Super Steed ($126.60) upsets Southwest Stakes

HOT SPRINGS, Ark. - Super Steed pulled a 62-1 upset in the Grade 3, $500,000 Southwest Stakes on Monday at Oaklawn Park, holding off a fast-closing Sueno to win by three-quarters of a length.

It was another 1 1/4 lengths back to Long Range Toddy in third.

The three horses – plus fourth-place finisher Six Shooter – all earned Kentucky Derby eligibility points on a scale of 10-4-2-1.

Super Steed ($126.60) had just a few horses beat in the early stages of the 1 1/16-mile Southwest. Gray Attempt and Jersey Agenda moved quickly to the lead, went wide into the first turn after a scuffle, and took the field through an opening quarter in 23.43 seconds. Gray Attempt continued to set fractions of 47.73 seconds for the half-mile and 1:12.73 for six furlongs as Super Steed advanced down the backside and quickly picked off rivals on the final turn. He had the lead by the quarter pole and covered the 1 1/16 miles on a track rated fast in 1:44.05.

“He ran just a beautiful race,” said Terry Thompson, who rode Super Steed for trainer Larry Jones. “Larry said wherever we were, make sure he gets the lead heading into the stretch. He has a big heart.”

Super Steed was coming off a seventh-place finish in the $150,000 Smarty Jones last month at Oaklawn. He raced in seventh throughout in the race, won wire to wire by Gray Attempt.

“It was one of those days the track played as a merry-go-round,” Jones said.

Jones said he liked how Super Steed had trained up to the Southwest.

“I’m fortunate to gallop him in the morning, and I thought he’d never done better,” Jones said.

Jones has now won the Southwest Stakes twice, having also won with Old Fashioned in 2009.

Super Steed races for his breeder, Mike Pressley, and Steed Jackson. He is a son of Super Saver and the mare Totally Tucker, who is a half-sister to both Arkansas Derby winner Danza and Grade 1-winning millionaire Majestic Harbor. Super Steed was winning his second race in five career starts. He earned $300,000 on Monday to improve his career earnings to $364,500

The estimated ontrack attendance Monday was 19,500, according to Oaklawn officials.

Earlier on the card, Coal Front won the Grade 3, $500,000 Razorback and She's a Julie captured the Grade 3, $200,000 Baykoa.

Racing resumes Thursday.