A trio of races with Kentucky Derby (G1) implications is set for Saturday (Jan. 4) across the country – the Jerome Stakes at Aqueduct, the Smarty Jones Stakes at Oaklawn Park, and the San Vicente Stakes (G3) at Santa Anita.
The 1-mile Jerome and the 1 1/16-mile Smarty Jones offer Derby qualifying points of 10-5-3-2-1 to the top five finishers. The 7-furlong San Vicente, meanwhile, features several promising newly turned 3-year-olds with Derby aspirations.
As we move into 2025, 2-year-olds are now 3-year-olds, and most trainers are hoping they have one who can earn a spot in the starting gate on the first Saturday in May.
Jerome at the Big A
At the Big A, a field of eight is entered in the $150,000 Jerome, with Studlydoright the only one with Derby points (two for finishing fourth in the Remsen).
The Maryland-bred son of Nyquist is trained by Jerry Robb and will be ridden by Xavier Perez from post 7. The chestnut colt ran in seven races in 2024 with three wins and a pair of seconds.
The field also includes two from trainer Rick Dutrow, Jr., Ican and McAfee, and Cyclone State for trainer Chad Summers.
Smarty Jones at Oaklawn Park
At Oaklawn Park, the $250,000 Smarty Jones also has a field of eight, with Coal Battle coming with 10 Derby points from his victory in the Springboard Mile (G1) at Remington Park on Dec. 13.
Challengers include Brad Cox-trained Hot Property (Flavien Prat aboard) and Bon Temps trained by D. Wayne Lukas. Cox is looking for a fourth in the Smarty Jones.
San Vicente at Santa Anita
Bullard and jockey Umberto Rispoli win the Grade III $100,000 Bob Hope Stakes Sunday, November 17, 2024 at Del Mar Thoroughbred Club, Del Mar, CA
Benoit Photo
The $200,000 San Vicente may be the toughest race of the three featuring a matchup of Mike McCarthy-trained trained Bullard (2-for-2) and Bab Baffert-trained Barnes (1-for-1). Baffert also entered Romanesque in the field of five, while McKinzie Street, with three Derby points via a third in the American Pharoah), also is entered.
The San Vicente is the first local stop on the California road to the Kentucky Derby. Bullard comes in off a win in the 7-furlong Bob Hope (G3) on Nov. 17.
Barnes is a $3.2 million colt owned by Zedan Racing and won by a head in his debut at Churchill Downs going 5 ½ furlongs on Nov. 27.
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