Hooked on Smarty

By Mike "Cheap Speed" Pearson
TheDowneyProfile.com

I got hooked on Smarty Jones just off his name--then really got interested off his run in the Count Fleet when he stumbled out of the gate, swept three wide around the field and cleared by five.

It was the second-fastest running of that race at that distance, 22 runnings in all. He was eight weeks off the shelf when he won the Southwest in a respectable 1:37 2/5.

He worked five furlongs in :58 and change on 3-13, then galloped out six in under 1:12.

Picking favorites hurts my head, but this guy's speed ain't cheap, and he is very ready.

Mr. Jester likes to be in the mix, should be nicely tightened off his last, and has raced in nice company.

Lightly-raced Purge is certainly quick and two turns shouldn't bother him.

Cryptograph has two over the track and is interesting, but the others seem to have more turn of foot.

Smarty better stick to his business.

Mike's Picks

1. SMARTY JONES
2. MR. JESTER
3. PURGE
4, CRYTOGRAPH