BY BROCK SHERIDAN
Strategic Risk, a nine-length winner of the $300,000 In Reality division of the Florida Thoroughbred Breeders’ and Owners’ Association Florida Sire Stakes last out, hits the road to the Grade 1 Kentucky Derby presented by Woodford Reserve Saturday in the $250,000 Smarty Jones at Oaklawn Park. Nine 3-year-olds will go a mile-and-one-sixteenth in the Smarty Jones, which offers 21 points on the Kentucky Derby leaderboard to the top five finishers on a 10-5-3-2-1 basis.
Strategic Risk has shown potential since his first start in June, an eight-and-a-quarter-length score in a five-furlong maiden special weight for Florida-breds at Gulfstream Park.
Trainer Mark Casse then sent the bay colt to Saratoga Race Course where in his next start he was fourth in the Grade 3 Sanford going six furlongs on July 5. Casse then tried him on the grass in the Grade 3 With Anticipation going a mile-and-a-sixteenth at Saratoga on Aug. 28, but he weakened to finish sixth after racing a length-and-a-half off the lead early.
He returned to Florida to run third in the $200,000 Affirmed, the seven-furlong second leg of the colts and geldings division of the FTBOA Florida Sire Stakes in October, before rebounding with his big effort in the In Reality.
Strategic Risk has already shown an affinity for the Oaklawn Park surface as assistant trainer Cade Arthur sent him through a four-furlong work there on Dec. 27. It was the 22nd fastest of 140 half mile works that morning with a time of :48.60. Although he has been training well since the In Reality with :48.25 four-furlong drill at Palm Meadows Training Center on Dec. 13, the fifth fastest of 76, and four furlongs in :49 flat on Dec. 19 at Casse Training Center in Ocala, Fla.
Strategic Risk is by Noble Bird and is out of Strategize, by Afleet Alex. He was bred in Florida by John Oxley Living Trust and has a career record of two wins in five starts with a third and earnings of $253,550.
Javier Castellano will ride the 6-1 morning line choice from post seven.
Rancho Sante Fe looks to remain unbeaten as the Brad Cox-trained son of Tapit makes his third career start in the Smarty Jones.
He took a one-mile maiden special weight at Ellis Park by a lenth-and-three-quarters in August then won a first condition, $100,000 optional claiming by a half-length at Keeneland on Oct. 11. He has earned $130,707 for owners Gary and Mary West.
Rancho Sante Fe is the 5-2 morning line favorite and will have Florent Geroux up from post five.
Also entered are Universe with Joel Rosario in the saddle, Baytown Dreamer with jockey Orlando Bocachica, Luis Saez will guide Boca Beach Club, Silent Tactic with Jaime Torres in the irons, Oscar’s Hope has Ricardo Santana Jr. named to ride, Scar Ship has Ramon Vazquez taking the assignment and Brian Hernandez Jr. will be aboard Sleepingonfreedom.
Return to the January 2 issue of Wire to Wire
