Reset $250K Southwest has same horses to run Saturday at Oaklawn; led by Conveyance, Dryfly

Same horses to give Southwest Stakes another go

HOT SPRINGS, Ark. — Oaklawn Park has kept its quality field for Saturday’s running of the rescheduled $250,000 Southwest Stakes, the first of three Kentucky Derby prep races at the Arkansas track.

The Southwest and five other races were called off on Monday because of cold and ice.

The mile-long headline race was redrawn Thursday, shifting Conveyance, opening at 7-2, from the second position to ninth. The winner of the $100,000 San Rafael Stakes at Santa Anita, Conveyance was to have had Garrett Gomez aboard for the race on President’s Day.

Gomez has another commitment Saturday so Martin Garcia will be aboard the Bob Baffert-trained horse.

Dryfly, a 3-1 favorite owned by Oaklawn owner Charles Cella, will break from the fourth position, ridden by Calvin Borel. Dryfly won the $100,000 Smarty Jones on Jan. 18, with Pleasant Storm finishing second. Pleasant Storm will run Saturday with Bryan McNeil aboard.

The second and third finishers in the San Rafael, Cardiff Giant and Domonation, are also in the field.

D. Wayne Lukas has Dublin running from the third position. The race will be the first for Dublin since a disappointing seventh-place finish in the Iriquois Stakes.

Todd Pletcher, who trained Arkansas Derby winners Graema Hall and Balto Star in 2000-2001, has Mission Impazible running, with Eibar Coa aboard the son of Unbridled’s Song.

Cool Bullet, who won the Sugar Bowl stakes at the Fair Grounds in New Orleans, will carry Jon Court.

The Southwest will be the 10th race on Saturday, coming after the $60,000 Spring Fever Stakes, a sprint for fillies and mares.

Oaklawn’s series of Kentucky Derby prep races continues with the $300,000 Rebel Stakes on March 13 and the $1 million Arkansas Derby on April 10. The track has rescheduled the $5 million Apple Blossom to April 9 so it can feature Rachel Alexander and Zenyatta.