Southwest Stakes
The Southwest Stakes is an American Thoroughbred horse race for three-year-old horses held at Oaklawn Park Race Track in Hot Springs, Arkansas in mid February, usually during the President's Day weekend. A Grade III event, the race is run at a distance of 1 1⁄16 miles. In 2020, the purse was increased to $750,000.[2] The race is part of the Road to the Kentucky Derby.[3]
| Grade III race | |
| Location | Oaklawn Park Race Track Hot Springs, Arkansas |
|---|---|
| Inaugurated | 1968 |
| Race type | Thoroughbred - Flat racing |
| Website | Oaklawn Jockey Club, Inc. |
| Race information | |
| Distance | 1 1⁄16 mile (8.5 furlongs) |
| Surface | Dirt |
| Track | Left-handed |
| Qualification | Three-year-olds |
| Weight | 122 lbs. with allowances[1] |
| Purse | $750,000 (2020)[2] |
History
Inaugurated in 1968 as the Southwest Handicap, it was run at a distance of six furlongs from 1968 through 1983. It was then lengthened to one mile before changing to a distance of 1 1⁄16 miles in 2013.[2]
Originally ungraded, the Southwest Stakes was upgraded to a Grade III event in 2008 by the American Graded Stakes Committee.
The race is often used as a prep to the Rebel Stakes and Arkansas Derby, and is part of the Road to the Kentucky Derby. Among the horses who have used the Southwest as a springboard to the Triple Crown series are Lil E. Tee (won 1992 Kentucky Derby after finishing third in the 1992 Southwest), Pine Bluff (won Preakness after being second in the 1992 Southwest) and Smarty Jones (won the Southwest, Kentucky Derby and Preakness in 2004).[3]
The race's forerunner was the Southwest Purse, held in 1959 and 1962 and won by Call Hy and Killoqua, respectively.
It was run in two divisions in 1972, 2002, and 2012.
Records
Speed record:
- 1:34.40 (1 mile) - Whitebrush (1984)
- 1:44.84 (1-1/16) - Super Ninety Nine (2013)
Most wins by a jockey:
- 3 - Larry Snyder (1979, 1983, 1990)
- 3 - Rafael Bejarano (2012 - both divisions, 2013)
Most wins by a trainer:
- 5 - Robert E. Holthus (1988, 2000, 2001, 2005, 2006)
Most wins by an owner:
- 3 - Loblolly Stable (1984, 1987, 1991)
Winners of the Southwwest Stakes since 1981
| Year |
Winner |
Age |
Jockey |
Trainer |
Owner |
Distance (Miles) |
Time |
Grade |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 | Silver Prospector | 3 | Ricardo Santana Jr. | Steve Asmussen | Ed & Susie Orr | 1-1/6 | 1:43.01 | III |
| 2019 | Super Steed | 3 | Terry Thompson | Larry Jones | Michael Pressley & Steed Jackson | 1-1/6 | 1:44.05 | III |
| 2018 | My Boy Jack | 3 | Kent Desormeaux | J. Keith Desormeaux | Don't Tell My Wife Stables | 1-1/6 | 1:46.00 | III |
| 2017 | One Liner | 3 | John Velazquez | Todd Pletcher | Winstar Farms LLC/China Horse Club | 1-1/6 | 1:41.83 | III |
| 2016 | Suddenbreakingnews | 3 | Luis S. Quinonez | Donnie K. Von Hemel | Samuel F. Henderson | 1-1/16 | 1:45.14 | III |
| 2015 | Far Right | 3 | Mike E. Smith | Ron Moquett | LaPenta/Rosenblum | 1-1/16 | 1:47.50 | III |
| 2014 | Tapiture | 3 | Ricardo Santana | Steve Asmussen | Winchell Thoroughbreds | 1-1/16 | 1:44.95 | III |
| 2013 | Super Ninety Nine | 3 | Rafael Bejarano | Bob Baffert | Tanma Corporation | 1-1/16 | 1:44.84 | III |
| 2012 # | Secret Circle | 3 | Rafael Bejarano | Bob Baffert | Willmott Stables | 1 mile | 1:37.08 | III |
| 2012 # | Castaway | 3 | Rafael Bejarano | Bob Baffert | Michael Tabor & Mrs.J.Magnier | 1 mile | 1:38.09 | III |
| 2011 | Archarcharch | 3 | Jon Court | William H. Fires | Robert Yagos | 1 mile | 1:38.23 | III |
| 2010 | Conveyance | 3 | Martin Garcia | Bob Baffert | Zabeel Racing International | 1 mile | 1:36.94 | III |
| 2009 | Old Fashioned | 3 | Ramon Dominguez | J. Larry Jones | Fox Hill Farms | 1 mile | 1:37.41 | III |
| 2008 | Denis of Cork | 3 | Robby Albarado | David M. Carroll | Mr. & Mrs. William Warren | 1 mile | 1:37.89 | III |
| 2007 | Teuflesberg | 3 | Stewart Elliott | Jamie Sanders | Gary S. Logsdon et al. | 1 mile | 1:38.20 | |
| 2006 | Lawyer Ron | 3 | John McKee | Robert E. Holthus | Est. James T. Hines, Jr. | 1 mile | 1:40.00 | |
| 2005 | Greater Good | 3 | John McKee | Robert E. Holthus | Lewis Lakin | 1 mile | 1:39.09 | |
| 2004 | Smarty Jones | 3 | Stewart Elliott | John Servis | Roy & Patricia Chapman | 1 mile | 1:37.57 | |
| 2003 | Great Notion | 3 | Terry Thompson | Darrin Miller | Silverton Hills Farm | 1 mile | 1:38.96 | |
| 2002 # | Private Emblem | 3 | Donnie Meche | Steve Asmussen | J. Cassels / R. Zollars | 1 mile | 1:40.29 | |
| 2002 # | Paloma Parilla | 3 | James Lopez | Larry Robideaux, Jr. | Barnett Stables | 1 mile | 1:41.70 | |
| 2001 | Son of Rocket | 3 | Terry Thompson | Robert E. Holthus | Frank Fletcher Racing | 1 mile | 1:38.34 | |
| 2000 | Afternoon Affair | 3 | Joe Judice | Robert E. Holthus | Swifty Farms | 1 mile | 1:37.00 | |
| 1999 | Jim'Smrtee | 3 | Travis Hightower | John Milliron | James Hutzel | 1 mile | 1:39.40 | III |
| 1998 | Hot Wells | 3 | Calvin Borel | Thomas Amoss | So What's Nu Stable | 1 mile | 1:38.60 | III |
| 1997 | Smoke Glacken | 3 | Craig Perret | Henry L. Carroll | Karkenny, Levy & Roberts | 1 mile | 1:38.60 | III |
| 1996 | Ide | 3 | Craig Perret | Pete Vestal | Willmott Stables | 1 mile | 1:37.80 | III |
| 1995 | Mystery Storm | 3 | Carlos Gonzalez | Larry Robideaux, Jr. | David Beard | 1 mile | 1:36.60 | III |
| 1994 | Southern Rhythm | 3 | Garrett Gomez | James Keefer | Heiligbrodt, Keefer & New | 1 mile | 1:36.80 | |
| 1993 | Foxtrail | 3 | Willie Martinez | Larry Robideaux, Jr. | Linda Bennett | 1 mile | 1:36.40 | |
| 1992 | Big Sur | 3 | David Guillory | D. Wayne Lukas | Overbrook Farm & Lukas | 1 mile | 1:36.60 | |
| 1991 | Fenter | 3 | Don Howard | Thomas Bohannan | Loblolly Stable | 1 mile | 1:37.00 | |
| 1990 | Tarascon | 3 | Larry Snyder | Jack Van Berg | John A. Franks | 1 mile | 1:35.80 | |
| 1989 | Termez | 3 | Dean Kutz | J. Bert Sonnier | Knelman & Hayden | 1 mile | 1:37.80 | |
| 1988 | Proper Reality | 3 | Jerry D. Bailey | Robert E. Holthus | James A. Winn | 1 mile | 1:36.80 | |
| 1987 | Demons Begone | 3 | Pat Day | Philip M. Hauswald | Loblolly Stable | 1 mile | 1:34.60 | |
| 1986 | Rare Brick | 3 | Mike E. Smith | Tony Foyt | A. J. Foyt | 1 mile | 1:36.20 | |
| 1985 | Clever Allemont | 3 | Pat Day | Lynn S. Whiting | W. Cal Partee | 1 mile | 1:37.60 | |
| 1984 | Whitebrush | 3 | Garth Patterson | C. R. McGaughey III | Loblolly Stable | 1 mile | 1:34.40 | |
| 1983 | Say I'm Smart | 3 | Larry Snyder | David R. Vance | Flying Zee Stable | 6 fur. | 1:11.80 | |
| 1982 | El Baba | 3 | Donald Brumfield | Dewey Smith | Mrs. J. W. Brown | 6 fur. | 1:12.60 | |
| 1981 | Bold Ego | 3 | John Lively | Dennis Werre | Double B Ranch | 6 fur. | 1:11.80 | |
A # designates that the race was run in two divisions in 2012, 2002 and 1972.
Earlier winners
- 1980 - Be A Prospect
- 1979 - Cisk
- 1978 - Bold L. B.
- 1977 - J. J. Battle
- 1976 - Our Future King
- 1975 - Promised City
- 1974 - J. R.'s Pet
- 1973 - Game Lad
- 1972 - Parlez Encore (Div 1)
- 1972 - Billy Rogell (Div 2)
- 1971 - Barbizon Streak
- 1970 - Love That Dollar
- 1969 - Ruler In Gold
- 1968 - Mr. Cozy
See also
- "Chart of the 2020 Southest". equibase.com. Retrieved 24 May 2020.
- "Stakes profile". www.equibase.com. Retrieved 24 May 2020.
- "Southwest at Oaklawn Park, February 17, 2020 | 10–4–2–1 Road to the Kentucky Derby Points". www.kentuckyderby.com. Retrieved 24 May 2020.