HOT SPRINGS -- The threat of severe wintertime weather has created skid marks of uncertainty leading into today's holiday racing program at Oaklawn Park.
The National Weather Service has called for ice, snow, and sleet across most of the state, and it might lead to a postponement of the Grade III $300,000 Southwest Stakes, one of the track's biggest races for 3-year-old Derby hopefuls held one of the track's biggest days in terms of attendance and handle.
Oaklawn officials planned to meet at 7 this morning before making a decision about today's racing.
If the Southwest is postponed, Oaklawn officials said they will reschedule it for Saturday.
The Southwest is the 19th of 35 races on the Road to the Kentucky Derby's official Derby prep schedule. It is the second of four on Oaklawn's schedule. The first, the $150,000 1-mile Smarty Jones Stakes was held on Jan. 19. To follow are the $750,000 Grade II 1 1/16th-mile Rebel Stakes, scheduled for March 14, and the $1 million Grade I 1 1/4-mile Arkansas Derby, scheduled for April 11.
Eleven were entered for the Southwest today including the top three finishers of the Smarty Jones. Far Right won with Racing Hall of Fame jockey Mike Smith riding. Bayerd was second with Ramon Vazquez up, and Jon Court rode the favored Mr. Z to a troubled third-place finish. Also entered from the Smarty Jones field was Private Prospect, 4th.
Far Right was the morning-line favorite at 3-1. Mr. Z was next at 7-2.
Far Right trainer Ron Moquett, a Fort Smith native, said on Saturday he knew Oaklawn would make the safe, correct choice concerning the weather.
"I know they know everyone wants to run," Moquett said. "But the end result will be that they're going to do what's best for the horses and patrons. If the track isn't safe, or the roads aren't safe, then they won't run."
Moquett and Smith definitely hope to race. Fewer than five minutes after Smith rode Far Right to a 1 3/4-length victory over Bayerd, he stood on the track near the paddock entrance and said he had plenty of horse left.
Reached by telephone Saturday, shortly after he rode 9/5 favorite Conquest Typhoon to a third-place finish in the El Camino Real Derby in Berkeley, Calif., Smith said he will ride Far Right with a great deal of confidence whether it's today or Saturday.
"What I like about my race was that at the wire I was hitting my best stride," Smith said. "That's a real good sign. That seemed to be an indication that he wants to go further, and that the further he goes, the better he's going to get."
Shippers entered include J S Bach, considered a significant contender after he ran quick races to start his career in December and January at Gulftream Park in south Florida. Hall of Famer John Velazquez was to ride J S Bach, today's third choice on the morning line at 4-1.
Sports on 02/16/2015