Kentucky Derby Prepared of Draws Rail for Southwest Stakes

This Saturday will be the Southwest Stakes at Oaklawn Park, which is an important race in preparation for the Kentucky Derby Race. The Southwest, which will be the race number 10 of the 12 in the card, will be happening in the afternoon with the post time of 5:10 p.m. EST. Every race has its own Derby picture but over the years, the Southwest Stakes has proven to be one of the standout races in its class and this year should be no different.

You might not find a better field for the Derby Stakes this year. With some horses, they are already at their peak, while others are striving for the same, so the Southwest contest will be a serious challenge. This article is dedicated to the best candidates for this year’s competition.

Gaming, part-owned by Mike Pegram, Karl Watson, and Paul Weitman, will probably be one of the most exciting horses to watch this Saturday, as its Gaming (by some of these owners) is a colt. Currently ranked fifth in the Kentucky Derby race standings, Gaming has shared a stable with one of the other horses that made the fifth rank and showed that he was in a good place.

With a second-place finish in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile and a third-place effort in the Los Alamitos Futurity (G2), Gaming has earned 18 Derby qualifying points, positioning himself as a serious Derby strong contender.

Trainer Bob Baffert will send Gaming out for the Southwest, and Juan Hernández will make the trip from California to ride. With his experience in graded stakes races, Gaming should be well-prepared for the two-turn nature of the Southwest Stakes. If he can put in another strong performance, he will only strengthen his case for the Derby.

Trained by Brad Cox, Patch Adams is a colt who enters the Southwest Stakes with a lot of momentum. On November 30, Patch Adams broke his maiden in impressive fashion, winning by 10 1/2 lengths at Churchill Downs. That dominant victory made him one to watch going into this race.

Post 7 will be the starting position for Patch Adams, with Flavien Prat in the saddle. Prat brings plenty of experience to the table, and the combination of rider and horse could prove to be a winning one. Patch Adams has the potential to make a significant jump from maiden winner to graded stakes performer. A good result here would help establish him as a serious strong contender for the Derby.

Mark Casse’s Sandman is another colt to watch in this race. Sandman demonstrated after a triumph in a two-round mile at Oaklawn during the previous month that he can face the difficulties of longer times. This time, a win set in the same location and over a similar range as the Southwest Stakes, can be a perfect way to predict the future.

Sandman will break from post 6, with Cristian Torres aboard. Torres has been gaining recognition as a jockey to watch, and his experience at Oaklawn could give him the edge in this competitive race. If Sandman can repeat his strong performance from last month, he will be a strong contender in the Southwest Stakes.

Mystik Dan, trained by Steve Asmussen, holds an impressive place in Oaklawn’s history. Last year, he joined Smarty Jones as the only horses to win both the Southwest Stakes and the Kentucky Derby race. Mystik Dan’s connections will be hoping that he can continue his strong form and add another big victory to his record.

Mystik Dan’s past successes at Oaklawn give him an advantage in this race. As the Southwest Stakes is often a key race on the road to the Derby, this colt has proven that he can rise to the occasion. If Mystik Dan can follow in the footsteps of Smarty Jones, he will be a major threat in this year’s Southwest.

The Southwestern Stakes at Oaklawn Park highlights an interesting day that also includes a total of twelve more races. It has been the location of many of the unforgettable races, and the Southwest Stakes is certainly one of them. It’s always a race that attracts a great deal of attention from fans and the players of horses. This factor has indeed only added to the overall excitement for this race and will be one of the big things happening.

The kickoff from the early race will be at 12:25 p.m. EST while the Southwest Stakes will be run as the 10th race. Given so many races before the Southwest, it is an event that promises to be a day full of excitement at Oaklawn. Unlike for those who can’t make it to the track physically, the Southwest Stakes will be available online and fans will have the opportunity to participate in the events from anywhere they are

Southwest Stakes has always been an interesting and crowd-pleaser in determining the Derby picture. The 2024 event is one without exception. With fewer than a handful of racing horses looking good for the win, including Gambling, Patch Adams, Sandman, and Mystik Dan, the Southwest Stakes is sure, in fact, to be a thrilling event with neck-and-neck competition.

As those horses continue their journey on the pavement to the Kentucky Derby race, the Southwest Stakes is of utmost necessity for it. It will be loaded with spectators and gamblers, all of whom are going to be on the edge of their seats to find out who will take the next leap at Churchill Downs in May. This is for sure going to be a really thrilling and unpredictable race with the participation of these talented horses.