Southwest Stakes Handicapping Picks
Horse racing gamblers are you looking for 2023 Southwest Stakes Free Pick & Handicapping Odds…plus some predictions? Need some advice on who to take? The 2023 Southwest Stakes is set for January 28 at Oaklawn Racing in Hot Springs, Arkansas. Here’s a preview of our top contenders.
Southwest Stakes Preview
- Race: Southwest Stakes
- Purse: $750,000
- Track: Oaklawn Racing Casino Resort
- Date: January 28
- Post Time: 5:57 PM (ET)
- Live: Southwest Stakes Odds: Click Here
2023 Southwest Stakes Handicapping
While most of the racing focus this weekend is on Gulfstream Park and the Pegasus World Cup events, 2023 Kentucky Derby qualifying points are up for grabs at Oaklawn in the (G3) Southwest Stakes.
Run at 1 1/16 miles on the Oaklawn dirt, the Southwest will award Derby points to the top five finishers on a 20-8-6-4-2 scale. The race has drawn a field of nine three-year-old colts.
In 2021, race winner Essential Quality went on to finish a close-up third in the Derby as the favourite, and then came back to win the Belmont Stakes.
Odds listed here are provided by the Oaklawn track oddsmaker.
2023 Southwest Stakes Free Pick & Handicapping: Arabian Knight Race Odds: 1-1
Even-money favourite Arabian Knight has just a single maiden win on his resume, however that came in an eye-catching performance at Keeneland when he won his debut.
In a race run over seven furlongs, Arabian Knight was first out of the gate and never looked back, opening up a six-length lead by the top of the stretch. He would eventually win by 7 1/4 while being geared down in the final strides.
Trainer Bob Baffert has won the Southwest a record five times. The jockey is John Velazquez.
2023 Southwest Stakes Free Pick & Handicapping: Jace’s Road Race Odds: 4-1
You can give Jace’s Road an excuse for his effort two back when he ran eighth in the (G3) Street Sense Stakes over a sloppy Churchill Downs track that he clearly did not like.
Last out he rebounded nicely for a 5 1/2 length score in the Gun Runner Stakes at Fair Grounds going this same 1 1/16 miles distance. In doing so he scored a 101 Equibase speed figure, which is tied for tops in this field.
He’s one of three in the race for Brad Cox, who also trained Essential Quality. Jockey Joe Talamo gets the mount.
2023 Southwest Stakes Free Pick & Handicapping: Corona Bolt Race Odds: 6-1
Florida-bred Corona Bolt also ships in from Fair Grounds in New Orleans fresh off a win in the Sugar Bowl Stakes where he trounced the field by 6 3/4 lengths in a six-furlong sprint.
He’ll have to stretch out here and faces a tougher field. However he is undefeated two lifetime starts and has been training very well, including posting a bullet five-furlong work over 41 others last week at Fair Grounds.
He’s the second race entry for trainer Brad Cox. Flavian Prat will be the rider.
2023 Southwest Stakes Free Pick & Handicapping: Hit Show Race Odds: 10-1
There is a ton of early speed signed on for this race, and that could bode well for Hit Show who has been able to come from off the pace for both of his race wins so far.
Last out he came from more than five back and made a sweeping move on the turn to get up and win a one-mile allowance race on this same Oaklawn dirt. He also recorded a lifetime best Equibase speed figure in that race, although he’ll need to find a bit more to compete with the top contenders here.
He’s the third race entry for trainer Cox, while Manny Franco will be in the irons.
Here’s My 2023 Southwest Stakes Free Pick.
As mentioned, there looks to be lots of speed to contend with here, whereby three or even four will be wanting to go to the front. That being the case, pace and jockey tactics could be the deciding factor.
While Arabian Knight could be the speed-of-the-speed, at low odds and with only the maiden win to his name I’m willing to look elsewhere to try and get some value. Although he doesn’t have a lot of distance in his pedigree, I think Corona Bolt will handle the added distance and he’ll be my pick to win.
Full Field: Southwest Stakes Odds
By post position
- #1 – Sun Thunder 10-1
- #2 – Corona Bolt 6-1
- #3 – Jace’s Road 4-1
- #4 – Western Ghent 20-1
- #5 – Frosted Departure 15-1
- #6 – Arabian Knight 1-1
- #7 – Red Route One 10-1
- #8 – Hit Show 10-1
- #9 – El Tomate 30-1
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