Arabian Knight made all the running as the odds-on favorite in Saturday’s $750,000 Southwest (G3) at Oaklawn Park, winning comfortably by a 5 1/2-length margin. John Velazquez piloted the son of Uncle Mo for Zedan Racing Stable (Amr Zedan).
A Road to the Kentucky Derby series qualifier, the 1 1/16-mile Southwest offered points on a 20-8-6-4-2 basis to the top five finishers, but Arabian Knight isn’t eligible to receive points since trainer Bob Baffert is suspended by Churchill Downs Inc. The $2.3 million two-year-old purchase has won both starts convincingly wire-to-wire, and Arabian Knight was timed in 1:43.50.
Red Route One, who was exiting a fourth in the Kentucky Jockey Club (G2) at Churchill Downs in late November, rallied well from last to be a clear second in his three-year-old opener. Third in the Breeders’ Futurity (G1) in his penultimate juvenile appearance, Red Route One increased his point total 13 with the runner-up finish.
Oaklawn sprint stakes winner Frosted Departure, dismissed at 46-1 on the stretch back out in distance, chased Arabian Knight from the starting gate and held for third, about two lengths better than Sun Thunder.
Jace’s Road, last seen winning the Gun Runner S. at Fair Grounds by open lengths in late December, weakened to fifth after making a middle move on the far turn. Corona Bolt, the 5-2 second choice, never fired after stalking the pace in midpack. El Tomato, and Western Giant completed the order of finish.
