Tipsheet: 2025 Smarty Jones Stakes

A cast of eight recently-turned sophomores will travel 1 1/16 miles on the Oaklawn dirt on Saturday in the $250,000 Smarty Jones S. The 2025 Road to the Kentucky Derby challenge series tilt will reward the first five across the wire with qualifying points on a 10-5-3-2-1 structure toward the 2025 Kentucky Derby. 

Smarty Jones Stakes Picks

• #1 Kale’s Angel
• #6 Hot Property
• #8 Coal Battle

Smarty Jones Stakes Wagers

• $20 win and place #1 Kale’s Angel
• $3 trifecta key 1 with 5,6,8

Smarty Jones Stakes Contenders

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#1 KALE’S ANGEL (2-1): Advent S. romper took to the transition to the dirt with ease last time out and gets the nod on the move to two turns in this one. This Peter Miller pupil has a fine rail post to save ground in the early going, and he figures to be the one to run down turning for home with Ramon Vazquez retaining the ride. 

#2 HOT GUNNER (20-1): Stakes-placed son of Exaggerator is winless from his last five outings following a debut tally and will travel a route of ground for the initial time. The Scott Young trainee might like the added distance on Saturday, but he still will need a huge move forward to challenge this group late beneath Harry Hernandez. 

#3 OPTICAL (12-1): City of Light colt has improved since running long on the dirt for Keith Desormeaux, and I feel that the sophomore could challenge for a minor share with another move in the right direction. The bay, who drilled a bullet five panels in his final tune-up for the event, will be stalking the pace early with Axel Concepcion in the stirrups. 

#4 BON TEMPS (30-1): Maiden from the barn of D. Wayne Lukas has failed to hit the board from a pair of sprint races to date and would be a big surprise in the contest. The bay son of Bravazo will have Martin Garcia in the silks for his two-turn debut. 

#5 MO QUALITY (5-1): Top-three contender has registered a pair of good runs to commence his career, led by a professional maiden score at Churchill Downs last time out. Trained by Christopher Davis, the son of Mo Town could make some noise if he appreciates going long for the initial time beneath Junior Alvarado. 

#6 HOT PROPERTY (8-5): Well-bred son of Medaglia d’Oro led at every call in a route debut at Fair Grounds on November 24 and rates an obvious chance for the ever-dangerous Brad Cox. The Gary and Mary West homebred is cut out to run all day and gives the impression of a very nice prospect, in general. Flavien Prat coming in to ride is a major plus. 

#7 CURVINO (12-1): Second from the Peter Miller shedrow topped maiden claimers on the course in his latest appearance and takes a major class rise on this occasion. The Vino Rosso colt surely has talent, but others seem more likely to me in the race. Francisco Arrieta has the assignment. 

#8 COAL BATTLE (9-2): Lonnie Briley trainee delivered a strong late run to annex the Springboard Mile S. at Remington Park in his last showing. The Kentucky-bred son of Coal Front is 3-for-3 in his lifetime on the dirt, and he is on my short list of major contenders in the tilt. Regular pilot Juan Vargas will guide the late runner.