Essential Quality draws rail for return in Southwest at Oaklawn

HOT SPRINGS, Ark. -- Essential Quality, the 2020 male juvenile champion, will break from the rail when he launches his 3-year-old season in the seven-horse Southwest Stakes on Saturday at Oaklawn Park.

The Grade 3, $750,000 race was drawn Tuesday. It will go as the 10th race on an 11-race card that has a special first post of 12:15 p.m. Central. The program also includes the Grade 3, $600,000 Razorback Handicap and the $200,000 Spring Fever.

The Southwest, which because of a winter storm has been rescheduled three times from its original date of Feb. 15, rewards its four finishers Kentucky Derby points on a scale of 10-4-2-1.

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The field for the 1 1/16-mile race from the rail with riders is: Essential Quality, Luis Saez; Saffa’s Day, Ricardo Santana, Jr.; Last Samurai, Jon Court; Jackie’s Warrior, Joel Rosario; Santa Cruiser, Richard Eramia; Woodhouse, David Cabrera; and Spielberg, Martin Garcia.

Oaklawn reopened nominations to the Southwest last week, and the new names on the list included Santa Cruiser, Spielberg, and Woodhouse.

Keepmeinmind, who had been pointed for the Southwest, is skipping the race after horses based at Oaklawn lost 11 days of training at the hands of the storm. The track reopened Tuesday. Trainer Robertino Diodoro said Keepmeinmind would now target next month’s Grade 2, $1 million Rebel Stakes.

The Razorback Handicap, which also was rescheduled three times from its original date of Feb. 13, drew seven. The field from the rail: Silver Prospector, Hunka Burning Love, Mailman Money, Owendale, Rated R Superstar, Long Range Toddy, and Mystic Guide.

Kimari takes on Amy’s Challenge in the nine-horse Spring Fever.