(Dennis’ Moment — still the one & No. 1 in our books / Photo by Holly M. Smith)

Oaklawn Park, the grand ole’ lady nestled on the hot springs of Arkansas, kick started its’ annual meet this past week and the Opening Day feature was the Smarty Jones Stakes.

Thought going in was that this could be an interesting “kick start” for some promising 3YOs, too.

Thought coming out?

Not so much.

Gold Street, one of four entered in the Smarty Jones for trainer Steve Asmussen, was impressive enough. He won his third start in a row — all over a sloppy track. Went right to the lead and never turned a hair, in pulling away to a victory.

But was it impressive enough?

Not so much.

The son of Street Boss appears to have some distance limitations and is purely one-style oriented. He wants to go. He wants to go fast. And, he wants to lead — from the get-go until the going get gone.

Simply put?

Those are not characteristics that make for a KY Derby winner in most cases.

And, the fact that none of the horses behind the eventual winner ever mustered much of a run or a challenge? Didn’t help their respective causes, either.

Not so much.

As a result, Lynn’s Map and Silver Prospector slide down the pecking order. Not up. And, that’s not something you want to happen when you start the “March to March;” and the “Road to the KY Derby,” in earnest.

Not so much.

But this week we are hoping that things begin to crank it up.

Both in horses to watch. And, in horses to watch go on.

On Saturday, Santa Anita will host the G3 Robert B. Lewis Stakes. The likes of Storm the Court and Thousand Words may both show their pretty heads and their games in that one.

Tizmagician may also go in Robert B. Lewis. He was very impressive in breaking the maiden.

If they all run, it will be worth watching. Closely.

Also on Saturday, Gulfstream Park will run the G2 Holy Bull Stakes. Tis the Law, who ran a much-better-than-it-looked 3rd in the Kentucky Jockey Club Stakes at Churchill Downs last November, is scheduled to begin his 2020 quest in that one.

So, too, is the Chad Brown pupil Toledo — a promising son of Into Mischief. Talent galore in this package.

So while last week was rather uneventful, we are expecting lots of events this week.

Lots.

As in, very much.

Stay tuned.

Horse Sire Trainer Jockey Last Race Next Race Comments
1 Dennis’ Moment Tiznow Dale Romans Irad Oritz, Jr. 8th in Breeders’ Cup Juvenile G2 Fountain of Youth — GP on Feb. 29 Looking Better & Better
2 Independence Hall Constitution Michael Trombetta Jose Ortiz 1st in Jerome Stakes G3 Sam F. Davis Stakes — Tampa on Feb. 9 Nominated for Sam F. Davis / Launching Pad
3 Storm The Court Court Vision Peter Eurton Flavien Prat 1st in Breeders’ Cup Juvenile G3 Robert B. Lewis Stakes — SA on Feb. 1 Hard to Dismiss the BC Juv Winner
4 Thousand Words Pioneerof the Nile Bob Baffert Flavien Prat 1st in Los Alamitos Futurity G3 Robert B. Lewis Stakes — SA on Feb. 1 Love The Pedigree / Big Race Coming Up
5 Ajaaweed Curlin Kiaran McLaughlin Joel Rosario 2nd in Remsen Stakes G3 Sam F. Davis Stakes — Tampa on Feb. 9 Our “Sleeper” in This Year’s Group / Watch Out Here
6 Structor Palace Malice Chad Brown Jose Ortiz 1st in Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf TBD Can He Convert to Dirt? / Can’t Dismiss Chad Brown
7 Anneau d’Or Medaglia d’Oro Blaine Wright Jose Hernandez 2nd in Los Alamitos Futurity El Camino Real Derby — Feb. 15 Has Run Some Impressive 2nds / Can He Win Big Ones?
8 Shotski Blame Jeremiah O’Dwyer Luis Saez 1st in Remsen Stakes G3 Withers Stakes — AQU on Feb. 1 Interested / But Must See More
9 Maxfield Street Sense Brendan Walsh Jose Oritz 1st in Claiborne Breeders’ Futurity TBD What’s the Schedule Look Like?
10 Tiz the Law Constitution Barclay Tagg Manny Franco 3rd in KY Jockey Club G2 Holy Bull Stakes at GP on Feb. 1 Ran Better Than It Looked in KY Jockey Club / Game
11 Authentic Into Mischief Bob Baffert Drayden Van Dyke 1st in G3 Sham Stakes G2 San Felipe Stakes at SA on March 7 Has Some Attention Deficit Issues / Can Blinkers Cure?
12 Gouverneur Morris Constitution Todd Pletcher Javier Castellano 2nd in Claiborne Breeders’ Futurity TBD Like to See Next Race On the Map
13 Enforceable Tapit Mark Casse Julien Leparoux 1st in the G3 Lecomte Stakes G2 Risen Star Stakes at FG on Feb. 15 Impressive in Winning Lecomte From Far Outside
14 Silver State Hard Spun Steve Asmussen Ricardo Santana, Jr 2nd in G3 Lecomte Stakes G2 Risen Star Stakes at FG on Feb. 15 Impressive in G3 Lecomte / Just Scratching the Surface?
15 High Velocity Quality Road Bob Baffert Drayden Van Dyke 3rd in Los Alamitos Futurity G2 San Vicente Stakes at SA on Feb. 9 Like the Work From the Gate on Jan. 26
16 Blackberry Wine Oxbow Joe Sharp Adam Beschizza 1st in FG Allowance G2 Risen Star Stakes at FG on Feb. 15 Won 2 of Last 3 / Next Step — Big Boys
17 Scabbard More Than Ready Eddie Kenneally Corey Lanerie 5th in G3 Lecomte Stakes G2 Risen Star Stakes at FG on Feb. 15 Disappointing in 2020 Debut / Still Too Talented To Dismiss
18 Silver Prospector Declaration of War Steve Asmussen Ricardo Santana, Jr 4th in the Smarty Jones Stakes TBD Wasn’t Awful in Smarty Jones, Just Never in Contention
19 Nadal Blame Bob Baffert J. Diaz 1st in SA MSW TBD The “Racing World” Loves Him / We Shall See
20 Shoplifted Into Mischief Steve Asmussen Tyler Gaffalione 3rd in the Smarty Jones TBD OK Performance in Smarty Jones / Next?
Others
1 Eight Rings Empire Maker Bob Baffert John Velazquez 6th in Breeders’ Cup Juvenile G2 Rebel Stakes at OP on March 14 Can Be Baffert’s Best / Again
2 Green Light Go Hard Spun Jimmy Jerkens Junior Alvarado 2nd in Champagne Stakes G3 Swale Stakes at GP on Feb. 1 Never Run a Bad One Yet
3 Honor A.P. Honor Code John Shirreffs Mike Smith 1st in SA MSW TBD Love The Breeding Here / Let’s See More
4 Basin Liam’s Map Steve Asmussen Jose Ortiz 1st in Hopeful Stakes G2 Rebel Stakes at OP on March 14 Rebel Is Very Important
5 Finnick The Fierce Dialed In Rey Hernandez Sonn Leon 4th in the G3 Lecomte Stakes G2 Risen Star Stakes at FG on Feb. 15 Dialed In? Distance?
6 Answer In Dialed In Brad Cox Javier Castellano 2nd in Remington Springboard Mile G3 Southwest Stakes at OP on Feb. 17 Dialed In? Distance?
7 Chance It Currency Swap Saffie Joseph, Jr. Tyler Gaffalione 1st in Mucho Macho Man Stakes G2 Fountain of Youth — GP on Feb. 29 All Out to Win the Mucho Macho Man / All Out
8 Mr. Monomoy Palace Malice Brad Cox Florent Geroux 3rd in the G3 Lecomte Stakes G2 Risen Star Stakes at FG on Feb. 15 Lynn’s Map Did Not Help This One’s Cause
9 Toledo Into Mischief Chad Brown Irad Ortiz, Jr. 1st in AQU MSW G3 Holy Bull — Feb. 1 One to Watch
10 Chestertown Tapit Steve Asmussen Irad Ortiz, Jr. 3rd in ALW at FG G2 Risen Star Stakes at FG on Feb. 15 An Absolute Beautiful Horse / Raw, But Talented
11 American Theorem American Pharoah G. Papaprodromou Tiago Pereira 2nd in American Pharoah Stakes G2 San Felipe Stakes at SA on March 7 Love to See This One in KY Derby
12 Tizamagician Tiznow Richard Mandella Victor Espinoza 1st in SA MSW G3 Robert B. Lewis Stakes — SA on Feb. 1 Mandella Deserves Another Shot
13 Lynn’s Map Liam’s Map Mark Casse Miguel Mena 5th in the Smarty Jones TBD Disappointing Is Only Word