Rescheduled Southwest Stakes draws large field; will now be run Feb. 6
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The stakes winners Litmus Test and Strategic Risk will lead a competitive field of 14 in the Grade 3, $1 million Southwest Stakes, which has been moved to next Friday, Feb. 6, after Oaklawn Park in Hot Springs, Ark., announced Tuesday that racing this weekend has been canceled due to freezing temperatures.
The track called off its Friday, Saturday, and Sunday cards.
The Southwest, which was originally scheduled for Saturday, is a Kentucky Derby points race (20-10-6-4-2) and will be showcased on a 12-race card that has a special morning post of 11:30 a.m. Central.
The card includes the $300,000 Martha Washington, which is a points race for the Kentucky Oaks, as well as two overnight stakes races. A total 147 horses were entered for the card, with nine on also-eligible lists.
Litmus Test, who drew post 5, won the Grade 2 Los Alamitos Futurity in his last start Dec. 13. He is one of two starters in the field for trainer Bob Baffert, who also has entered Buetane. The runner-up in the Grade 2 San Vicente in his last start Jan. 10 at Santa Anita, Buetane drew post 3.
Strategic Risk won the $250,000 Smarty Jones at Oaklawn in his last start Jan. 3. He has post 9 and is one of two horses trainer Mark Casse has entered in the Southwest. Silent Tactic has post 11.
Trainer Kenny McPeek has entered Liberty National and Sleepingonfreedom. Trainer Dallas Stewart will saddle Circle Tap and Spirit of Royal.
The complete Southwest field from the rail with riders is: Reclamation, Ramon Vazquez; D’code, Luis Saez; Buetane, Joel Rosario; Rancho Santa Fe, Flavien Prat; Litmus Test, Juan Hernandez; Circle Tap, Ricardo Santana Jr.; Liberty National, Brian Hernandez Jr.; Spirit of Royal, Francisco Arrieta; Strategic Risk, Javier Castellano; Bricklin, Jaime Torres; Silent Tactics, Cristian Torres; Baytown Dreamer, Orlando Bocachica; Soldier N Diplomat, Jose Ortiz; and Sleepingonfreedom, Manny Esquivel.
The Southwest is slotted as the 11th race and it has an approximate post of 4:40 p.m. Central. Litmus Test has been made the 5-2 morning line favorite, with D’code, the second choice on the line at 3-1. D’code won his career debut with a Beyer Speed Figure of 99.
The Martha Washington goes as the sixth race Friday. The field from the rail is: Knickleandime, Maximum Offer, Search Party, Spitfire, Counting Stars, Hit Parade, Newton Pike and Grace Is Free.
Hit Parade has been made the 2-1 morning line favorite over 5-2 second choice Counting Stars. Both are stakes winners.
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