Triple Crown

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Looking Ahead to 2026: Industry Voices on What’s Best for the Triple Crown

As Thoroughbred racing heads into a new year, it faces the inevitable challenge of learning from the past 12 months and applying those lessons to a new year.

With 2026 at hand, BloodHorse has reprised its online year-end survey to ask some of the sport’s leading individuals for their opinions on pertinent issues facing the sport.

2026 Smarty Jones Stakes, Oaklawn Park, Strategic Risk, Road to the Kentucky Derby

Strategic Risk Brilliant in Smarty Jones Blowout

Strategic Risk drew clear in early stretch and cruised to a 4 1/2-length score in the $250,000 Smarty Jones Stakes Jan. 3 at Oaklawn Park.

My World, Brad Cox, 2026 Jerome Stakes, Aqueduct, 2026 Kentucky Derby

My World Scores Another Aqueduct Win in Jerome Stakes

Winning a stakes like the Jan. 3 $139,500 Jerome Stakes at Aqueduct may earn a 3-year-old some Kentucky Derby presented by Woodford Reserve qualifying points but winning a one-turn mile like the Jerome and the testing 1 1/4-mile Kentucky Derby are light years apart.

Smarty Jones Stakes, Oaklawn Park, betting, win, horseplayer, Universe, Baytown Dreamer, Boca Beach Club, Silent Tactic, Rancho Santa Fe, Oscar’s Hope, Strategic Risk, Scar Ship, Sleepingonfreedom, trainer, McPeek, Kentucky Derby, jockey, Rosario, ABR

Universe Gets Top Billing in 2026 Smarty Jones Stakes

The Road to the Kentucky Derby Presented by Woodford Reserve heads to Arkansas Saturday with the 19th running of the $250,000 Smarty Jones Stakes, the first of four qualifying points preps to be held in the coming weeks at Oaklawn Park. Nine newly turned 3-year-old colts will line up to compete for 21 Kentucky Derby points, distributed to the top five finishers on

Gambling

Oaklawn Park, 2026 Smarty Jones Stakes, Universe, Rancho Santa Fe, Road to the Kentucky Derby

2026 Smarty Jones Stakes at a Glance

While people will be saying “Happy New Year!” on Thursday, all Thoroughbreds will be celebrating their birthdays. Horses that were 2 at the start of the week will turn 3 on Thursday and that’s when the talk about the 2026 Kentucky Derby Presented by Woodford Reserve really begins to intensify.

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