Southwest an intriguing addition to big weekend

Winter Storm Fern wiped out what was supposed to be the first week of the classic meet at Oaklawn Park, and so the Hot Springs, Ark., track had to rearrange its schedule in a move that puts the Grade 3, $1 million Southwest Stakes on Friday.

The Kentucky Derby points race was originally slated for last Saturday.

“You can’t beat Mother Nature,” said Oaklawn president Lou Cella. “Hot Springs was just walloped.”

Cella said there were a couple of reasons for the Southwest to be run on a Friday.

“We have a such a great Saturday card already in existence,” he said of the program that drew champion Nitrogen and 2025 Arkansas Derby winner Sandman. “And we know of three big-time jocks" -- Flavien Prat, Juan Hernandez, and Javier Castellano -- "that can come on Friday for the Southwest that would otherwise stay in California and Florida. They’re committed for Saturday in California and Florida.”

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Oaklawn ran a holiday meet from Dec. 12 to Jan. 4. The track followed with a three week winter break that became four after the inclement weather. It forced the drawn cards for last Friday through Sunday to be moved to this week, with Oaklawn to open the classic meet Thursday, run the Southwest card on Friday, the Bayakoa card with Nitrogen on Saturday, and add a race card on Super Bowl Sunday.

“We anticipate a real nice kick off come Thursday,” Cella said. “I know everyone in the area has cabin fever. Our phones are ringing off the hook to come to the races. The hotel, we’re sold out all weekend long. There’s certainly a buzz in the air.”

During the winter break, Oaklawn completed two new barns that are now both “fully functional and full,” said Cella. The track also made other improvements during the short break from racing.

“We finished all our honey-do projects we couldn’t quite get done,” Cella said. “You’ll see a new base in our paddock. We put in a sponge-type brickette, which is basically in the Larry Snyder winner’s circle. That same product.”

It was a $60,000 project for Oaklawn.

The turn of the calendar to the classic meet, which runs through May 2, brings an increase in purses. The pots for maiden special weight races will jump from $100,000 during the holiday meet to $110,000 beginning Thursday. In other categories, first-level allowance races that were worth $115,000 have jumped to $125,000.

◗ There is a $12,081 pick six carryover on Thursday.

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