As individuals say “Glad New 12 months,” all Thoroughbreds have fun their birthdays on Thursday. A horse that was 2 years outdated initially of the week shall be 3 years outdated on Thursday. That is when the thrill across the 2026 Kentucky Derby Offered by Woodford Reserve actually begins to construct. Saturday’s Smarty Jones Stakes at Oaklawn Park shall be certainly one of two 3-year-old stakes to be run that day, together with the Jerome Stakes at Aqueduct. In each races, the highest 5 finishers shall be allotted Run for the Roses qualifying factors in a 10-5-3-2-1 format.
1. Universe (3-1): In his final two begins, he completed second within the Graded Stakes at Churchill Downs at this distance. He has acquired jockey Joel Rosario and will turn out to be a serious participant within the railroad world.
Jockey: Joel Rosario. coach: Ken McPeek
2. baytown dreamer (30-1): Dreamy appears to be one of the best phrase for a horse that has received 1 win and 1 second in 8 races on turf and grime.
Jockey: Orlando Boca Chica. coach: Paul McEntee
3. Boca Seashore Membership (4-1) Though he’s a bred horse centered on distance, he has not but raced over 5 and a half furlongs. His fractions had been quick and his velocity numbers had been quick, so he would most likely be within the lead or near it. It is laborious to simply accept the low odds of a morning line when racing two corners for the primary time.
Jockey: Luis Saez. coach: James DiVito
4. Silence Ways (12-1): After operating on all-weather roads for the primary two races, this would be the first race on grime. His work on grime does nothing to extend his enthusiasm for the chance.
Jockey: Jaime Torres coach: mark cass
5. santa fe ranch (5-2): He’s undefeated in two begins and lately received the Keeneland allowance race at this distance. It definitely looks as if he might step as much as the stakes firm and turn out to be a serious candidate.
Jockey: Florent Geroux. coach: brad cox
6. oscar’s hope (8-1): He has by no means completed worse than 2nd place in his 5 begins. In his earlier race, the Delta Downs Stakes, he stretched out to seven and a half furlongs to win. We have now the manufacturing capability to deal with the added distance and are working nicely heading into this race.
Jockey: Ricardo Santana Jr.; coach: tom amos
7. strategic danger (6-1): Within the earlier Florida-bred stakes race, he misplaced by a big margin of 9 lengths. This win is a big step ahead and will get seen if he takes one other step ahead.
Jockey: Javier Castellano; coach: mark cass
8. scarship (12-1): The Louisiana-bred colt has run within the Dash Stakes however has not received. That looks as if a giant ask even for a coach who received Oaklawn’s 2022 Insurgent S with one-eyed An Ojo at odds of 75.40-1.
Jockey: Ramon Vasquez. coach: Ricky Courville
9. sleep for freedom (5-1): He has proven regular enchancment in his three begins, and if this pattern continues, he might turn out to be a risk in his stakes debut. The surface submit does not assist his possibilities.
Jockey: Brian J. Hernandez Jr. coach: Ken McPeek
THE Decide: Rancho Santa Fe
Reside lengthy shot: oscar’s hope
fantastic: 5-1-6-7
