No owner has won all four of what are now Oaklawn’s Kentucky Derby points races. But, one will have that chance Friday when trainer Brad Cox sends out Caddo River for John Ed Anthony’s Shortleaf Stable in the $150,000 Smarty Jones Stakes, a 1-mile event that highlights Oaklawn’s opening-day nine-race program.

Florent Geroux’s second stint as a riding regular at Oaklawn figures to go better than his first. Much better.

Southern California-based trainers flourished last year at Oaklawn, with two finishing in the top 10 in the standings.

Seven Entered for Opening Day Smarty Jones Oaklawn will open its 117th season next Friday, Jan. 22, with the $150,000 Smarty Jones Stakes, which drew a field of seven, highlighting the nine-race card that begins at 12:30 p.m. The one-mile Smarty Jones carries 17 total points towards eligibility in the Kentucky Derby (G1) and is the first of four races in Oaklawn’s rich series that culminates April 10 with the $1 million Arkansas Derby (G1).

Keepmeinmind moved closer to his 2020 debut with a half-mile workout late Tuesday morning at Oaklawn, going in :48.80 just after the first surface renovation break under regular rider David Cohen.

Kaylee Crotchett, an exercise rider at Oaklawn for Hall of Fame trainer D. Wayne Lukas, said Sunday morning that she plans to make her riding debut early in the 2021 meeting that is scheduled to begin Jan. 22.

Jockey Martin Garcia never really left, but his riding resurgence in 2020 abruptly ended when he fractured his collarbone in an Oct. 18 spill at Keeneland. Garcia got on horses for the first time since the accident Dec. 27 at Oaklawn, where he made a huge splash last year in his debut as a regular, tying for second in the standings with 53 victories.

Champion Monomoy Girl remains on track to make her 2021 debut in the $250,000 Bayakoa Stakes (G3) for older females Feb. 15 at Oaklawn, trainer Brad Cox said.

Powerful maiden winner Caddo River will make his stakes and two-turn debut in the $150,000 Smarty Jones for 3-year-olds Jan. 22 at Oaklawn, the colt’s trainer, Brad Cox, said Tuesday morning.

Pursuant to the Arkansas Department of Health directive, Oaklawn plans to conduct the 2021 live meet with limited spectators. The 57-day season runs from Friday, Jan. 22 – Saturday, May 1. “We’ve been working on plans covering numerous scenarios and ...