Mary Rampellini's top 3-year-olds at Oaklawn Park on Feb. 23
Far Right established himself as the clear leader of the 3-year-old contingent at Oaklawn Park on Sunday with his determined win in the Grade 3, $300,000 Southwest Stakes. It was his second consecutive stakes victory in Oaklawn’s series leading up to the Arkansas Derby, as Far Right won the track’s $150,000 Smarty Jones in January.
Top 3-year-old males
1. FAR RIGHT
Trainer: Ron Moquett
Pedigree: Notional–Zindi, by Vindication
Last Race: 1st in Southwest on Feb. 22 at Oaklawn
Last Beyer/Best Beyer: 91/91
Target Race: Arkansas Derby on April 11 at Oaklawn
Comment: He showed off his athleticism in the Southwest, a race in which he angled out on the final turn, then darted back to the rail in the stretch at the command of jockey Mike Smith in what proved to be a winning move. The effort came over a sloppy surface that both Smith and Moquett felt he did not handle in a further testament to Far Right.
:: TOP 3-YEAR-OLDS: Aqueduct | Fair Grounds | Gulfstream | Santa Anita
2. MR. Z
Trainer: D. Wayne Lukas
Pedigree: Malibu Moon–Stormy Bear, by Storm Cat
Last Race: 3rd in Southwest on Feb. 22 at Oaklawn
Last Beyer/Best Beyer: 90/91
Target Race: To be determined
Comment: He set the pace over a laboring kind of track in the Southwest and fought on through the stretch in another strong performance. He’s never finished worse than fifth in an 11-race career that started with a debut win last June at Churchill Downs.
3. I SPENT IT
Trainer: Anthony Dutrow
Pedigree: Super Saver–Rateeba, Sky Mesa
Last Race: 6th in Champagne on Oct. 4 at Belmont
Last Beyer/Best Beyer: 59/85
Target Race: Gazebo on March 21 at Oaklawn
Comment: He continues to move closer to his seasonal debut, having worked a bullet half-mile in 48.40 seconds Sunday at Oaklawn. The move came over a good track, and it was the fastest of 183 at the distance as a rash of workers hit the tab in advance of a forecasted winter storm.
4. THE TRUTH OR ELSE
Trainer: Ken McPeek
Pedigree: Yes It’s True–Lakenheath, Colonial Affair
Last Race: 2nd in Southwest on Feb. 22 at Oaklawn
Last Beyer/Best Beyer: 90/90
Target Race: Rebel on March 14 at Oaklawn
Comment: He was pushed out in the first turn of the Southwest but rebounded and launched a significant bid in the final turn. The Truth Or Else continued on strongly to the wire in what was a big race for his first start since November. Last year, The Truth Or Else was third in the Grade 1 Champagne.
5. BOLD CONQUEST
Trainer: Steve Asmussen
Pedigree: Curlin–One for Jim, Distorted Humor
Last Race: 4th in Southwest on Feb. 22 at Oaklawn
Last Beyer/Best Beyer: 85/85
Target Race: To be determined
Comment: He ran a creditable fourth in the Southwest in his first start since finishing third to Carpe Diem in the Grade 1 Breeders’ Futurity at Keeneland in October. He is one who would seem poised to move forward.
Honorable Mention: Bayerd, Hillbilly Royalty, Conquest Curlinate
:: ROAD TO THE KENTUCKY DERBY: Prep races, point standings, replays
Top 3-year-old fillies
1. TAKE CHARGE BRANDI
Trainer: D. Wayne Lukas
Pedigree: Giant’s Causeway–Charming, Seeking the Gold
Last Race: 1st in Martha Washington on Jan. 31 at Oaklawn
Last Beyer/Best Beyer: 77/87
Target Race: Honeybee on March 7 at Oaklawn
Comment: She had a major work Saturday in preparation for the Honeybee, going five furlongs in a bullet 1:00.40 in a three-horse set at Oaklawn. The move came over a track rated “good.” Take Charge Brandi was voted champion 2-year-old filly of 2014.
2. PROMISE ME SILVER
Trainer: Bret Calhoun
Pedigree: Silver City–Uno Mas Promesa, Macho Uno
Last Race: 1st in division of Texas Stallion Stakes on Feb. 14 at Sam Houston
Last Beyer/Best Beyer: 80/83
Target Race: Possible for Honeybee on March 7 at Oaklawn
Comment: She is undefeated in six career starts, with her last five wins coming in stakes races. One of them, the Dixie Belle, was over the Oaklawn surface in January. She would be making her two-turn debut in the Honeybee after winning over seven-eighths of a mile in hand in the Stallion Stakes.
3. PANGBURN
Trainer: Ken McPeek
Pedigree: Congrats–It’s True Love, Yes It’s True
Last Race: 2nd in Pocahontas on Sept. 6 at Churchill Downs
Last Beyer/Best Beyer: 78/78
Target Race: Possible for Honeybee on March 7 at Oaklawn
Comment: She closed from last to first to win a first-level allowance route at Oaklawn on Feb. 20, spotting her rivals several lengths at the start. The race was her first since September.
Honorable Mention: Sarah Sis, Super Saks, Oceanwave, Indian Annie, Bootsy’s Girl, Desert Valley