Mourinho aces test

Baffert thrilled by Kentucky Derby hopeful

HOT SPRINGS — Horses with Kentucky Derby aspirations face a long list of tests prior to the first Saturday in May.

Not one is more significant than the two-turn test, and Bob Baffert-trainee Mourinho aced it to win the $150,000 1-mile Smarty Jones Stakes at Oaklawn Park in 1:37.25 before an announced crowd of 9,000 on Monday.

“We were hoping he would pass that test,” Baffert said.

Mourinho, by 2010 Kentucky Derby champion Super Saver, flew in from California

on Wednesday to also pass the shipping test and hold off Steve Asmussen-trainee Combatant, who finished 3¼ lengths back in second. Tap Daddy, also trained by Asmussen, was third, 8 lengths behind Combatant and 4½ lengths in front of Bode’s Maker, fourth in the fivehorse field.

The Smarty Jones was Mourinho’s first race beyond 7 furlongs.

Two program entrants were scratched from the race. Todd Pletcher-trainee Navistar failed to arrive because of travel issues, and Lone Rock — trained by William VanMeter — raced Saturday.

Mourinho, with jockey Drayden Van Dyke aboard, led from the start and reached the first quarter in 23.33 with Tap Daddy a length back and Combatant in third. He passed the half in 48.09 and three-quarters in 1:12.27.

“He made the lead easy, but it looked like he had plenty left at the end, so it was very encouraging,” Baffert said. “The time was pretty decent for this time of the year, so we’re really excited about it.”

Van Dyke is a 2012 graduate of nearby Lake Hamilton High School in Pearcy.

“This is extra special because it’s my hometown,” he said. “I’m very happy.”

Combatant passed Tap Daddy near the head of the stretch but would gain no more than three-quarters of a length on Mourinho through the finish.

The Smarty Jones is Oaklawn’s first race to award Road-to-the-Derby points, with 10 to the winner, four to second, two to third and one to fourth. Since the points

system was adjusted for the 2014 Derby, the final qualifiers have earned between 20 and 32 points.

Oaklawn’s Southwest Stakes, scheduled for Feb. 19, is the track’s next race to offer points on the Road to the Derby.

Oaklawn offers opportunities other than the Smarty Jones to earn credentials for the Southwest and beyond, including a handful over the first four days of the season. Oaklawn racing secretary Pat Pope said that’s been the idea all along.

“Everyone has always looked for their best opportunity to get to the Arkansas Derby and then on to the Triple Crown,” Pope said. “You want to give them options. You try to offer them a variety of races and give them the choice.”

Two 1-mile optionalclaiming races with firstlevel allowance conditions run Saturday fit Pope’s list, and more than just the winners of those demonstrated an ability required to advance. First, D. Wayne Lukas-trainee Bravazo won by a neck in 1:37.74 over Ezmosh, trained by Brad Cox. Lukas, a Hall of Fame horseman who has trained four Derby winners, sounded confident that both Bravazo and Ezmosh had earned further opportunities.

“Those two are nice horses,” Lukas said. “I think they’re going to show up down the line.”

Two races later, Donnie K. Von Hemel-trainee Higher Power won by three-quarters of a length over 1/2 favorite New York Central, trained by Asmussen, in 1:39.52. Von Hemel said he was confident that Higher Power was a quality horse before the race. Afterward, he sounded as if the sky is the limit. He said the Southwest was among the considerations.

“He’ll move forward from this race,” Von Hemel said. “I think he learned a little bit. He had some traffic to contend with today. He has to keep getting better, and I think he will.”

The Southwest is the second race of four at Oaklawn that award Road-to-the-Derby points. It is followed in that category by the Rebel Stakes, scheduled for March 17, and the Arkansas Derby, scheduled for April 14.

Baffert said he was unsure of the next step for Mourinho, but the Southwest is a possibility.