Far Right ‘Smart’ Winner in Smarty Jones

Far Right won the Smarty Jones Stakes on Monday by squeezing through a hole near the rail. (Photos by Coady Photography)
The first Kentucky Derby prep of the season at Oaklawn Park was put in the books on Monday when Far Right won the $150,000 Smarty Jones Stakes.
Far Right now has 12 points on the Kentucky Derby trail as the Smarty Jones gives the winner 10 points towards Derby qualification.
While American Sailor and Mr. Z set the pace in the one-mile race, Far Right was content to settle himself in the rear of the pack after breaking from the inside gate.  He moved from last about half way down the backstretch and started picking off horses but was still third from last going into the turn where he had to check as he ran up on the heels of the horses in front of him.
But having to stop his rally didn’t hurt too much as he clicked back into gear and came flying down the stretch before sneaking through a hole on the rail to take the lead. Far Right was aided in part by race favorite and leader, Mr. Z running errantly down the stretch, letting the field close an open length advantage when he took a hard right in midstretch. Bayerd finished second with Mr. Z holding on in a photo for third.
Far Right completed the mile in a time of 1:38.43 at odds of 5/2. The 3-year-old colt by Notional finished third in his last two stakes attempts and had Hall of Fame jockey Mike Smith on his back for the first time today.
“First of all, Corey Lanerie who rode him last time [in the Delta Downs Jackpot] really figured this colt out," Smith said. "Just take him way out in the back and make one run with him and that was the way he moved that day. That was the winning move that day and if he has anywhere to go, he probably wins the race that day. So I thought I would just do the same tactics and just rode him the way [Lanerie] would have, except this time I was able to get through.”
FAR RIGHT (NO. 1) BREAKS FROM THE GATE WITH THE FIELD

Trained by Ron Moquett, Far Right was purchased for only $2,500 as a yearling at the Keeneland January sale before being purchased privately by Harry Rosenblum and Robert LaPenta. Before today's win, he had earned his owners $155,766 in six starts.
He joins a list of illustrious Smarty Jones winners, including multiple Grade 1 winner Flat Out, 2011 Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile winner Caleb’s Posse and 2013 champion 3-year-old colt Will Take Charge as winners of the race.
The next stop on Oaklawn’s Derby prep trail is the Southwest Stakes on Feb. 16 then the Oaklawn series rolls on to the Rebel on March 14. Arkansas’ prep series concludes on April 11 with the Arkansas Derby, a race that earns the winner 100 points towards the Kentucky Derby.