Live racing returned to Parx on August 19th. After their yearly summer break for track maintenance and upgrades, Parx kicked off racing with a normal three day live card on Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday, followed by a special Saturday Smarty Jones Stakes Day on August 24th. The live card features six stakes including the Smarty Jones Stakes, the Cathryn Sophia Stakes, and the Parx Dash. Gates open at 11 A.M., and the first race post time is 12:40 P.M. The picnic grove opens at noon and offers family fun including face painting, pony rides for the kids, and food and beverage specials. The Parx giveaway, while supplies last, is a commemorative cooler bag.
This year’s Smarty Jones Stakes race celebrates the twentieth anniversary of his run in the Triple Crown races, and Smarty’s owner, Pat Chapman, will present the trophy to the winner. “I’m looking forward to the race, and I’m bringing family and friends with me to celebrate 20 years since Smarty ran,” said Pat Chapmen. “I can’t believe people are still talking about him twenty years later He has the most dedicated fans, and they love to come out for the Smarty Jones Stakes,” Chapman said.
Out-of-towners make up the majority of entries for the Smarty Jones Stakes, the Cathryn Sophia, and the Parx Dash Stakes, but several locals including Uncle Heavy and Just Step On It will compete in the $200,000 Smarty Jones Stakes for 3 year olds at a distance of one mile-and-a-sixteenth. Local trainer Butch Reid will saddle Uncle Heavy, currently at 5/1 in the early odds. A Pennsylvania bred, Uncle Heavy last raced in the Ohio Derby where he finished fifth. In February, he won the Grade 3 Withers Stake, and raced against top competition since then.
Another Parx trainer, Lou Linder, will saddle two horses in the six horse field, Just Step On It and Atrocious. Atrocious is a maiden and the long shot in the race at 15/1, and Just Step On It is 8/1. In his last race, Just Step On It finished fourth in the Grade 1 Haskell Stakes at Monmouth Park. Lou Linder hopes to continue his winning streak in the Smarty Jones after winning three races on Monday and one on Tuesday at Parx.
Photo Credit to Kim Pratt
The favorite in the race, Gould’s Gold, at 6/5 odds is trained by Kenny McPeek and finished fifth in the recent Jim Dandy Stakes at Saratoga. He raced against Uncle Heavy in the Ohio Derby and finished second. Another favorite in the race, Catalytic, at 2/1 was second to Fierceness in the Florida Derby, but was far back in the Kentucky Derby, finishing nineteenth. Mugatu ran in the Blue Grass and Preakness Stakes and was second in the Bald Eagle Derby at Laurel Park in his last start. He rounds out the field of six at 8/1.
The Cathryn Sophia Stakes, for 3 year old fillies at one mile seventy yards, drew a strong field of eight competitive fillies including Impel, Band of Gold, Courbe, and Gun Song. Top trainers Brad Cox, Kenny McPeek, and Todd Pletcher compete for the $200,000 purse.
Photo Credit to Kim Pratt
Fans have a chance to watch older horses race on the turf in the Parx Dash Stakes going five furlongs. The race drew a field of eight for the $100,000 purse. Seven year old Surveillance at 5/2 won his last two starts at Saratoga including the Grade 3 Troy Stakes, and five year old Grooms All Bizness also won his last two starts including the Get Serious Stakes at Monmouth. Five year old Pennsylvania bred Jean Valjean, trained by Elizabeth Merryman, won his last two starts, and Alogon was fifth in the Parx Dash last year.
Top horses, top trainers, and tough competition makes for an exciting day of racing on Smarty Jones Day at Parx Racing. Smarty Jones’ trainer, John Servis, and Smarty’s owner, Pat Chapman, expect to be on hand to mingle with Smarty’s fans and remember those exciting races twenty years ago.
Cover Photo Credit to Kim Pratt
