Oaklawn Park: Catching Freedom Wins Smarty Jones on Road to Kentucky Derby

Catching Freedom found the daylight he needed in the stretch and won the $300,000 Smarty Jones Stakes at Oaklawn Park on New Year’s Day.

With Oaklawn’s leading rider (in 2023) Cristian Torres aboard for trainer Brad Cox, Catching Freedom ($5.40 for a $2 win bet) lived up to his 8-5 favoritism in the field of nine newly turned 3-year-olds.

Sitting in fifth around the final turn in the 1 1/16-mile Kentucky Derby points qualifier, Torres guided the son of Constitution outside of the leaders, Mystik Dan, Lagynos, and Just Steel, and cruised to victory by 2 ½ lengths over Just Steel, trained by Hall of Famer D. Wayne Lukas.

Race Analysis: Derby Points Distribution and Jockey's Remarkable Win Record

Catching Freedom earned 10 Derby qualifying points, while Just Steel picked up 5, Informed Patriot three for third, Gettysburg Address 2 for fourth, and Mystik Dan 1 for fifth.

“He’s a nice horse. In his two races, he’s a horse that hasn’t shown much early speed,’’ Torres said. “He just runs them down at the end.”

Winning time over a fast track was 1:44.59.

The win was a big one for Torres, an up-and-comer beginning his sixth year as a jockey. In 2023, he was Oaklawn’s leading rider with 100 wins, and won a pair of Grade 2s and five Grade 3s – the first graded stakes win of his career.

Cox's Dominance in Smarty Jones Fuels Derby Dreams for Torres

While the Smarty Jones is not graded, Torres may have himself a Derby contender for a first chance at a Run for the Roses. The next step on the Arkansas road to the Derby is the Southwest (G3) on Jan. 27.

“It would be a dream for the whole family to get into the Derby,’’ Torres said. “I want to thank Brad Cox for putting me on one of his top 3-year-olds.”

Cox, who also trains Gettysburg Address Informed Patriot and last-place finisher Fidget, won the Smarty Jones for the third time in the last four years.

“Very proud of the horse. I think he’s still learning. I think he was a little green there down the lane, but overall showed that he does have a lot of stamina and talent,’’ Cox said. “I thought he stepped up and ran well against a solid group of 3-year-olds.”

US Racing Team

The writing team at US Racing is comprised of both full-time and part-time contributors with expertise in various aspects of the Sport of Kings.