Southwest Stakes far from two-horse race

HOT SPRINGS, Ark. – The Grade 3, $500,000 Southwest Stakes on Monday at Oaklawn is an opportunity to sort out 3-year-olds with designs on the Kentucky Derby, and perhaps for horseplayers to make some cold, hard cash.

Collected, coming off a win in the Grade 3 Sham at Santa Anita, and Discreetness, who seeks his third straight stakes score, should start as the top two choices. But neither horse lays over the field with the kind of American Pharoah swagger seen in last year’s Rebel Stakes and Arkansas Derby here.

Matters are further complicated by Collected having drawn the rail and Discreetness the outside post in the 14-horse field for the 1 1/16-mile race. Throw into the mix the presence of Mike Smith on Whitmore and Gary Stevens on Z Royal; strong local works from Gordy Florida, Bird of Trey, and Suddenbreakingnews; and Siding Spring making his first start since the Breeders’ Cup, and the Southwest is a horseplayer’s delight.

“If you can’t find a horse to like in the Southwest, you’re not looking,” said Ron Moquett, the trainer of Whitmore.

“It’s really even,” said Kenny Smith, who trains Gordy Florida. “There’s nice horses in there. It should be a fun race to watch.”

The Southwest will have 12 betting interests with the couplings of American Dubai and Torrontes, and of Synchrony and Suddenbreakingnews. The first four finishers will earn Kentucky Derby eligibility points on a scale of 10-4-2-1.

KEY CONTENDERS

Collected, by City Zip

Beyers: 81-83-71

◗ After two turf races to start his career, he made his dirt debut in the Sham on Jan. 9. He stalked the pace and forged to a 1 1/4-length win under regular rider Martin Garcia, who returns in the Southwest.

◗ Since the Sham, he’s worked six furlongs in 1:10.80 on Feb. 9 at Santa Anita.

◗ Collected shipped in Friday from the stable of Bob Baffert, one of four Kentucky Derby-winning trainers with starters in the Southwest, along with D. Wayne Lukas, John Servis, and Jack Van Berg. Baffert has won the Southwest four times, all since 2010.

Discreetness, by Discreet Cat

Last 3 Beyers: 83-77-66

◗ He’s battle tested, having won four of his six starts. Discreetness began his stakes streak in December, when he rallied from off the pace to win the $250,000 Springboard Mile by a nose at Remington Park. In his last start, he tracked the leaders en route to a neck win in the $150,000 Smarty Jones in January at Oaklawn.

“He likes to stalk, lay just off the speed a ways, and down the lane try to make a run,” said trainer Jinks Fires. “A couple of times we’ve got in traps and couldn’t get out, and he didn’t win. That happened in Chicago and also happened at Churchill once. Other than that, you get him a place to run, he’ll run.”

◗ Jon Court has the mount on Discreetness, who like Collected will carry 122 pounds. They are spotting each of their other rivals five to seven pounds.

Gordy Florida, by Cactus Ridge

Last 3 Beyers: 82-85-73

◗ He was second in the Smarty Jones, dueling for the early lead and holding his ground late in both his two-turn and stakes debut.

“I think he’s pretty versatile,” said Kenny Smith. “He’s got enough foot speed to hopefully stay out of a big field’s trouble but still not letting him be on the lead. That’s what we’re hoping for. It may be a cavalry rush into to that first turn. Hopefully, we get a good spot.”

◗ Glenn Corbett has the mount from post 8.

Bird of Trey, by Birdstone

Last 3 Beyers: 61-90-80

◗ Bird of Trey will be seeking his first two-turn win following a demanding trip going a mile and 70 yards in the Grade 3 Jerome at Aqueduct. Bird of Trey ran fourth after dueling between rivals near the lead. The effort came one start after Bird of Trey popped a field-high Beyer Speed Figure of 90 in winning the seven-furlong Pennsylvania Nursery at Parx.

“With his pedigree and the way he trains, I don’t think two turns will be an issue,” said trainer Servis. “You just can’t take him out of his running style. He’s not the kind of horse that wants to be hustled.”

Whitmore, by Pleasantly Perfect

Last 3 Beyers: 86-69-81

◗ Whitmore comes off an optional $62,500 claiming sprint win Jan. 16 at Oaklawn.

◗ Moquett said that Whitmore is versatile and that pace decisions will be left up to Mike Smith.