The Path to the Kentucky Derby (G1) proceeds at Oaklawn Park on Jan. 25 in the $1 million Southwest Stakes (G3). A group of 10 racing 1 1/16 miles presents an exhilarating new talent to the Derby circuit while offering some well-known competitors the opportunity to establish themselves among the top prospects.
Patch Adams makes that pivotal transition into stakes competition following a remarkable Nov. 30 debut victory where he finished just .33 seconds behind the Churchill Downs‘ seven-furlong record. The Into Mischief colt’s 10 1/2-length win marked an improvement from his third place in his October Keeneland debut.
“It’s always gratifying when a horse makes progress after a start,” trainer Brad Cox expressed immediately after the maiden triumph. “We removed the blinkers, he had been training alone, and he certainly seemed ready to deliver a strong performance.”
A homebred for WinStar Farm, co-owned by CHC and Siena Farm, must be prepared for another substantial effort as he navigates two turns for the first time. He has been training consistently at Payson Park Training Center in Indiantown, Fla. since his maiden victory and has clocked a bullet five-furlongs in each of his last three workouts.
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Among his primary competitors is Del Mar Futurity (G1) champion Gaming , an Eclipse Awards finalist for Champion 2-year-old male, arriving from California for six-time Southwest-winning trainer Bob Baffert.
Gaming secures the 2024 Del Mar Futurity at Del Mar
The progeny of Game Winner faced disappointment in his last outing, following a second-place finish in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile (G1) with a 6 1/2-length loss in the Dec. 14 Los Alamitos Futurity (G2) as the 1-2 favorite. He drew the rail for his attempt to return to the winner’s circle for owners Michael Pegram, Karl Watson, and Paul Weitman.
The Southwest marks the second stage on Oaklawn’s Derby circuit, awarding qualifying points on a 20-10-6-4-2 basis. The initial leg, the Jan. 4 Smarty Jones Stakes, was won by Coal Battle , enhancing the reputation of Triton Thoroughbreds’ Speed King .
The offspring of Volatile executed all the challenging work while contesting the lead in the Dec. 13 Springboard Mile Stakes at Remington Park, ultimately being surpassed by Coal Battle in the final moments, finishing second by a half-length. Now with that two-turn experience to build upon, Speed King aims to improve and secure a stakes victory for trainer Ron Moquett.
Several other recognizable names on the Derby circuit will seek to boost their points tally, including:
- Tiztastic , who placed second in the Street Sense Stakes (G3) and took third in the Kentucky Jockey Club Stakes (G2) for Hall of Fame trainer Steve Asmussen.
- Render Judgment , who finished third in the Gun Runner Stakes and fifth in the Kentucky Jockey Club. Trainer Kenny McPeek won this race last year with future Kentucky Derby champion Mystik Dan .
- Bon Temps , a maiden that placed fourth in the Smarty Jones for Hall of Fame trainer D. Wayne Lukas.
- Sandman , a $1.2 million acquisition at the 2024 Ocala Breeders’ March Sale of 2-Year-Olds in Training Sale who returned to the winner’s circle with a one-mile allowance triumph at Oaklawn on Dec. 13 after placing fifth in the Iroquois Stakes (G3) and third in the Street Sense.
Entries: Southwest S. (G3)
Oaklawn Park, Saturday, January 25, 2025, Race 10
- Grade III
- 1 1/16m
- Dirt
- $1,000,000
- 3 yo
- 4:10 PM (local)