in the 6 1/2-furlong Ed Brown S. in his prior start, the D. Wayne Lukas-trained colt is a son of 2018 Triple Crown winner Justify, but Just Steel looks better suited for distances of a mile or less at this stage in his racing career.

Gettysburg Address, a stablemate of Catching Freedom, appeared to lose all chance after being banged around at the break and shuffled back to last in the opening stages. He offered a decent late run for fourth, only a half-length back of Just Steel, and Gettysburg Address remains an intriguing type for Cox. He didn’t appear to like the slop in his previous outing, the Street Sense (G3), and is exiting a troubled trip in the Smarty Jones.