Todays Southwest Stakes Attracted Strong Field - 02-15-10

February 15 - Things are sure to heat up today (Monday, February 15) in Hot Springs, Arkansas, home of Oaklawn Park Racecourse, where the day's 10-race card will be highlighted by the $250,000 Southwest Stakes (Gr 3) for three-year-olds, which has attracted an impressive 10-horse field.

The entries of the 1 mile Southwest Stakes reads like the who's who of trainers and jockeys. For instance, Bob Baffert has entered Conveyance (5/2), who'll have champion jockey Garret Gomez aboard, while Todd Pletcher has entered Mission Impazible (6/1) who will have John Velazquez aboard.

John Sadler has entered Domonation (8/1) who will be ridden by Corey Nakatani. Even the 'bad boy' of racing, Steve Asmussen, has entered a runner in the race in the form of Crider, a Florida-bred. However, as a 20/1 shot, it is unlikely that we'll see the controversial trainer in the winner's circle.

But in terms of horses that punters will back in today's Southwest Stakes, Conveyance, Cardiff Giant, and Domonation will be right up there. The reason is the way the three thoroughbreds ran in last month's San Rafael Stakes (Gr 3) at Santa Anita Park, finishing first, second and third respectively.

The reason the Southwest Stakes has attracted so much interest from many of the best trainers in the United States, over and above its generous $250,000 purse, is that it is the first important prep race for the prestigious and lucrative $1 million Arkansas Derby (Gr 1) scheduled for April this year.

Conveyance will likely be the horse to beat today, as he is undefeated in three starts. Baffert originally earmarked him for the $200,000 Sham Stakes (Gr 3) later this month in California, but the decided to head east to Arkansas for the Southwest Stakes on reportedly a 'fact finding mission.'

Said the highly respected trainer last week, 'I wanted to ship him to Hot Springs. It was either run there at Oaklawn, or run here [Santa Anita Park] at a mile and an eighth on synthetic surface. I wanted to see how he handles the dirt, and I thought the mile is a good distance for him right now.'

Here is the complete field and odds for the $250,000 Southwest Stakes (Gr 3) at Oaklawn Park Racecourse today:

1. Kitty's Turn (KY) 12/1
2. Conveyance (KY) 5/2
3. Cardiff Giant (KY) 12/1
4. Mission Impazible (KY) 6/1
5. Domonation (KY) 8/1
6. Dryfly (KY) 3/1
7. Crider (FL) 20/1
8. Cool Bullet (FL) 12/1
9. Pleasant Storm (OK) 8/1
10. Dublin (KY) 9/2