# Smarty Jones Stakes (Parx)

The Smarty Jones Stakes is a Listed American Thoroughbred horse race for three years olds, over a distance of one and one-sixteenth miles on the dirt track held annually in early September at Parx Casino and Racing racetrack in Bensalem, Pennsylvania. The event currently carries a purse of $200,000.

## History

The race was inaugurated in 2010 with an attractive purse offered of $300,000 as a preparatory race for the Grade I Pennsylvania Derby where the winner was given automatic entry.
The event is named in honor of the 2004 Kentucky Derby and Preakness Stakes winner, and hometown Pennsylvania hero Smarty Jones.
Originally the distance of the event was set as 1 mile and 70 yards but was extended in 2016 to the current distance of 1+1⁄16 miles.
In 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic in the United States, Parx Racing did not schedule the event.
In 2024 the event was downgraded by the Thoroughbred Owners and Breeders Association to Listed status.

## Records

Speed record:
* 1+1⁄16 miles – 1:42.27 - Pavel (2017)
* 1 mile and 70 yards – 1:40.89 - Wilburn (2011)
Margins:
* 7 lengths – Awesome Slew (2016)
Most wins by a jockey
* 2 – Paco Lopez: (2016, 2019)
* 2 – Joe Bravo: (2014, 2018)
* 2 – Florent Geroux: (2021, 2022)
Most wins by a trainer:
* 2 – Steven M. Asmussen: (2010, 2011)
* 2 – Brad H. Cox: (2021, 2022)
Most wins by an owner
* No owner won this race more than once

## Winners

| Year | Winner | Jockey | Trainer | Owner | Distance | Time | Purse | Grade | Ref |
| 2024 | Gould's Gold | Emmanuel Esquivel | Kenneth G. McPeek | Four G Racing, Lance Gasaway & Magdalena Racing | 1+1⁄16 miles | 1:45.55 | $200,000 | Listed | |
| 2023 | Il Miracolo | Luis Saez | Antonio Sano | Eduardo Soto | 1+1⁄16 miles | 1:48.59 | $300,000 | III | |
| 2022 | Best Actor | Florent Geroux | Brad H. Cox | Gary West & Mary West | 1+1⁄16 miles | 1:44.14 | $300,000 | III | |
| 2021 | Fulsome | Florent Geroux | Brad H. Cox | Juddmonte | 1+1⁄16 miles | 1:45.57 | $300,000 | III | |
| 2020 | Race not held | Race not held | Race not held | Race not held | Race not held | Race not held | Race not held | Race not held | Race not held |
| 2019 | Spun to Run | Paco Lopez | Juan Carlos Guerrero | Robert P. Donaldson | 1+1⁄16 miles | 1:44.14 | $300,000 | III | |
| 2018 | Axelrod | Joe Bravo | Michael W. McCarthy | Slam Dunk Racing | 1+1⁄16 miles | 1:45.34 | $300,000 | III | |
| 2017 | Pavel | Mario Gutierrez | Doug F. O'Neill | Reddam Racing | 1+1⁄16 miles | 1:42.27 | $300,000 | III | |
| 2016 | Awesome Slew | Paco Lopez | Edward Plesa Jr. | Live Oak Plantation | 1+1⁄16 miles | 1:42.92 | $300,000 | III | |
| 2015 | Island Town | Brian Hernandez Jr. | Ian R. Wilkes | Six Column Stables, Randell L. Bloch, John Seiler and David Hall | 1 mile and 70 yards | 1:44.10 | $300,000 | III | |
| 2014 | Protonico | Joe Bravo | Todd A. Pletcher | International Equities Holding | 1 mile and 70 yards | 1:41.17 | $300,000 | III | |
| 2013 | Edge of Reality | Stewart Elliott | Anthony W. Dutrow | The Elkstone Group | 1 mile and 70 yards | 1:42.20 | $350,000 | III | |
| 2012 | Easter Gift | Kendrick Carmouche | Nicholas P. Zito | Robert V. LaPenta | 1 mile and 70 yards | 1:42.05 | $350,000 | III | |
| 2011 | Wilburn | Corey Nakatani | Steven M. Asmussen | Stonestreet Stables | 1 mile and 70 yards | 1:40.89 | $300,000 | Listed | |
| 2010 | Thiskyhasnolimit | Jamie Theriot | Steven M. Asmussen | Mark Zollars, Bob Wagner, and Cathy Wagner | 1 mile and 70 yards | 1:40.49 | $300,000 | Listed | |