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Southwest (GIII)

Oaklawn Park • Hot Springs, AR, USA 20-10-6-4-2
February 3, 2024

Southwest Stakes Race History 

Once upon a time, not all that long time ago, the Southwest Stakes (G3) at Oaklawn Park was a sleepy little stakes held in late February or early March, with a purse ranging from $50,000 to $100,000.

Then on a sunny day in 1992, a horse named Lil E. Tee finished third in the Southwest, beaten a head for second place by Pine Bluff. A few months later, Lil E. Tee sprung a memorable upset in the Kentucky Derby (G1) and Pine Bluff battled to victory in the Preakness (G1). Suddenly, the Southwest wasn’t quite so sleepy.

Serving as a local steppingstone toward the Arkansas Derby (G1), the Southwest has risen steadily in prominence since Lil E. Tee and Pine Bluff launched it into the spotlight. Champions Smoke Glacken and Lawyer Ron won the race in 1997 and 2006, respectively, and fan favorite Smarty Jones stopped off in the Southwest winner’s circle prior to his runaway victories in the 2004 Kentucky Derby and Preakness.

Held over a mile for much of its history, the Southwest achieved Grade 3 status in 2008 and was lengthened to 1 1⁄16 miles in 2013, the same year it became an official Road to the Kentucky Derby prep. Champion three-year-old Will Take Charge was the first runner of note to contest the newly-restructured Southwest, finishing sixth before going on to compete in all three legs of the 2013 Triple Crown.

The 2017 edition also came up strong as One Liner powered to victory in 1:41.85, establishing a stakes record. Distant third-place finisher Lookin At Lee went on to finish second in the Kentucky Derby, reiterating the Southwest’s position as an important prep for the spring classics. With a purse value reaching $500,000 in 2016 and $800,000 in 2024, it’s safe to say the Southwest is wide awake and here to stay.

By J. Keeler Johnson/TwinSpires.com

Results

Win

Place

Show

10

Mystik Dan20

$24.80

$14.20

$8.80

11

Just Steel10

$9.60

$6

6

Liberal Arts6

$4.20

12

Awesome Road4

8

Common Defense2

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Entries

Jockey

Owner

Trainer

Current odds

Wagers

1

Maycocks Bay

Francisco Arrieta

Godolphin LLC

Michael Stidham

3/1

2

Charleston

Harry Hernandez

Brinley Enterprises LLC

William H. Fires

30/1

3

Magic Grant

Chris Landeros

Willis Horton Racing LLC

Eddie Milligan Jr.

30/1

4

Otto the Conqueror

Joel Rosario

Three Chimneys Farm LLC

Steve Asmussen

5/1

5

Wynstock

Kyle Frey

Edward C. Allred and Jack Liebau

Bob Baffert

4/1

6

Liberal Arts

Cristian A. Torres

Evan Ferraro and Stephen Ferraro

Robert Medina

8/1

7

Carbone

Ricardo Santana Jr.

L. William Heiligbrodt, Corinne Heiligbrodt and Flurry Racing Stables LLC

Steve Asmussen

9/2

8

Common Defense

Julien Leparoux

David A. Bernsen, LLC(D.A. Bernsen), T. Holmes, M. Holmes & Norevale Farm

Kenny McPeek

15/1

9

Linebacker

Emmanuel Esquivel

Novogratz Racing Stables Inc

Jordan Blair

30/1

10

Mystik Dan

Brian Joseph Hernandez Jr.

Lance Gasaway, 4 G Racing, LLC and Daniel Hamby III

Kenny McPeek

12/1

11

Just Steel

Ramon A. Vazquez

BC Stables LLC

D. Wayne Lukas

8/1

12

Awesome Road

Florent Geroux

Albaugh Family Stables LLC and Donegal Racing

Brad Cox

8/1

Road to the Kentucky Derby

No Upcoming Races.

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