Tipsheet: 2022 Smarty Jones Stakes

A huge field of 14 sophomores will go one mile at Oaklawn Park on Saturday in the $250,000 Smarty Jones S. The top four finishers will receive points on a 10-4-2-1 basis in the 2022 Road to the Kentucky Derby series.

Smarty Jones Stakes Picks

• #10 Barber Road
• #3 Home Brew
• #1 Dash Attack
• #14 Ben Diesel

Smarty Jones Stakes Wagers

• $20 win and place #10 Barber Road
• $10 exacta 10 with 1,3,14
• $1 trifecta 10 with 1,3,14

Smarty Jones Stakes Contenders

#1 DASH ATTACK drove home a solid winner on the course on debut for McPeek. Munnings chestnut gets a cozy rail draw and figures to improve second time out. David Cohen retains the mount.

#2 ALL IN SYNC has put in a pair of solid efforts in preparation for his stakes bow for Asmussen. Speedy son of Maclean’s Music will be up close from the opening bell with Santana in the stirrups.

#3 HOME BREW shows two wins and a second from a trio of races to date. Brad Cox trainee aced the route test on this oval most recently, and he is a logical win contender with Geroux in the silks.

#4 KAVOD exits a stakes tally in his first off the claim for Hartman. Lea chestnut has won two in succession overall, but he must prove capable of beating this type going long before I can back him.

#5 IGNITIS broke his maiden two back prior to an unplaced stakes run at Churchill Downs last time out. Lukas pupil has run into some strong foes in his brief career, and with a forward move on Saturday, the three-year-old could make the frame at a big number.

#6 BUREAU showed marked improvement in his second outing when drawing off to a facile tally at Remington Park. Moquett trainee will need another move in the right direction to compete in this spot, however.

#7 RUGGS adds blinkers following an even fourth in the Advent S. on the oval for Moquett. Son of Gun Runner is bred to handle the trip, and if he moves forward with the equipment change, then the colt could be in the hunt late.

#8 VIVAR was victorious in an off-the-turf allowance race at Keeneland two back, which preceded an unplaced effort in the Kentucky Jockey Club S. (G2). Cairo Prince homebred will need a lifetime best to upset the cast under Martin Garcia.

#9 DON’TCROSSTHEDEVIL is 2-for-2 and makes his initial start for D’Amato following the barn change. Cross Traffic colt shows three solid drills locally, and he could be any kind as the wildcard in the cast. 

#10 BARBER ROAD gets top billing following a trio of big efforts since adding blinkers. Ortiz trainee is proven at a route of ground, and the son of Race Day also has the speed to be in range from the break. Reylu Gutierrez will be up.

#11 CAIRAMA finished third in the recent Advent on the surface for Asmussen. Expensive two-year-old buy has tactical speed and could be a nice exotics inclusion at a square price with Geovanni Franco riding.

#12 COOL PAPA G rallied to be third in the Lively Shively S. last time out. Asmussen pupil possesses a consistent turn of foot and could be dangerous if he thrives in his first route endeavor on Saturday. Ramon Vazquez will pilot the Kentucky-bred.

#13 IMMORAL scored at first asking at Charles Town and takes a major class hike in this spot. Into Mischief gelding would be a bit of a surprise in his second career performance.

#14 BEN DIESEL won on debut and followed that with a decent fourth in the Kentucky Jockey Club for Stewart. Will Take Charge colt is a nice prospect who could evolve into a fine three-year-old, but he was done no favors drawing widest in this cast. Jon Court will guide the exotics contender.