Smarty Jones Stakes (Parx)
Horse race
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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.
| Class | Listed |
|---|---|
| Location | Parx Casino and Racing Bensalem, Pennsylvania, United States |
| Inaugurated | 2010 |
| Race type | Thoroughbred - Flat racing |
| Website | www |
| 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 |
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)
- 2 – Todd A. Pletcher: (2014, 2025)
Most wins by an owner
- No owner won this race more than once
Winners
| Year | Winner | Jockey | Trainer | Owner | Distance | Time | Purse | Grade | Ref |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | Tip Top Thomas | John R. Velazquez | Todd A. Pletcher | James J. Bakke & Gerald Isbister | 1+1⁄16 miles | 1:42.50 | $200,000 | Listed | [6][7] |
| 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 | [8] |
| 2023 | Il Miracolo | Luis Saez | Antonio Sano | Eduardo Soto | 1+1⁄16 miles | 1:48.59 | $300,000 | III | [9] |
| 2022 | Best Actor | Florent Geroux | Brad H. Cox | Gary West & Mary West | 1+1⁄16 miles | 1:44.14 | $300,000 | III | [10] |
| 2021 | Fulsome | Florent Geroux | Brad H. Cox | Juddmonte | 1+1⁄16 miles | 1:45.57 | $300,000 | III | [11] |
| 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 | [12] |
| 2018 | Axelrod | Joe Bravo | Michael W. McCarthy | Slam Dunk Racing | 1+1⁄16 miles | 1:45.34 | $300,000 | III | [13] |
| 2017 | Pavel | Mario Gutierrez | Doug F. O'Neill | Reddam Racing | 1+1⁄16 miles | 1:42.27 | $300,000 | III | [14] |
| 2016 | Awesome Slew | Paco Lopez | Edward Plesa Jr. | Live Oak Plantation | 1+1⁄16 miles | 1:42.92 | $300,000 | III | [15] |
| 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 | [16] |
| 2014 | Protonico | Joe Bravo | Todd A. Pletcher | International Equities Holding | 1 mile and 70 yards | 1:41.17 | $300,000 | III | [17] |
| 2013 | Edge of Reality | Stewart Elliott | Anthony W. Dutrow | The Elkstone Group | 1 mile and 70 yards | 1:42.20 | $350,000 | III | [18] |
| 2012 | Easter Gift | Kendrick Carmouche | Nicholas P. Zito | Robert V. LaPenta | 1 mile and 70 yards | 1:42.05 | $350,000 | III | [19] |
| 2011 | Wilburn | Corey Nakatani | Steven M. Asmussen | Stonestreet Stables | 1 mile and 70 yards | 1:40.89 | $300,000 | Listed | [20] |
| 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 | |