Mr. Z Aims for Breakthrough in Smarty Jones

Zayat Stables' five-time stakes-placed Mr. Z will bid to add an elusive stakes win to his record Jan. 19 in the $150,000 Smarty Jones Stakes, Oaklawn Park's first major local prep for the $1 million Arkansas Derby (gr. I) April 11. 

 

The Smarty Jones is part of the road to the Kentucky Derby series of prep races, and the first four finishers will be awarded points (10-4-2-1) toward making the Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (gr. I) field the first Saturday in May. 

 

The one-mile Smarty Jones, named for the 2004 champion 3-year-old male and Oaklawn icon, goes as race eight and anchors a special Martin Luther King Jr. holiday program. Approximate post time for the Smarty Jones is 4:38 p.m. CST.

 

Mr. Z, who is trained by D. Wayne Lukas, has only a maiden victory to his credit in eight career starts. He finished second in the Sanford Stakes (gr. III) and Toyota Saratoga Special Stakes (gr. II) at Saratoga Race Course in New York, was second in the Claiborne Breeders' Futurity (gr. I) at Keeneland, second in the Delta Jackpot Stakes (gr. III) in Louisiana and third in the Los Alamitos Futurity (gr. I) in California.

 

"He's a blue-collar worker," Lukas said before training hours Jan. 18. "He shows up every time."

 

Mr. Z earned $499,726 last year, but his bankroll would be already be seven figures with victories in the Delta Jackpot (he was beaten a nose) and Los Alamitos Futurity (beaten a head).

 

Lukas said he's "somewhat" surprised Mr. Z has yet to break through against stakes competition.

 

"But, he's run so hard at so many good horses," Lukas said. "I think that's in his future. I'm not worried about that."

 

Mr. Z's strong resume has stamped him the heavy 2-1 program favorite for the Smarty Jones, which drew a field of nine. Jockey Jon Court will be reunited with the colt, who is scheduled to break from post 3 and carry 115 pounds.

 

Mr. Z, a son of Malibu Moon  , has been a forward factor early in almost all of his races and Lukas said the post is "fine."

 

"He's had a good couple of weeks here," Lukas said. "I'm looking forward to tomorrow. He's a solid horse. As a trainer, you would like to have about eight or 10 like that and you could make a living."

 

Far Right, a generous 6-1 in the program, will also be making his 3-year-old debut Monday. In his last start, Far Right finished a troubled third, beaten four lengths, in the Delta Jackpot. The Notional   colt switches to Hall of Fame jockey Mike Smith, who rode winner Ocho Ocho Ocho in the Delta Jackpot to his nose victory over Mr. Z.

 

Far Right will break from the rail and also carry 115 pounds.

 

The 9-2 co-second choice on the morning line is the speedy Hebbronville, who has trained sharply for his 3-year-old debut. Hebbronville won his first two career starts last summer at Parx Racing in suburban Philadelphia before running second in the Futurity (gr. II) at Belmont Park.

 

Trainer Lynn Whiting called Hebbronville a "very talented" horse.