BY BROCK SHERIDAN

John C. Oxley’s Strategic Risk and jockey Javier Castellano stalked 51-1 longshot Scar Ship before taking over with a quarter mile to run then kicking clear in the stretch for a dominant victory in the $250,000 Smarty Jones (Listed) at Oaklawn Park Saturday. The four-and-half-length triumph by the Florida-bred colt against seven other 3-year-olds going a mile-and-a-sixteenth was worth 10 qualifying points for Kentucky Derby presented by Woodford Reserve (Grade 1).

Jockey Ramon Vazquez and Scar Ship started sharp from post eight and led into the clubhouse turn as Castellano allowed Strategic Risk to settle into third on the outside of Jean Lafitte Futurity-winner Oscar’s Hope. Scar Ship had a clear lead through quarter-mile splits of :24.48 and :49.72 as Strategic Risk sat second down the backstretch, a length ahead of Oscar’s Hope in third. Despite the slow pace, Strategic Risk had little trouble getting by Scar Ship in the second turn and was never challenged after a quick turn of foot at the top of the stretch, drawing off to win in 1:45.06 on the fast track. Silent Tactic came on late to get second and earn five Kentucky Derby points with Baytown Dreamer less than a length farther back in third, earning three points on the Derby leaderboard. They were followed in order by Sleepingonfreedom (two Derby points), Rancho Sante Fe (one Derby point), Scar Ship, Universe and Oscar’s Hope. Boca Beach Club was scratched.

“I really liked the way today, especially in the post parade, the way he warmed up,” Castellano said. “Very comfortable and a very happy horse. Felt like he was a strong horse and feeling good. He broke good out of the gate. I used him enough to get position. It seemed like two or three horses had the main speed. I thought I might go and be behind the speed, but I saw only one horse go for the lead [Scar Ship]. He dictated the pace and I just followed him every step. Felt comfortable and happy that he was where he wanted to be. It seemed to me the pace wasn’t too fast. I just enjoyed the ride. Turning for home, when I asked him, he just took off. I liked the way he finished. He galloped out beautifully. His stride was strong and steady. Enjoyed the ride. Very happy to be here.”

Trained by Mark Casse, Strategic Risk paid $7 to win. Casse also trains Silent Tactic for Oxley.

“I communicated this morning back and forth with Javier [Castellano],” Casse said. “I told him, looking at everything, I said: ‘I don’t think they can beat him.’ We felt pretty confident going in. I thought his last race [in the Florida Sire Stakes]… …the way he did it and the ease he did it with, I just felt like he was going to be tough. Now, midway through the card, I communicated with Javier again and said: ‘Boy oh boy, speed is very tough.’ He said: ‘Yeah, I know, I’m worried about that.’ But once they broke and he was where he was, I always thought he was a winner.”

It was the second straight stakes victory for Strategic Risk, who was equally impressive in winning the $300,000 In Reality, the third leg of male division of the Florida Thoroughbred Breeders’ and Owners’ Association Florida Sire Stakes, by nine lengths at Gulfstream Park on Nov. 29. He was also third in the $200,000 FTBOA Florida Sire Stakes Affirmed division on Oct. 18 and broke his maiden at first asking, defeating special weight Florida-breds by eight-and-a-quarter lengths in June.  In two other starts, Strategic Risk was fourth in the Grade 3 Sanford in July and sixth on the grass in the Grade 3 With Anticipation in August, both a Saratoga Race Course.  

Strategic Risk has now won half of his six career starts with one third and the $138,750 earned for taking the Smarty Jones pushed his lifetime bankroll to $392,300.

He is the third Florida-bred winner of the Smarty Jones, joining Flat Out in 2009 and Tanzanite Cat in 2014.

Bred in Florida by John C. Oxley Living Trust, Strategic Risk is out of the unraced Afleet Alex mare Strategize, the dam has 10 foals with four winners from five starters including multiple stakes-winning Florida-bred Strategic Bird and stakes-placed Florida-bred Strategy Jak. She has an unnamed 2-year-old filly by Noble Bird, an unnamed yearling colt by Ocala Stud stallion Roadster and was bred to Roadster in 2025. 

Return to the January 3 issue of Wire to Wire