Smarty Jones Stakes (Parx)

This article is about the Grade III thoroughbred horse race held at Parx. For the thoroughbred horse race with a similar name at Oaklawn Park in Arkansas, see Smarty Jones Stakes (Oaklawn Park).

Smarty Jones Stakes

Class	Listed
Location	Parx Casino and Racing Bensalem, Pennsylvania, United States
Inaugurated	2010
Race type	Thoroughbred - Flat racing
Website	www.parxracing.com
Race information
Distance	1+1⁄16 miles
Surface	Dirt
Track	left-handed
Qualification	Three years old
Weight	124 lbs. with allowances & 2 lbs added for stakes winners
Purse	$200,000 (2024)
Bonuses	First three finishers received automatic entry to Grade I Pennsylvania Derby

The Smarty Jones Stakes is a Listed American Thoroughbred horse race for three years olds, over a distance of one and one-sixteenth miles on the dirt track held annually in early September at Parx Casino and Racing racetrack in Bensalem, Pennsylvania. The event currently carries a purse of $200,000.

History

The race was inaugurated in 2010 ^[1] with an attractive purse offered of $300,000 ^[1] as a preparatory race for the Grade I Pennsylvania Derby where the winner was given automatic entry.

The event is named in honor of the 2004 Kentucky Derby and Preakness Stakes winner, and hometown Pennsylvania hero Smarty Jones. ^[2]

Originally the distance of the event was set as 1 mile and 70 yards but was extended in 2016 to the current distance of 1+1⁄16 miles. ^[3]

In 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic in the United States, Parx Racing did not schedule the event. ^[4]

In 2024 the event was downgraded by the Thoroughbred Owners and Breeders Association to Listed status. ^[5]

Records

Speed record:

• 1+1⁄16 miles – 1:42.27 - Pavel (2017)
• 1 mile and 70 yards – 1:40.89 - Wilburn (2011)

Margins:

• 7 lengths – Awesome Slew (2016)

Most wins by a jockey

• 2 – Paco Lopez: (2016, 2019)
• 2 – Joe Bravo: (2014, 2018)
• 2 – Florent Geroux: (2021, 2022)

Most wins by a trainer:

• 2 – Steven M. Asmussen: (2010, 2011)
• 2 – Brad H. Cox: (2021, 2022)

Most wins by an owner

• No owner won this race more than once

Winners

Year	Winner	Jockey	Trainer	Owner	Distance	Time	Purse	Grade	Ref
2024	Gould's Gold	Emmanuel Esquivel	Kenneth G. McPeek	Four G Racing, Lance Gasaway & Magdalena Racing	1+1⁄16 miles	1:45.55	$200,000	Listed	[6]
2023	Il Miracolo	Luis Saez	Antonio Sano	Eduardo Soto	1+1⁄16 miles	1:48.59	$300,000	III	[7]
2022	Best Actor	Florent Geroux	Brad H. Cox	Gary West & Mary West	1+1⁄16 miles	1:44.14	$300,000	III	[8]
2021	Fulsome	Florent Geroux	Brad H. Cox	Juddmonte	1+1⁄16 miles	1:45.57	$300,000	III	[9]
2020	Race not held
2019	Spun to Run	Paco Lopez	Juan Carlos Guerrero	Robert P. Donaldson	1+1⁄16 miles	1:44.14	$300,000	III	[10]
2018	Axelrod	Joe Bravo	Michael W. McCarthy	Slam Dunk Racing	1+1⁄16 miles	1:45.34	$300,000	III	[11]
2017	Pavel	Mario Gutierrez	Doug F. O'Neill	Reddam Racing	1+1⁄16 miles	1:42.27	$300,000	III	[12]
2016	Awesome Slew	Paco Lopez	Edward Plesa Jr.	Live Oak Plantation	1+1⁄16 miles	1:42.92	$300,000	III	[13]
2015	Island Town	Brian Hernandez Jr.	Ian R. Wilkes	Six Column Stables, Randell L. Bloch, John Seiler and David Hall	1 mile and 70 yards	1:44.10	$300,000	III	[14]
2014	Protonico	Joe Bravo	Todd A. Pletcher	International Equities Holding	1 mile and 70 yards	1:41.17	$300,000	III	[15]
2013	Edge of Reality	Stewart Elliott	Anthony W. Dutrow	The Elkstone Group	1 mile and 70 yards	1:42.20	$350,000	III	[16]
2012	Easter Gift	Kendrick Carmouche	Nicholas P. Zito	Robert V. LaPenta	1 mile and 70 yards	1:42.05	$350,000	III	[17]
2011	Wilburn	Corey Nakatani	Steven M. Asmussen	Stonestreet Stables	1 mile and 70 yards	1:40.89	$300,000	Listed	[18]
2010	Thiskyhasnolimit	Jamie Theriot	Steven M. Asmussen	Mark Zollars, Bob Wagner, and Cathy Wagner	1 mile and 70 yards	1:40.49	$300,000	Listed

References

1. "Smarty Jones Stakes (Gr. 3)". Equibase. 2020. Retrieved 2 May 2020.
2. "The Smarty Jones Stakes Gr. III" (PDF). Parx Casino and Racing . Parx Racing Media Guide for 2020. 2020. p. 19. Retrieved 2 May 2020.
3. "SMARTY JONES STAKES - MULTIPLE TRACKS". Thoroughbred Pedigree Online. 2020. Retrieved 2 May 2020.
4. "Parx Racing Release 2021 Stakes Schedule". Penn Racing. BloodHorse. Retrieved 25 August 2021.
5. "TOBA Announces U.S. Graded and Listed Stakes for 2024". Thoroughbred Owners and Breeders Association. 16 December 2023. Retrieved 12 April 2024.
6. "2024 Smarty Jones Stakes Listed - (race 9)". Equibase. 24 August 2024. Retrieved 26 August 2024.
7. "2023 Smarty Jones Stakes Grade 3 - (race 11)". Equibase. 22 August 2023. Retrieved 23 August 2023.
8. "2022 Smarty Jones Stakes Grade 3 - (race 12)". Equibase. 24 August 2022. Retrieved 24 August 2022.
9. "2021 Smarty Jones Stakes Grade 3 - (race 11)". Equibase. 24 August 2021. Retrieved 25 August 2021.
10. "2019 Smarty Jones Stakes Grade 3 - (race 11)". Equibase. 2 September 2019. Retrieved 2 May 2020.
11. "2018 Smarty Jones Stakes Grade 3 - (race 8)". Equibase. 25 August 2018. Retrieved 2 May 2020.
12. "2017 Smarty Jones Stakes Grade 3 - (race 8)". Equibase. 4 September 2017. Retrieved 2 May 2020.
13. "2016 Smarty Jones Stakes Grade 3 - (race 9)". Equibase. 5 September 2016. Retrieved 2 May 2020.
14. "2015 Smarty Jones Stakes Grade 3 - (race 10)". Equibase. 29 August 2015. Retrieved 2 May 2020.
15. "2014 Smarty Jones Stakes Grade 3 - (race 10)". Equibase. 1 September 2014. Retrieved 2 May 2020.
16. "2013 Smarty Jones Stakes Grade 3 - (race 11)". Equibase. 2 September 2013. Retrieved 2 May 2020.
17. "2012 Smarty Jones Stakes Grade 3 - (race 10)". Equibase. 3 September 2012. Retrieved 2 May 2020.
18. "2011 Smarty Jones Stakes Listed - (race 11)". Equibase. 5 September 2011. Retrieved 2 May 2020.