HOT SPRINGS, Ark. – Brad Cox won Oaklawn Park’s first Kentucky Derby points race earlier this month with Catching Freedom in the Smarty Jones and now has several runners under consideration for the second leg of the series, the Grade 3, $800,000 Southwest. The 1 1/16-mile race is Jan. 27. Oaklawn’s other points races are the Rebel on Feb. 24 and the Arkansas Derby on March 30. Cox said plans for Catching Freedom are to be determined. He won the Smarty Jones by 2 1/2 lengths on Jan. 1. Catching Freedom is now 2 for 3 for Albaugh Family Stables. “He came out of the race great,” Cox said. “He’ll be nominated to the Southwest. He could possibly show up, but we’re probably looking to give him more time, wait for the Risen Star or Rebel.” Cox has other trainees under consideration for the Southwest – and the Grade 3, $200,000 Lecomte at Fair Grounds. The 1 1/16-mile Lecomte is Jan. 20. The 1 1/8-mile Risen Star is Feb. 17 at Fair Grounds. :: Bet with the Best! Get FREE All-Access PPs and Weekly Cashback when you wager on DRF Bets. “I don’t know who’s going to end up where right now,” Cox said Tuesday. “We’ll put everyone where we feel like they have the best opportunity to continue to move forward.” Nash, who is coming off a third-place finish in the Gun Runner at Fair Grounds, is a candidate for either the Lecomte or the Southwest. Cox said the same is true of Lightline, Ethan Energy, and Awesome Road. Nash earned a Beyer Speed Figure of 97 in November, when he won a maiden special weight route in his two-turn debut. Lightline was a 13-length debut winner who has run second in back-to-back allowances at Keeneland and Oaklawn. Ethan Energy is a half-brother to Grade 2 winner Royal Charlotte who is coming off a maiden special weight route win at Fair Grounds for which he earned Beyer Speed Figure of 83. Awesome Road, who was fifth in the Grade 2 Kentucky Jockey Club Stakes in his last start Nov. 25 at Churchill Downs, is out of a full sister to Blue Grass winner Pulpit. “We’ll see how things play out,” Cox said. Cox said Gettysburg Address and Fidget could develop into candidates for the John Battaglia Memorial in March at Turfway Park. Cox won last year’s Arkansas Derby with Angel of Empire, who is preparing for a 4-year-old campaign. “He’s doing well,” said Cox. :: Want to learn more about handicapping and wagering? Check out DRF's Handicapping 101 and Wagering 101 pages.