2024 Southwest Stakes at a Glance

Racing
2024 Kentucky Derby, Southwest Stakes, Oaklawn Park
The Southwest Stakes is a Key stop along the Oaklawn Park route to the Kentucky Derby. (Ted McClenning/Eclipse Sportswire)

A week later than expected, Oaklawn Park’s rescheduled Southwest Stakes will be run Saturday with another large field set to break from the starting gate. A field of 12 was drawn for the 1 1/16 test that will offer 42 qualifying points for the 2024 Kentucky Derby presented by Woodford Reserve. The race continues the Arkansas Road to the Kentucky Derby that will continue with the Feb. 24 Rebel Stakes and the March 30 Arkansas Derby.

SOUTHWEST STAKES

Racetrack: Oaklawn Park, Hot Springs, Ark.

Date: Feb. 3

Purse: $800,000

Distance: 1 1/16 miles

Race: 11

Post Time: 4:50 p.m. Central

Notable winners: Essential Quality (2021), Secret Circle (2012), Lawyer Ron (2006), Smarty Jones (2004), Smoke Glacken (1997).

First held: 1968

1. Maycocks Bay (3-1): Ships in after a powerful win in an allowance race at Fair Grounds. The race was an off-the-turf affair but the time was fast enough to make him a force here. The big question is whether he bounces off such an improved effort.

JOCKEY: Francisco Arrieta; TRAINER: Michael Stidham

2. Charleston (30-1): He lost by 20 1/2 lengths last time out in a maiden race. Hard to see him being a factor here.

JOCKEY: Harry Hernandez; TRAINER: William Fires

3. Magic Grant (30-1): Rallied for third in the Springboard Mile and should like the added distance. But he has yet to register a speed figure that paints him as a main threat.

JOCKEY:  Chris Landeros; TRAINER: Eddie Milligan Jr.

Otto the Conqueror wins Springboard Mile. (Eclipse Sportswire)

4. Otto the Conqueror (5-1): Won the Springboard Mile using his keen early speed. Has won three straight starts, has worked nicely over the track and should be tough to reel in here.

JOCKEY: Joel Rosario; TRAINER: Steve Asmussen

5. Wynstock (4-1): Looks like the one who should be pressing Otto the Conqueror on the front end. Took a big step forward when he won the Los Alamitos Futurity and continued improvement will make him a main threat.

JOCKEY: Kyle FreyTRAINER: Bob Baffert

6. Liberal Arts (8-1): Has not raced since winning the Street Sense at Churchill Downs in October. Has a win at the distance and should get a lively pace to chase. Cannot be ignored in his 3-year-old debut.

JOCKEY: Cristian Torres; TRAINER: Robert Medina

7. Carbone (9-2): Is 2-for-2 with both wins at Oaklawn, which is a nice advantage for him. What could be problematic is that he has sharp early speed and could get caught up in some fast fractions while racing outside of the other two main speedsters.

JOCKEY: Ricardo Santana Jr.TRAINER: Steve Asmussen

8. Common Defense (15-1): Posted a promising maiden win over the track. Has some potential but may not be ready for stakes competition just yet.

JOCKEY: Julien Leparoux; TRAINER: Ken McPeek

9. Linebacker (30-1): Still a maiden and has posted some good speed figures, but this seems an unlikely spot for an initial win.

JOCKEY: Emmanuel Esquivel; TRAINER: Jordan Blair

10. Mystik Dan  (15-1): Battled for the lead in the Smarty Jones over the track and faded late to fifth. Seems likely to add to the rapid pace scenario and faces a tough task from an outside post.

JOCKEY: Brian J. Hernandez Jr.; TRAINER: Ken McPeek

11. Just Steel (8-1): Was second in the Smarty Jones and could make his presence felt if he can avoid a wide trip. Could be the one that gets trainer D. Wayne Lukas back to the Kentucky Derby.

JOCKEY: Ramon Vazquez; TRAINER: D. Wayne Lukas

12. Awesome Road (8-1): Has disappointed in two stakes tries. Wasn’t helped by drawing the outside post.

JOCKEY: Florent Geroux; TRAINER: Brad Cox

THE PICK: Liberal Arts

LIVE LONGSHOT: Just Steel

SUPERFECTA: 6-5-4-11

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