How Smarty Jones Put Oaklawn Park on the Kentucky Derby Map in 2004

For decades, Oaklawn was always considered a respectable race track. The problem for track ownership was the track often struggled to get the best horses, trainers, and jockeys. That left the race track relegated to being considered a mid-level track at best.

The point when everything turned gold for Oaklawn Park came in 2004. That's when a New York-based 3-year-old colt named Smarty Jones changed the track's fortunes for eternity.

The Decision to Go to Arkansas

The Smarty Jones saga actually started in early 2004, when the newly turned 3-year-old colt won the Count Fleet Stakes [at Aqueduct]. That was a clear signal to trainer John Servis that the colt could handle two-turn racing and belonged on the Kentucky Derby trail.

After winning the Count Fleet, owners Roy and Pat Chapman asked Servis where he thought the colt should go to earn Kentucky Derby points. With very little hesitation, Servis said he thought Arkansas was the perfect Derby trail destination. While this was seemingly a conflict for the Chapmans who wintered in Florida (home of the Florida Derby), they decided to put their faith in their trainer's experience.

The attraction of Oaklawn for Servis was two-fold. First, his father, an experienced horseman, had always said good things about the track and the track's management. Second and perhaps more importantly, Oaklawn had instituted a bonus program that would pay $5 million to the owners of any horse that could sweep Oaklawn's Derby preps, the Rebel Stakes, and the Arkansas Deby, followed by winning the Kentucky Derby.

Smarty Jones Takes Oaklawn Park By Storm

Smart Jones' march down the Derby trail started with a victory in Oaklawn's Southwest Stakes in late February. That was followed by a dominant win in the aforementioned Rebel Stakes, where the colt won by an easy 3+ lengths. Favored at even-money, Smarty Jones went on to claim the Grade II Arkansas Derby by a workman-like 1 1/2 lengths.

With an impressive undefeated record of 6 wins in 6 tries, Smarty Jones, Servis, and the Chapman's headed to Louisville Kentucky for a chance to become the first undefeated winner of the Kentucky Derby since Seattle Slew completed the feat in 1977. Smarty Jones did not disappoint.

Sent off as the lukewarm favorite at just over 4-1 odds, Smarty Jones made easy work of the field, claiming the Derby purse as well as the $5 million bonus offered by Oaklawn Park. In the process, the colt became only the second Arkansas Derby winner to complete the Derby/Derby double. The first one was Sunny's Halo in 1983.

What Smarty Jones Did for Oaklawn Park

In addition to Sunny's Halo and Smarty Jones, American Pharoah (2015) also won the Derby/Derby double on the way to his historic "Triple Crown." However and with all due respect, it was Smarty Jones that put Oaklawn Park on the Kentucky Derby trail map.

Shortly after he swept the track's three (3) prep races, the track started increasing purses, which drew the attention of racing elites. Today, the combined purses for the three aforementioned races exceed $2.5 million with the Arkansas Derby now having Grade I status.