HOT SPRINGS, Ark. - As expected, nine horses were entered Friday morning for the $750,000 Southwest Stakes (G3) for 3-year-olds Monday at Oaklawn.
The 1 1/16-mile Southwest will be run as the ninth of 10 races and headlines a stakes tripleheader on the special Presidents' Day card. Probable post time for the Southwest is 4:43 p.m. (Central). First post Monday is 12:35 p.m.
The projected Southwest field from the rail out: Wells Bayou, Silver Prospector, Shoplifted, Gold Street, American Butterfly, Chase Tracker, Villainous, Taishan and Answer In.
Gold Street, Shoplifted and Silver Prospector, all trained by Hall of Famer Steve Asmussen, finished 1-2-4, respectively, in the $150,000 Smarty Jones Stakes Jan. 24, Oaklawn's first of four Kentucky Derby points races.
Like the Smarty Jones, the Southwest will offer 17 points (10-4-2-1) toward starting eligibility for the Kentucky Derby. Oaklawn's Kentucky Derby point series continues with the $1 million Rebel Stakes (G2) March 14 and the $1 million Arkansas Derby (G1) April 11.
Monday's card also features the $200,000 Bayakoa Stakes (G3) for older fillies and mares and the $500,000 Razorback Handicap (G3) for older horses. Both races are 1 1/16 miles.
Six horses are entered in the Bayakoa: Gold Standard, Go Google Yourself, Cairenn, Motion Emotion, Lady Suebee and Whoa Nellie. The Bayakoa is a major local prep for the $1 million Apple Blossom Handicap (G1) April 18.
The Razorback drew 11 horses: Exulting, Math Wizard, Bankit, Joevia, Pioneer Spirit, Warrior's Charge, Guest Suite, Rated R Superstar, Campaign, Snapper Sinclair and Bravazo.
The Razorback is a major local steppingstone to the $1 million Oaklawn Handicap (G2) April 18.
The Bayakoa goes as race 6, with probable post time 3:08 p.m. Post time for the Razorback, the eighth race on the card, is approximately 4:09 p.m.