Mourinho left little doubt who was the best 3-year-old in Monday's $150,000 Smarty Jones S. at Oaklawn Park, cruising to a 3 1/4-length front-running score under jockey Drayden Van Dyke.

In a field reduced to five following a pair of scratches, Mourinho sped out of the gate, with Tap Daddy in hot pursuit. The first half-mile went in :48.09, when Tap Daddy began to back out. That left Mourinho all alone coming into the stretch. Combatant ran up to be second, but was no threat to the winner (VIDEO).

Mourinho completed the one-mile test in 1:37.25, the second-fastest time in the history of the stakes race that was first run a decade ago. The win also gave Bob Baffert his first Smarty Jones score.

“He's a horse we get to relax in the morning, so the blinkers I think helped him stay focused and it benefitted him,” said Van Dyke after the race. “Bob said, 'We're the fastest horse in the race, so get the lead and go from there,' and luckily it worked out.” 

Mourinho earned 10 Road to the Kentucky Derby points, which are used to determine the Run for the Roses' field if more than 20 horses are entered. 

Mourinho, who is owned by Phoenix Thoroughbred III, was second in both the Bob Hope S. (G3) and Speakeasy S. at 2 and is now 2-2-0 in four starts, with earnings of $154,360.