Graded-Placed Universe Begins Season in Smarty Jones

Universe, a closing second in the 2025 Kentucky Jockey Club Stakes (G2) at Churchill Downs after two earlier graded stakes placings, aims to turn the stakes corner as a newly turned 3-year-old in the Jan. 3 Smarty Jones Stakes at Oaklawn Park. The rail-drawn colt battles the unbeaten Rancho Santa Fe and seven others in the 1 1/16-mile race, the first of Oaklawn's stakes on the Road to the Kentucky Derby. The $250,000 race offers Kentucky Derby (G1) qualifying points on a 10-5-3-2-1 basis to its top five finishers toward the May 2 Derby at Churchill Downs. By showing last year in the Champagne Stakes (G1) and later placing in both the Street Sense Stakes (G3) and Kentucky Jockey Club, Universe already ranks fifth on the Kentucky Derby leaderboard with 13 points. He can move into second behind presumptive juvenile male champion Ted Noffey with a victory, leaving him well positioned to qualify four months before the first leg of the Triple Crown. He was charging at victorious Further Ado late in the Kentucky Jockey Club, but a wide trip on the second turn compromised his ability to catch that rival in a rally from 10 lengths off the pace. He then drifted inward down the lane before checking in 1 3/4 lengths behind Further Ado at the finish. He galloped out in front. A bay son of Global Campaign trained by Kenny McPeek, he races for owners 4 G Racing, Gregg Day, Steven Crain, and Magdalena Racing. With other partners, 4 G Racing co-owned the McPeek-trained Mystik Dan, the 2024 Kentucky Derby winner. Mystik Dan also kicked off his 3-year-old season in the Smarty Jones, running fifth. He later rebounded to win the Southwest Stakes (G3), the next leg in Oaklawn's series, before finishing third in the Arkansas Derby (G1). Hall of Fame jockey Joel Rosario, who teamed with McPeek to win the Dec. 20 Tinsel Stakes aboard Rattle N Roll, picks up the mount on Universe. Brian Hernandez Jr., McPeek's customary go-to rider and Mystik Dan's jockey in the Derby and for much of the colt's career, is instead aboard the trainer's other starter, the outside-drawn Sleepingonfreedom. The latter, a dark bay or brown son of Independence Hall owned by Dream Big Racing and Magdalena Racing, has won two in a row against maiden and starter allowance competition in Kentucky after a debut second in the Bluegrass. Also with two Kentucky wins is Rancho Santa Fe, who won a 1-mile maiden special weight on debut Aug. 24 at Ellis Park before repeating against allowance optional claiming foes in a productive 1 1/16-mile event Oct. 11 at Keeneland. Brad Cox trains Rancho Santa Fe, a chestnut son of Tapit, for Gary and Mary West, who bred him in Kentucky. Out of grade 2 winner Family Tree, Rancho Santa Fe is a half brother to 2024 Steve Sexton Mile Stakes (G3) winner Heroic Move. Florent Geroux rides Rancho Santa Fe. Other notable Smarty Jones contenders include Oscar's Hope and Strategic Risk, a pair of ungraded stakes winners around two turns. Two 6-furlong sprint stakes support the Saturday program at Oaklawn: the $150,000 Renaissance Stakes for 3-year-olds and the restricted $135,000 Commodore Overnight Stakes for older horses. 2025 Sanford Stakes (G3) winner Obliteration faces five foes in the Renaissance, while dual Claiming Crown Ready's Rocket Express winner Concrete Glory is favored against 10 others in the Commodore Overnight Stakes.