Oaklawn Park Picks: Smarty Jones Stakes (01/03/2026)
Written by: Chris Adams
Published: Sat Jan 03, 2026, 7:00 am ET
Read Time: 8 minutes
horses
The racing action from Oaklawn Park on Saturday features the Smarty Jones Stakes. @HandicappingT3 has all the Oaklawn Park picks for the entire card!
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Oaklawn Park Full Card Analysis
Oaklawn Park Picks: Smarty Jones Stakes (01/03/2026)
Oaklawn Park Picks – Race 1
Post Time: 12:00 PM CT; Maiden Claiming $44k; 6 F Dirt; Field of 14 runners.
- #9 CREVALLA DE VIL (9-5): Top pick. Top connections on the circuit with Torres and Cass. Barn has been solid.
- #11 SILVERTOWN (20-1): Major Player. Expected to maintain its energy reserves into the final stretch. Trainer is having a great meet.
- #2 N Z HOLLY (4-1): Fringe Contender. Barn has been sending out runners. May be able find the right setup.
- #14 SANTIANA (7-2): Underneath. Race conditions fit this one well. Torres and Garcia team up on this one.
Selections: 9 – 11 – 2 – 14
The Plays
Win: #9 at 2-1
Exacta: 9 / 11,2
Oaklawn Park Picks – Race 2
Post Time: 12:28 PM CT; Claiming $36k; 6 F Dirt; Field of 14 runners.
- #4 CLEAR ECHO (12-1): Top pick. Races competitive with the top contenders. Stamina to outlast the competition.
- #9 BOTE (8-1): Major Player. Should take a liking to the race shape.
- #3 DEVILS FORK (9-2): Major Player. Barn has been sending out runners.
- #1 HOLUS BOLUS (8-1): Major Player. Shouldn't be disadvantaged by the flow of the race. Vazquez and Creighton team up on this one.
Selections: 4 – 9 – 3 – 1
The Plays
Win: #4 at 5-1
Exacta Box: 4 / 9 / 3
Oaklawn Park Picks – Race 3
Post Time: 12:56 PM CT; Allowance Optional Claiming $115k; 1 M Dirt; Field of 10 runners.
- #8 MEELO TIME (5-1): Top pick. Barn has been solid. Favorable class relief in this spot.
- #2 BRICKLIN (9-2): Major Player. Demonstrated success under similar conditions. Looks to get a bit easier group here.
- #6 TREADSTONE (10-1): Fringe Contender. Has been running well enough recently. Has experience at this level.
- #4 JETS RIO (15-1): Fringe Contender. Speed figs are a bit slow, but not completely hopeless against the top of the field. Should still have enough if the reserves if there in the final furlong.
Selections: 8 – 2 – 6 – 4
The Plays
Win: #8 at 11-2
Exacta: 8 / 2,6
Oaklawn Park Picks – Race 4
Post Time: 1:28 PM CT; Renaissance Stakes $150k; 6 F Dirt; Field of 6 runners.
Best Bet of the Card
- #6 OBLITERATION (7-5): Best bet of the card. Stamina to outlast the competition. Looks good based on the 97 speed rating which is among the top in the group. Bet today's best bet with industry-leading rebates on BetOnline.
- #1 DIRTY RICH (1-1): Major Player. Looks fast enough off previous efforts. Vazquez puts this one in with a chance.
- #2 STRONG POTENTIAL (5-1): Underneath. Should find today's group a bit softer than the last race. Hard to argue with the recent races.
- #5 CANNED HEAT (10-1): Underneath. Should still have enough if the reserves if there in the final furlong. Trainer's horses have been running.
Selections: 6 – 1 – 2 – 5
The Plays
Win: #6 at 7-5
Exacta: 6 / 1,2
Pick 3 (races 4-6): #6 with #6,5 with #10,12
Oaklawn Park Picks – Race 5
Post Time: 1:58 PM CT; Maiden Special Weight $100k; 6 F Dirt; Field of 14 runners.
- #6 SILVER PRINCE (2-1): Top pick. Should improve off the debut. Mendoza and Moquett team up on this one.
- #5 TIZ AUTHORITY (8-1): Major Player. Trainer is having a great meet.
- #11 MR FANCY PANTS (8-1): Contender. Hard to argue with the recent races. Previous success in similar race types.
- #13 SPIKE THE PUNCH (10-1): Contender. Speed figs are a bit slow, but not completely hopeless against the top of the field.
Selections: 6 – 5 – 11 – 13
The Plays
Win: #6 at 5-2
Exacta: 6 / 5,11
Oaklawn Park Picks – Race 6
Post Time: 2:27 PM CT; Starter Allowance $60k; 1 M Dirt; Field of 14 runners.
Longshot Play of the Day
- #10 MASTER MULE (5-1): Longshot play of the day. Stamina to outlast the competition. Bet today's live longshot on MyBookie.
- #12 GLOBAL QUOTE (10-1): Major Player. Trainer is having a great meet. Looks to get a bit easier group here.
- #5 SCOTTISH STORM (15-1): Contender. May be able find the right setup. The 88 speed rating is among the best in the field.
- #9 COPPER ECHO (12-1): Contender. Trainer's horses have been running. Should still have enough if the reserves if there in the final furlong.
Selections: 10 – 12 – 5 – 9
The Plays
Win: #10 at 6-1
Exacta: 10 / 12,5,9
Oaklawn Park Picks – Race 7
Post Time: 2:55 PM CT; Allowance Optional Claiming $115k; 6 F Dirt; Field of 14 runners.
- #5 NICHOLAI (9-5): Top pick. Could be ready for a top effort. Race sets up perfectly.
- #12 ZIPPY MARK (5-2): Major Player. Demonstrated success under similar conditions. Likely to get forward position.
- #8 HESS (10-1): Fringe Contender. Should find today's group a bit softer than the last race. Previous success in similar race types.
- #4 TWO DOLLAR EDDIE (8-1): Fringe Contender. Trainer's horses have been running.
Selections: 5 – 12 – 8 – 4
The Plays
Win: #5 at 2-1
Exacta: 5 / 12
Oaklawn Park Picks – Race 8
Post Time: 3:25 PM CT; Allowance $115k; 1 1/16 M Dirt; Field of 14 runners.
- #6 SUPER CRUISE (3-1): Top pick. Torres and Ashford team up on this one. Proven competitor at this configuration.
- #3 RENDER JUDGMENT (2-1): Major Player. Trainer is having a great meet. Likely to get forward position.
- #8 DANCE SOME MO (4-1): Major Player. This one's a fighter in the late stages. Previous success in similar race types.
- #7 LA HOULIGAN (15-1): Contender. Trainer's horses have been running. Race shape gives this one an edge.
Selections: 6 – 3 – 8 – 7
The Plays
Win: #6 at 7-2
Exacta Box: 6 / 3 / 8
Oaklawn Park Picks – Race 9
Post Time: 3:55 PM CT; Commodore Overnight Stakes $135k; 6 F Dirt; Field of 11 runners.
- #3 ECHO AGAIN (5-2): Top pick. Comes in with solid form. Barn has been solid.
- #5 CONCRETE GLORY (9-5): Major Player. Should still be running strong in the closing stages. Likely to get forward position.
- #1 THOUGHTTHATCOUNTS (10-1): Major Player. Hard to argue with the recent races. Barn has been sending out runners.
- #11 NAVY SEAL (10-1): Contender. Trainer's horses have been running. Race conditions fit this one well.
Selections: 3 – 5 – 1 – 11
The Plays
Win: #3 at 3-1
Exacta Box: 3 / 5 / 1
Oaklawn Park Picks – Race 10
Post Time: 4:25 PM CT; Smarty Jones Stakes $250k; 1 1/16 M Dirt; Field of 9 runners.
- #7 STRATEGIC RISK (6-1): Top pick. Barn has been solid.
- #1 UNIVERSE (3-1): Major Player. Running well of late. Trainer is having a great meet.
- #3 BOCA BEACH CLUB (4-1): Fringe Contender. Previous success in similar race types. Saez puts this one in with a chance.
- #5 RANCHO SANTA FE (5-2): Fringe Contender. Trainer's horses have been running.
Selections: 7 – 1 – 3 – 5
The Plays
Win: #7 at 7-1
Exacta: 7 / 1,3
Oaklawn Park Picks – Race 11
Post Time: 5:00 PM CT; Allowance $115k; 6 F Dirt; Field of 14 runners.
- #11 STIGLETS (7-2): Top pick. Barn has been solid. Stamina to outlast the competition.
- #14 B SUDD (15-1): Major Player. Like this one if a stretch duel ensues. Demonstrated success under similar conditions.
- #4 RUN JALEN RUN (12-1): Major Player. The 96 speed rating is among the best in the field. Likely in the mix early.
- #9 MAP TO THE STARS (12-1): Contender. Competitive enough in recent efforts. Could be griding down the competition late.
Selections: 11 – 14 – 4 – 9
The Plays
Win: #11 at 4-1
Exacta Box: 11 / 14 / 4
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Chris first got introduced to horse racing in 2009 at Canterbury Park (Shakopee, MN). Along with handicapping and betting, Chris has worked as a teller at his local track and participated in ownership partnerships. He now enjoys sharing his passion with his wife and two young daughters who love going out to the track each and every summer.
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