Expert prediction
Horse Racing Picks: Southwest Stakes Prediction, Preview, and Odds (Feb 3)
Pick rationale
Analysis & key factors
- Southwest Stakes offers points on the Road to the Kentucky Derby
- A competitive field of 12 runners will line up in the Grade 3 contest this weekend
Fascinating action on the Road to the Kentucky Derby is staged at Oaklawn Park this weekend, as the Southwest Stakes has attracted a field of 12 runners. This race is run over 1 1/16 miles, and horses aged three will be looking to pick up points to enhance their chances of lining up at Churchill Downs.
Schedule and How To Watch
- When: Saturday, February 3, 2024 at 6:50 PM ET
- Where: Oaklawn Park, Arkansas
- How To Watch: FanDuel TV
Southwest Stakes Odds
| Horse | Odds |
|---|---|
| Wynstock | +275 |
| Maycocks Bay | +400 |
| Carbone | +450 |
| Otto The Conqueror | +700 |
| Liberal Arts | +800 |
| Just Steel | +1000 |
| Mystik Dan | +1200 |
| Awesome Road | +1400 |
Latest odds taken from an offshore sportsbook.
Race Preview
It is a busy weekend on the Road to the Kentucky Derby, with important preps being staged across the United States. Oaklawn Park hosts one of its key trials on Saturday, with the Southwest Stakes being run over 1 1/16 miles. This race is a logical starting point for runners that will be looking to line up in the Rebel Stakes and Arkansas Derby. Smarty Jones and Lil E. Tee are two runners that have lined up in this race before winning the Derby.
Bob Baffert has unleashed some exciting runners in this race recently, with Arabian Knight claiming victory last year. However, the Hall of Famer remains banned from making entries at Churchill Downs, meaning Wynstock is ineligible to pick up qualifying points on Saturday. But, the three-year-old looks a solid chance after winning the G2 Los Alamitos Futurity on his previous start.
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Carbone could be a very interesting contender this weekend for trainer Steven Asmussen. The three-year-old steps up in trip at Oaklawn, but he was very impressive over a mile at the track at the end of last year, winning an allowance optional claimer with a race-leading speed figure of 93. One to very much keep on side.
Asmussen also has a strong chance with Otto The Conqueror this weekend, who put in a solid effort when winning the Remington Springboard Mile in muddy conditions to reach a speed rating of 89 in December. Liberal Arts is also a very progressive contender, and has winning experience over the 1 1/16 mile distance after landing the G3 Street Sense.
Southwest Stakes Prediction
A number of runners hold interesting claims this weekend. We like Liberal Arts, who took a step forward to land the G3 Street Sense at Churchill Downs in December after beating Otto The Conqueror earlier in the year. Carbone is one we will definitely be keeping tabs on, while Baffert’s Wynstock and Brad Cox’s Awesome Road are others from an exacta box.
Free Picks:
- Win:
- Exacta Box: (5) Wynstock/ (6) Liberal Arts/ (7) Carbone/ (12) Awesome Road
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