The Smarty Jones, Monday, January 16, Picks & Analysis

Monday, January 16; One mile, dirt, $150,000, Oak Lawn

A nice little prep to the big preps, this race has shown its mettle in the past with prominent horses winning in recent years, the likes of Will Take Charge, Caleb’s Posse, Flat Out and, last year’s winner, Discreetness.

A Who’s Who of HOF trainers, along with trainer vets, enter, including the great Jack Van Berg, now 80 years old. A true legend in racing, JVB is the first trainer to reach 5,000 wins (1987) and, in 1976, set a record by winning 496 races. He enters longshot Love That Lute.

It wouldn’t be Oak Lawn in January without D Wayne Lukas entering a hopeful in this and other early Arkansas preps. He brings in a decent colt, Warrior’s Club.

Noteworthiness is Wayne Catalano (Uncontested), Donnie Von Hemel (Rowdy the Warrior) and the Jones’ 2015 winning trainer, Ron Moquett (Petrov) along with Steve Asmussen (Unbridled Eagle), among the combatant conditioners.

#6 Uncontested…..”The Cat,” Wayne Catalano, has a good one here who could possibly run the Oak Lawn table this season. He’ll burst out of the gate to the lead, if I am correct, and might not look back. Uncontested has the field’s highest Beyer (89 at 6F). The added distance (1-1/16) contributed to his faltering last out in the Kentucky JC to finish fourth recording a 78 speed figure with the one mile seemingly his perfect spot. Favored at 2-1, his two works coming in set him up nicely for the win.

#1 Petrov….If Uncontested is #1, this guy might be #1A improving in his last race (81 Beyer) in the King’s Swan as he was driving to finish and falling just short. The added distance will help with trainer Moquett knowing how to get them ready in these spots. JL Ortiz rides for a colt coming in off a bullet work that leads me to believe he could pop…..dueling with the fave at the end? 5-2 ML.

#8 Unbridled Eagle…..Aside from his upset win at Saratoga last September, on paper, there is little that would make anyone think this guy has a real chance. However, the boy moves from D Wayne to Asmussen and that is a factor. “Just” 8-1 ML, the trainer comes up big with first-time take overs and the turf to dirt play. I like the work pace for this; likely to try for the super close to win it, with a shot if the upfront speed dawdles.

#2 Warrior’s Club…..Typical 3-year old Lukas fare for Oak Lawn, as this is another in a long line of “maybe’s” that D Wayne brings in each year. However, this guy has some talent with a lifetime record of 7/1-1-3, including a semi-ok performance in the KY JC finishing fifth. With steady Beyer’s in  the high 70s his last three races, at 7-2 ML, the colt has a chance at the end with the right run plus the set-up coming from mid-pack.

#4 Rowdy the Warrior……I’ve always been a Von Hemel fan, especially with the Little Engines That Could, like this one (same sire as Warrior’s Club, Warrior’s Reward out of Medaglia d’Oro). While he is a step or two behind most of these, he’s improving and working well for this with a very serviceable career record of 6/1-3-1. A piece is not out of the question.

 #7 Romeo O Romeo……Many of you have never heard of trainer Brian Williamson, but those of us from Chicago know him as a steady, practical and solid conditioner out of Arlington Park and Hawthorne. At first glance, it appears that his boy doesn’t rate with these. Toss his last where he was spent early and there is a glimmer for a piece.  Out of Macho Uno and an In Excess mare, the Ontario-bred’s future seems to be as a turf mid-framer. However, any colt out of Macho Uno should be given a look-see. At 12-1, veteran Chris Landeros rides with the trainer combo having a history of solid success.

#3 Cu Rahy……A Curlin colt, this youngster isn’t close to the speed of the likely leaders. However, he is 5/1-0-2 lifetime, which ain’t too bad. With crafty Glenn Corbett in the leather at 15-1, and if it comes up wet, he might grab a share as the kid has the highest Tomlinson of any of these. Note: His dam won 4 stakes races.

My picks:

#1 Petrov in the upset of the favorite, #6 Uncontested in what should be a contentious affair with 2 or 3 others possibly figuring.

#1 to Win & Place

$10 exacta: 1-6

$6 exacta: 1/2, 8

$3 tri: 1/2, 6, 8/2,4,6,7,8

$1 tri: 2,6,8/1,2,6,8/1,2,4,6,7,8

Along with Gormely and American Anthem in The Sham,

UNCONTESTED was electric wiring the filed and leaving Petrov in his wake. Great ride by Channing Hill too for Wayne Catalano.

FINISHES: 6-1-4-2

Look for some good things from Uncontested in Arkansas, but let's see how a bigger distance and better contenders figure going forward.

To finish my thought......Along with Gormely and American Anthem in The Sham, Uncontested and the two Californians have been the most impressive.

 we are only a few preps in, but it is starting to get the juices flowing.