Southwest contenders come from all over
HOT SPRINGS, Ark. – Every horse in the Grade 3, $750,000 Southwest on Saturday at Oaklawn Park has something to prove, whether a leading Kentucky Derby points earner in Jace’s Road, a $2.3 million purchase in Arabian Knight, an undefeated stakes winner in Corona Bolt, a blueblood in Red Route One, or a local stakes winner in Frosted Departure.
The horses are part of a field of nine for the 1 1/16 miles Kentucky Derby points race (20-8-6-4-2) being showcased on an 11-race card that also drew Grade 1 winner Gunite for the King Cotton and Kentucky Oaks hopefuls for the Martha Washington.
Jace’s Road leads the field in points with 13, which ranks fifth among all 3-year-olds. He’s looking for his first graded win after dominating the Gun Runner at Fair Grounds, earning a Beyer Speed Figure of 90.
“I thought we saw a true read on what he is,” said trainer Brad Cox. “I think he’s a good colt, and his Gun Runner is what he’s capable of doing.
“This is going to be a little deeper field than he faced last time and hopefully he steps up.”
Joe Talamo has the mount from post 3.
Arabian Knight, the sales topper at the spring 2-year-olds in training auction put on by Ocala Breeders’ Sales Co., is making his first start against winners and first at two turns. The Southern California shipper debuted Nov. 5 at Keeneland on the Saturday Breeders’ Cup undercard and wired maidens by 7 1/4 lengths. For covering seven furlongs in 1:21.98, Arabian Knight earned a 97 Beyer.
“We know he’s brilliant going one turn – we’ll see if he can do it two turns,” said trainer Bob Baffert.
“He ran a spectacular race, and after such a strong effort I backed off on him a little bit. I didn’t want to come back too quick. I was going to go to the San Vicente [on Sunday at Santa Anita], was going to run him seven-eighths, but I said, ‘We’re not going to learn anything from that.’ We know seven-eighths is not a problem.”
The decision was made to target the Southwest.
“It will be tough,” Baffert said Monday. “He’ll be shipping. He’ll go two turns. The track, I like that track. So, I thought that will be a good spot to find out something about him. It’s a good test for him. These races, it’s a huge move forward. I feel like he’s up to it. He’s trained well enough to convince me he can do it, but until they do it, you never know.”
John Velazquez has the mount from post 6.
Corona Bolt is moving to two turns after winning both of his starts, including the Sugar Bowl at Fair Grounds with a 97 Beyer.
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“I’m confident he’ll handle it,” said Cox, who has given the mount to Flavien Prat. “He’s a well-made horse. Pedigree suggests he’ll stretch. He’s obviously got a lot of natural speed. I think he’s a smart horse, responds to what the rider wants. So, we’ll see if he can handle the two turns. There’s always a little bit of a question mark with it, but I’m hopeful this horse will.”
Red Route One is by Gun Runner and out of a full sister to champion Untapable. He’s looking for his first win on dirt, and comes off a troubled fourth in the Kentucky Jockey Club Stakes at Churchill.
“He had a lot of traffic, had quite a bit of traffic,” said trainer Steve Asmussen.
A few races prior, Red Route One was a maiden winner on turf at Kentucky Downs.
“We won a stakes with his brother Red Run on the grass, and that’s why we ran him on turf,” Asmussen said. “He’s a dirt horse.”
Frosted Departure seeks a two-turn win after taking the Renaissance at Oaklawn.
“If the race unfolds to his liking, he tends to run well,” said trainer Kenny McPeek.
McPeek also saddles Sun Thunder, a strapping son of Into Mischief who unleashed a powerful move to win a mile maiden race at Oaklawn.
“It’s a big step up for a horse like him,” McPeek said. “He acts like any kind. I think a good horse will rise up. He still doesn’t have a lot of experience, certainly hasn’t run at this level, but he’s got the pedigree and body that makes me think he’ll handle it.”
Cox has a third entrant in Hit Show, an allowance winner at Oaklawn.
“He’s a nice horse, got a good figure, obviously has a run over the track,” Cox said. “I think he’s a horse that will be running on late.”
Western Ghent was fourth in Oaklawn’s first prep, the Smarty Jones.
“He has actually gotten better since then, become more focused, and certainly fitter,” said trainer Wayne Lukas. “I agonized a little bit over going in this spot, especially with Baffert bringing Secretariat to town,” referring to Arabian Knight, “but finally thought, ‘He’s improving. We should give him a chance.’ ”
The field is completed by debut winner El Tomate.
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