Old Fashioned has final Southwest work

HOT SPRINGS, Ark. Old Fashioned, a leading candidate for the Kentucky Derby, completed his preparations for Monday s Grade 3, $250,000 Southwest Stakes at Oaklawn Park early Wednesday morning, when he breezed a bullet five furlongs in 1:00.40. He could have at least nine rivals in the one-mile race that serves as the first of two local preps for the Grade 2, $1 million Arkansas Derby.

Old Fashioned came onto the track shortly after it opened for training at 6:45 a.m., and loosened up by backtracking to the wire while accompanied by a pony ridden by his trainer, Larry Jones. He eagerly went into his work at the five-furlong pole and was even-paced around the turn with clockers following him through fractions of 23.80 seconds for the opening quarter, 36.40 for three furlongs, and 48.40 for the half-mile. Jockey Terry Thompson sat chilly throughout the move. Old Fashioned galloped out six furlongs in 1:13.40.

Clockers listed the track as fast. The temperature was 53 degrees at the time of the work Wednesday.

Ramon Dominguez, who was aboard Old Fashioned for his win in the Grade 2 Remsen at Aqueduct in his last start Nov. 29, has the mount in the Southwest. The horse races for Rick Porter.