Smarty tests 3-year-old hopefuls

HOT SPRINGS - If Gresham falls off the Kentucky Derby trail, it won't be because of his blood.

"He's got a nice pedigree, doesn't he?" trainer James Baker said. "Whew! That says all day, doesn't it?"

Gresham is by Seeking the Gold, one of the world's most influential stallions, and out of the A.P. Indy mare, Alexi Dancer.

A.P. Indy was the 1992 Horse of the Year, and Alexi Dancer's mother, Pike Place Dancer, won the 1996 Kentucky Oaks.

The Kentucky Derby is the hope for Gresham, who makes his 2009 debut in today's $50,000 Smarty Jones Stakes at Oaklawn Park.

The 1-mile Smarty Jones begins Oaklawn's series of major Kentucky Derby two-turn prepraces.

It continues with the $250,000 Grade III Southwest Stakes on Feb. 16, $300,000 Grade III on March 14 and the $1 million Grade II Arkansas Derby on April 11.

Gresham hasn't started since a nose victory in an entry-level allowance race at a mile Nov. 29 at Churchill Downs in Louisville, Ky.

Gresham also finished third in the Grade III Kentucky Cup Juvenile and fourth in the Grade III Iroquois Stakes last fall in Kentucky.

"He's a nice horse," Baker said. "He's just been kind of a slow learner."

Gresham had his final major work for the Smarty Jones on Jan. 11, breezing a half-mile in :52under Calvin Borel.

"He didn't work fast, but he finished up good," Baker said. "He came home the last quarter in :23. If he can do that [this] afternoon, we might get a piece of it."

Gresham is scheduled to break from post 2 under Borel and carry equal top weight of 119 pounds.

Also entered is another promising 3-year-old, Professor Z, owned by the Zayat Stables of Ahmed Zayat and trained by Steve Asmussen.

Professor Z is coming off two sparkling victories at Aqueduct in New York, including a 5 3/4-length entry-level allowance score Dec. 7.

"He was a really good 2-year-old when he got in to us," said Hank Gensler, Asmussen'sOaklawn assistant. "He was one of our top prospects, and it took a while for him to mature. He looks like he's coming around."

Luis Quinonez will ride Professor Z, who is scheduled to break from post 3 and carry 119 pounds.

Also entered is Silver Bayer, Bertsgoldenmissile, Proceed Bee, Ninth Client and Flat Out.

Liberty Bull and Isabull, last year's 1-2 finishers in the inaugural Smarty Jones Stakes, also ran in the Arkansas Derby.

Racing begins at 1 p.m. today.

While supplies last, fans will receive a Curlin bobble horse with a paid admission.

Curlin won the Grade III Rebel Stakes and Grade II Arkansas Derby in 2007 at Oaklawn, ran third in the Kentucky Derby and went on to become Horse of the Year.