Old Fashioned has sharp Oaklawn work

Old Fashioned, a leading candidate for the Kentucky Derby, skipped over Oaklawn's main track on Thursday morning, breezing a half-mile in a bullet 48.40 seconds and galloping out five furlongs in 1:00.80. The work was his first at Oaklawn after arriving there on Tuesday.

"Apparently, he's getting over the track very well," said Larry Jones, who trains Old Fashioned for Rick Porter. "This was good. He's dead fit. He's ready."

Old Fashioned is at Oaklawn for the Grade 3, $250,000 Southwest Stakes on Feb. 16, which will be the undefeated horse's first start since the Grade 2 Remsen at Aqueduct on Nov. 29.

Training was delayed until 8 a.m. Thursday because of freezing temperatures overnight and Old Fashioned went out in the first set of horses. Crews worked the track from midnight on, with the mercury hitting 33 degrees as Old Fashioned stepped onto the track under jockey Terry Thompson. They were accompanied by a pony ridden by Jones.

Old Fashioned went into his work at the half-mile pole, and Thompson sat chilly throughout as the pair cruised through fractions of 12.20 seconds for the opening eighth of a mile, 24.60 for the first quarter, and 36.60 for three furlongs. Old Fashioned was bright-eyed and alert while cooling out after the work Thursday.

The one-mile Southwest lost a key player Thursday with the defection of Square Eddie, but has another strong player in Silver City. Others expected include Poltergeist, Flat Out and possibly Kick On.