By: Keith Jones
There is little question that the most important running of the $75,000 Pennsylvania Nursery came in November of 2003 when a young colt named Smarty Jones, making just the second start of his dynamic career, burst onto the national scene with a 17 length romp that produced the highest speed figure for any two year-old that year. Saturday at Parx, a son of Smarty Jones named Res Judicata, will attempt to become the first of his offspring to win Pennsylvania’s most important race for juveniles.
Bred and owned by Patricia Chapman, Res Judicata wears the same Someday Farm colors made famous by Smarty Jones. He made his debut July 12th at Penn National, coming from off the pace to win at five furlongs as the 4-5 betting favorite. He wouldn’t make his second start for three more months, returning here at Parx to run a decent fourth as a 17-1 outsider. Three weeks later, he stood out. Moving effortlessly toward the lead on the far turn, he pulled away impressively to win the $75,000 Chris Elser Memorial, gearing down at the end but still winning by six and a half lengths. Jeremy Rose returns to the saddle for trainer John Servis.
Thomas McClay’s Uptown Boy has also looked good in his freshman season. The son of Johannesburg is coming off his best performance to date, an almost two length win in the $50,000 Bellamy Road Stakes at Delaware Park. He was sharp as well in his prior two starts which came at Presque Isle. He ran second, beaten only a half-length at 22-1 in the $100,000 FDJ Memorial Stakes and also ran second in the $75,000 Mark McDermott Stakes. He has the most wins of any horse in the nine horse field with three and also has the biggest bankroll, currently at just over $142,000. Trainer Bernie Houghton has named Matthew Rispoli to ride.
Other contenders include Ramon Preciado’s Siete de Oros and Southern Honor, racing for Bill & Vicki Poston Racing, Inc. Siete de Oros, a gelded son of A.P. Warrior has come back to win back-to-back races after a disappointing debut. Angel Arroyo will ride. Southern Honor, a Yes It’s True colt, broke his maiden here by nearly eight lengths back in early July and then went to Saratoga and was 5-1 in the G2 Saratoga Special. He got used up pressing a wicked pace, but nonetheless was well regarded going in. Frankie Pennington rides for top trainer Tony Dutrow.