Jackie's Warrior ready to kick off campaign in Southwest Stakes

HOT SPRINGS, Ark. – Jackie’s Warrior established himself as an elite member of his division last year and on Saturday he’ll be looking to pick up where he left off when he launches his 3-year-old season against champion Essential Quality in the Grade 3, $750,000 Southwest Stakes at Oaklawn Park.

“He’s an awfully nice horse that we’re very fortunate to get the chance to run,” said Steve Asmussen, who trains Jackie’s Warrior.

The Southwest, a 1 1/16-mile race that because of a winter storm was delayed three times from its original date of Feb. 15, drew seven horses. The first four finishers will earn Kentucky Derby points on a scale of 10-4-2-1.

Jackie’s Warrior will start from post 4 under Joel Rosario. The complete field from the rail with riders is: Essential Quality, Luis Saez; Saffa’s Day, Ricardo Santana Jr.; Last Samurai, Jon Court; Jackie’s Warrior, Rosario; Santa Cruiser, Richard Eramia; Woodhouse, David Cabrera; and Spielberg, Martin Garcia.

Jackie’s Warrior won 4 of 5 starts last year, including the Grade 1 Hopeful at Saratoga and the Grade 1 Champagne at Belmont Park. For his victory in the Champagne, he earned a Beyer Speed Figure of 100, which was the top number put up by a 2-year-old in 2020. The Southwest will mark his first start since a fourth-place finish to Essential Quality in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile on Nov. 6 at Keeneland. Asmussen said Jackie’s Warrior was freshened following the race. For his return, the horse has turned in some bullet works at Fair Grounds.

“He’s trained wonderfully since we resumed training,” Asmussen said. “We’ve got nothing but respect for the quality of the field. Obviously, we’re anxious to get him back started. We had our start delayed about 12 days or so, but we’ll see what we can get done.”

Jackie’s Warrior races for J. Kirk and Judy Robison, who long have ranked among the leading breeders and owners in New Mexico. The horse arrived at Oaklawn on Tuesday afternoon, Asmussen said. Spielberg, winner of the Grade 2 Los Alamitos Futurity, was scheduled to fly in from his Southern California base Wednesday, trainer Bob Baffert said.

The Southwest lost a key player when Keepmeinmind was declared from consideration after Oaklawn was unable to open its track for training for 11 days due to an extended winter storm. Trainer Robertino Diodoro said Tuesday that Keepmeinmind would now target the Grade 2, $1 million Rebel on March 13 at Oaklawn.

“I want to go over there knowing he’s ready to go,” Diodoro said Tuesday.

Diodoro said plans are to work Keepmeinmind on Saturday, weather permitting.

The Southwest will go as the 10th race on an 11-race card that has a special first post of 12:15 p.m. Central. It will be supported by the Grade 3, $600,000 Razorback Handicap and the $200,000 Spring Fever.

The forecast for Saturday is a high of 63 degrees and a 70 percent chance of rain, according to The Weather Channel.