Mourinho, Combatant could get rematch in Southwest Stakes

HOT SPRINGS, Ark. – Mourinho emerged from his win in the $150,000 Smarty Jones Stakes on Monday at Oaklawn in good order, and he will be considered for the Grade 3, $500,000 Southwest here Feb. 19, trainer Bob Baffert said Wednesday.

Mourinho picked up 10 qualifying points for the Kentucky Derby in the Smarty Jones, a one-mile race that he won wire to wire. For his 3 1/4-length victory, Mourinho earned a career-high Beyer Speed Figure of 99. He invaded from Southern California.

“He shipped, and he shipped really well,” Baffert said. “He’s got a great mind. He’s fast. He’s a quick horse. And he came back really well. He looks good. It looks like it didn’t take too much out of him. A horse that can ship and run gives you a little confidence. We’ll probably ship out again, but I won’t know for a while.

“I like to wait, work them after the race, see what their energy level is.”

Mourinho, who races for Phoenix Thoroughbred III, was winning his first stakes race after running second in a pair of stakes in Southern California, the Grade 3 Bob Hope and the Speakeasy. Earlier in his career, Mourinho won a maiden special weight race over Instilled Regard, who last Saturday won the Lecomte at Fair Grounds.

“Mourinho, he’s not hard on himself,” Baffert said. “He’s easy on himself training. He’s really light on his feet.”

Combatant rallied for second in the Smarty Jones and earned four points for the Kentucky Derby. It was the second race in a row he’s made a run at a speed horse from Southern California. He put in a sustained bid for second in the $400,000 Springboard Mile, won by Greyvitos.

“Combatant, I thought he ran well,” trainer Steve Asmussen said Wednesday. “The race – it was a five-horse field, and lone speed, and a short-stretch mile.

“Most likely, he’ll end up in the Southwest.”

Asmussen said weather will be a factor in plans for Combatant. A winter storm forced the cancellation of racing Thursday at Oaklawn and led to the cancellation of training here Tuesday and Wednesday.

Combatant earned a career-high 94 Beyer in the Smarty Jones.

Tap Daddy, also from the barn of Asmussen, finished third the Smarty Jones.

“He’s most likely to go back to turf,” said Asmussen.

Tap Daddy was third in the Grade 3 Bourbon last year at Keeneland.