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Southwest redrawn with 11
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| Far Right is a likely
favorite after rallying to win going away in the Smarty Jones
(Oaklawn/Coady Photography) |
After being postponed due to freezing conditions, Sunday's
Southwest (G3) was
redrawn Thursday morning with a field of 11. The 1 1/16-mile event will retain
its points' value as part of the Road to the Kentucky Derby series, awarding
10-4-2-1 to the top four respective finishers.
Far Right (Notional) is the horse to beat following his Smarty Jones S.
victory at the Hot Springs, Arkansas track on January 19. Trained by Ron
Moquett, the colt rallied to score by 1 3/4 lengths after posting a third in
the Delta Jackpot (G3) in his juvenile finale. Mike Smith retains the mount on
the likely favorite.
Bayerd (Speightstown), Mr. Z (Malibu Moon) and Private Prospect (Discreet
Cat), respective second-, third- and fourth-place finishers in the Smarty Jones,
are all back for the Southwest as well. Bayerd is one of two runners from the
Steve Asmussen stable along with Bold Conquest (Curlin), who rates as a
dangerous challenger in his 2015 bow. Last seen recording a third in the
Breeders' Futurity (G1) at Keeneland, Bold Conquest also finished a neck second
in the Iroquois (G3) at Churchill Downs. Ricardo Santana Jr. picks up the mount.
Mr. Z (Malibu Moon) will break from the far outside with new rider Corey
Nakatani, who will attempt to maintain a straight path aboard the D. Wayne
Lukas-trained colt. Mr. Z, who owns only a maiden win but has placed in six
stakes, veered toward the grandstand with a clear lead in the stretch drive of
the Smarty Jones, likely costing himself a victory. |
Multiple stakes-placed The Truth Or Else (Yes It's True), unraced since a
sixth in the Remsen (G2), will add blinkers for his sophomore return. Calvin
Borel takes over the assignment.
Originally scheduled for last Monday's Presidents Day program, the Southwest
initially drew 12 runners, but J S Bach (Tale of the Cat) and War Story
(Northern Afleet) have both defected in favor of Saturday's Risen Star (G2) at
Fair Grounds. Hillbilly Royalty (Langfuhr), who is unbeaten from two career
outings, is the lone new addition. The Donnie Von Hemel-trained gelding exits a
4 1/2-length romp over allowance/optional claiming foes at Oaklawn on February
6.
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