Study Guide: 2024 Southwest Stakes
Jan 30, 2024
Otto the Conqueror (Photo by Coady Photography)
A dozen talented three-year-olds, including a trio of proven Road to the Kentucky Derby prep race winners, are slated to contest Saturday’s $800,000 Southwest S. (G3) at Oaklawn Park.
The 1 1/16-mile contest awards 20-10-6-4-2 Road to the Kentucky Derby qualification points to the top five finishers, so coupled with the lofty purse it’s a lucrative target to kick off February. Let’s meet the field:
Maycocks Bay
Maycocks Bay (Photo by Hodges Photography)
Start(s): 5
Wins: 2
Place: 1
Show: 0
Owner: Godolphin
Breeder: Godolphin
Trainer: Michael Stidham
Jockey: Francisco Arrieta
Top Speed Rating: (94) when winning an allowance optional claimer at Fair Grounds.
Total Earnings: $105,800
Sire: Speightstown
Dam: Hallie Belle
Color: Chestnut
Maycocks Bay posted a sharp 94 Brisnet Speed rating when dominating a Jan. 7 $100,000 allowance optional claimer at Fair Grounds by 10 3/4 lengths, but that marked a sharp move forward from his previous form. There’s clearly talent here, but inconsistency makes Maycocks Bay something of a wildcard in the Southwest.
Charleston
Start(s): 4
Wins: 0
Place: 1
Show: 1
Owner: Brinley Enterprises
Breeder: Twin Creeks Farm
Trainer: William Fires
Jockey: Harry Hernandez
Top Speed Rating: (78) when finishing second in a $75,000 maiden claimer at Oaklawn Park.
Total Earnings: $23,603
Sire: Tapiture
Dam: Stirring
Color: Chestnut
Charlestown has cracked the top three twice in four starts, but he’s yet to visit the winner’s circle and needs to improve up on his career-best 78 Brisnet Speed rating.
Magic Grant
Start(s): 3
Wins: 1
Place: 0
Show: 1
Owner: Willis Horton Racing
Breeder: Hill N Dale Equine Holidings
Trainer: Eddie Milligan Jr.
Jockey: Chris Landeros
Top Speed Rating: (80) when finishing third in the Remington Springboard Mile S. at Remington Park.
Total Earnings: $78,085
Sire: Good Magic
Dam: Holiday Bertie
Color: Bay
A late rally carried Magic Grant to a third-place finish in the Remington Springboard Mile S. on the Road to the Kentucky Derby, but a fast early/slow late race shape aided his chances. He’ll need improvement to turn the tables on Springboard Mile winner Otto the Conqueror.
Otto the Conqueror
Otto the Conqueror (Photo by Coady Photography)
Start(s): 4
Wins: 3
Place: 1
Show: 0
Owner: Three Chimneys Farm
Breeder: Hoolie Racing Stable
Trainer: Steve Asmussen
Jockey: Joel Rosario
Top Speed Rating: (96) when winning a Churchill Downs allowance optional claimer.
Total Earnings: $337,360
Sire: Street Sense
Dam: Dream It Is
Color: Bay
Despite pressing a strong pace over a muddy track in the Remington Springboard Mile, Otto the Conqueror stayed on down the homestretch to prevail by three-quarters of a length. He’d previously won a $100,000 allowance optional claimer at Churchill Downs over next-out Kentucky Jockey Club (G2) hero Honor Marie, so Otto the Conqueror brings strong form to the Southwest and can’t be counted out of the mix for a top-three finish.
Wynstock
Wynstock (Photo by Benoit Photography)
Start(s): 4
Wins: 2
Place: 0
Show: 0
Owner: Edward C. Allred and Jack Liebau
Breeder: Empire Equines
Trainer: Bob Baffert
Jockey: Kyle Frey
Top Speed Rating: (99) when winning the Los Alamitos Futurity (G2) at Los Alamitos.
Total Earnings: $162,740
Sire: Solomini
Dam: Timberlea
Color: Chestnut
Wynstock never factored in his first two starts sprinting, but he’s improved by leaps and bounds since stretching out around two turns, smashing a one-mile maiden special weight at Santa Anita before battling to a tenacious triumph in the 1 1/16-mile Los Alamitos Futurity (G2). With his blend of pacesetting speed and stamina, Wynstock is a logical win threat in the Southwest.
Liberal Arts
Liberal Arts wins the Street Sense at Churchill Downs (Photo by Coady Photography)
Start(s): 5
Wins: 2
Place: 1
Show: 2
Owner: Evan Ferraro and Stephen Ferraro
Breeder: Stephen Ferraro and Evan Ferraro
Trainer: Robert Medina
Jockey: Cristian Torres
Top Speed Rating: (92) when winning the Street Sense (G3) at Churchill Downs.
Total Earnings: $226,825
Sire: Arrogate
Dam: Ismene
Color: Gray/roan
After defeating Otto the Conqueror by one length in a seven-furlong maiden special weight at Ellis Park, Liberal Arts embarked on the Road to the Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs, finishing third in the Iroquois (G3) before rallying to victory in the Street Sense (G3). Liberal Arts has improved his Brisnet Speed ratings with every start and is eligible to move forward again in his three-year-old debut, especially if he gets a hot pace to enhance his homestretch rally.
Carbone
Carbone (Photo by Coady Photography)
Start(s): 2
Wins: 2
Place: 0
Show: 0
Owner: L. William Heiligbrodt, Corinne Heiligbrodt, and Flurry Racing Stables
Breeder: William and Corinne Heiligbrodt
Trainer: Steve Asmussen
Jockey: Ricardo Santana Jr.
Top Speed Rating: (93) when dominating his debut at Churchill Downs.
Total Earnings: $153,000
Sire: Mitole
Dam: Treasure in Heaven
Color: Bay
Two starts, two decisive victories. Carbone was best by eight lengths in his debut sprinting six furlongs at Churchill Downs, and he followed up with a four-length romp in a one-mile $80,000 allowance optional claimer at Oaklawn. He’s yet to be headed and brings strong Brisnet Speed ratings to the table, so Carbone has every chance to remain undefeated in the Southwest.
Common Defense
Common Defense (Photo by Coady Photography)
Start(s): 2
Wins: 1
Place: 1
Show: 0
Owner: D. A. Bernsen, T. Holmes, M. Holmes, and Norevale Farm
Breeder: Tony Holmes, Norevale Farm, and Union Dale
Trainer: Kenny McPeek
Jockey: Julien Leparoux
Top Speed Rating: (80) when breaking his maiden at Oaklawn Park.
Total Earnings: $92,000
Sire: Karakontie
Dam: Allusion
Color: Dark bay/brown
A midpack rally carried Common Defense to victory by 3 1/2 lengths in a one-mile maiden special weight on Jan. 13 at Oaklawn. The 80 Brisnet Speed rating he posted was modest, but Common Defense is progressing in the right direction and it’s possible we haven’t seen his best yet.
Linebacker
Start(s): 3
Wins: 0
Place: 1
Show: 2
Owner: Novogratz Racing Stables
Breeder: Frederick C. Wieting
Trainer: Jordan Blair
Jockey: Emmanuel Esquivel
Top Speed Rating: (93) when finishing third in a Churchill Downs maiden special weight.
Total Earnings: $44,250
Sire: Bolt d’Oro
Dam: Jinny Jump Up
Color: Bay
Linebacker has yet to win in three starts, though he hasn’t finished out of the top three while earning decent Brisnet Speed ratings. There’s at least an outside chance this stretch-running colt will capitalize on a fast pace and rally for a top-five finish at enticing odds.
Mystik Dan
Mystik Dan (Photo by Coady Photography)
Start(s): 4
Wins: 1
Place: 1
Show: 0
Owner: Lance Gasaway, 4 G Racing, and Daniel Hamby III
Breeder: Lance Gasaway, Daniel Hamby, and 4GRacing
Trainer: Kenny McPeek
Jockey: Brian Hernandez Jr.
Top Speed Rating: (94) when breaking his maiden at Churchill Downs.
Total Earnings: $102,110
Sire: Goldencents
Dam: Ma’am
Color: Bay
Mystik Dan showed lots of talent when smashing a 5 1/2-furlong maiden special weight at Churchill Downs by 7 3/4 lengths with a 94 Brisnet Speed rating. However, he’s finished fifth in both his starts since stretching out over one mile and farther, including in the 1 1/16-mile Smarty Jones S. on the Road to the Kentucky Derby at Oaklawn. It’s possible this son of two-time Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile (G1) winner Goldencents will prove best as a sprinter.
Just Steel
Just Steel (Photo by Coglianese Photography / Credit to Susie Raisher)
Start(s): 8
Wins: 2
Place: 2
Show: 1
Owner: BC Stables
Breeder: Summerhill Farm
Trainer: D. Wayne Lukas
Jockey: Ramon Vazquez
Top Speed Rating: (97) when breaking his maiden at Saratoga.
Total Earnings: $294,795
Sire: Justify
Dam: Irish Lights
Color: Bay
A quick winner of the 6 1/2-furlong Ed Brown S. at Keeneland, Just Steel has made two starts over 1 1/16 miles, finishing seventh in the Breeders’ Futurity (G1) and second in the Smarty Jones on the Road to the Kentucky Derby. Just Steel led with an eighth of a mile remaining in the Smarty Jones, but was weakening late, so shorter trips might be more suitable for this son of Triple Crown winner Justify.
Awesome Road
Awesome Road wins at Ellis Park 2023
(Photo by Coady Photography/Ellis Park)
Start(s): 3
Wins: 1
Place: 0
Show: 0
Owner: Albaugh Family Stables and Donegal Racing
Breeder: Claiborne Farm
Trainer: Brad Cox
Jockey: Florent Geroux
Top Speed Rating: (90) when winning his debut at Ellis Park.
Total Earnings: $59,808
Sire: Quality Road
Dam: Orate
Color: Bay
Awesome Road won his debut impressively sprinting six furlongs at Ellis Park before finishing seventh in the Breeders’ Futurity and fifth in the Kentucky Jockey Club. The fact two-time Eclipse Award-winning trainer Brad Cox is giving Awesome Road another chance in a Kentucky Derby qualifier is encouraging, and there may be more to this $600,000 yearling acquisition than first meets the eye. He just needs to recapture the strong form of his debut victory.
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