A huge field of 14 horses will battle for a $1 million purse in Friday’s Southwest Stakes racing 1 1/16 miles at Oaklawn Park. 

The Southwest is an important stop on the Road to the Kentucky Derby Presented by Woodford Reserve, awarding 42 qualification points on a 20-10-6-4-2 split to the top five finishers. This is the second of four races in Oaklawn’s prep series for the Kentucky Derby, and it has been rescheduled to Friday, Feb. 6 after Oaklawn cancelled the prior weekend’s racecards due to frigid temperatures.

With so many horses entered in the Southwest, it’s difficult to project which runners will receive favorable trips. Horses drawn in outside posts risk racing wide around the turns. Late runners may run into traffic and struggle to find racing room.

D'code (Coady Media)

However, it seems likely #2 D’code (3-1) will work out an ideal trip. He’s drawn an inside post, and his abundant early speed should allow him to seize the lead, save ground, and quite possibly never look back.

D’code debuted on Dec. 14 with a stunning performance in a maiden special weight race dashing three-quarters of a mile at Oaklawn. The son of Speightstown set quick fractions of :22 and :45.33 before blazing his final two-eighths of a mile in :11.95 and :12.29 to draw off and dominate by 8 ¼ lengths.

D’code reached the finish line in the fast time of 1:09.57 and earned strong speed figures as a result. He’s stepping up sharply in class and distance for the Southwest, but his pedigree suggests 1 1/16 miles won’t be an issue, and the likelihood of a favorable trip helps offset any concern about tougher competition. He’s a compelling win contender.

If you’re betting the Southwest on a modest budget (say, $10), you can place a win bet on D’code and feel good about your chances. Thanks to the large field, the prospective payoff shouldn’t dip too low.

However, if you wish to spend more (perhaps $30) and chase a bigger payday, consider adding an exacta bet using #5 Litmus Test (5-2) and #9 Strategic Risk (9-2) for second place.

Litmus Test has competed in four straight graded stakes, culminating with a 1 ¼-length triumph in the Los Alamitos Futurity on the Road to the Kentucky Derby.

Meanwhile, Strategic Risk exits a fast-finishing win in the Smarty Jones Stakes, a Road to the Kentucky Derby qualifier held over the same track and at the same distance as the Southwest.

Wagering Strategy on a $10 Budget

$10 to win on #2 D’code

What to say at the betting window: Oaklawn Park, 11^th race, $10 to win on 2

Wagering Strategy on a $30 Budget

$20 to win on #2 D’code

What to say at the betting window: Oaklawn Park, 11^th race, $20 to win on 2

$5 exacta: 2 with 5,9 (total cost: $10)

What to say at the betting window: Oaklawn Park, 11^th race, $5 exacta 2 with 5,9

Good luck, and enjoy the race!