Tipsheet: 2026 Southwest Stakes

A massive cast of 13 sophomores (with the expected scratch of morning-line choice #5 Litmus Test) will run 1 1/16 miles on the Oaklawn Park surface in Friday's lucrative, $1 million Southwest (G3). The 2026 Road to the Kentucky Derby challenge series event will reward the top five finishers with qualifying points on a 20-10-6-4-2 structure. 

Southwest Stakes Picks

• #9 Strategic Risk
• #2 D’code
• #11 Silent Tactic
• #3 Buetane

Southwest Stakes Wagers

• $20 win #9 Strategic Risk
• $3 exacta key box 9 with 2,3,11
• 50-cent trifecta 9 with 2,3,11 with all

Southwest Stakes Contenders

#1 RECLAMATION (30-1): Caracaro colt showed nice improvement second time out with a clear maiden win sprinting on the oval. The Christopher Davis trainee will go long for the initial time against this deep field, and he will need a huge step forward to upset the deep group. Ramon Vazquez will be in the silks. 

#2 D’CODE (3-1): $775,000 son of Speightstown showed why he was an expensive juvenile purchase when decimating a maiden field from the 11 post in his debut performance. The Kentucky-bred from the Ashford barn has posted some quality morning drills leading up to his stakes bow, and I feel that the colt will be the one to catch at the top of the lane with Luis Saez inheriting the ride. 

#3 BUETANE (4-1): $1.15 million son of Tiz the Law was a clear second in the San Vicente (G2) in his seasonal debut and stretches out to a route of ground for the first time in his local bow. The Bob Baffert pupil has flashed considerable potential to this stage of his development, and he has posted two strong six-furlong drills in anticipation of this test, as well. Joel Rosario inherits the mount. 

#4 RANCHO SANTA FE (15-1): Talented prospect was two-for-two prior to failing to fire in the Smarty Jones S. in his local bow and gets another look on this occasion. The Tapit homebred put in a gate work as of late to likely have him more involved in the early going, and he has to be considered as a bounce-back candidate with Flavien Prat in the controls. 

#6 CIRCLE TAP (30-1): Dallas Stewart trainee graduated most recently in his first route run and also his initial attempt since having blinkers added. The Twirling Candy colt is surely talented, but the class jump might be a bit too much for him on Saturday in his local debut. Ricardo Santana, Jr. will ride. 

#7 LIBERTY NATIONAL (10-1): Top-three player from the McPeek shedrow looked the part in a strong maiden win two back and followed that up with a closing second in the Gun Runner S. at Fair Grounds on Dec. 20. The $525,000 son of Maxfield has posted four well-timed drills in advance of his first graded offering and will have Brian Hernandez, Jr. on board. 

#8 SPIRIT OF ROYAL (30-1): Second from the Dallas Stewart barn also graduated in his first route race last time out. The son of Global Campaign has displayed a nice turn of foot on occasion, but this seems like a difficult spot for him with Francisco Arrieta in the irons. 

#9 STRATEGIC RISK (9-2): Mark Casse pupil has dominated a pair of stakes fields since stretching out to two turns on the dirt, led by an emphatic score in the Smarty Jones on the course. The homebred son of Noble Bird has earned 105 and 106 Brisnet Late Pace ratings in his two route attempts and will be a major danger in the lane with Javier Castellano retaining the ride. He gets the nod.

#10 BRICKLIN (20-1): Brisset trainee was a facile allowance winner in his local bow when leading at every call. The $450,000 son of Nyquist didn’t defeat a great cast last time, however, and it’s unlikely that he will receive a similar type of voyage either. Jaime Torres will guide the Kentucky-bred in his second local appearance. 

#11 SILENT TACTIC (20-1): Tacitus sophomore was second in the Grey (G3) on the all-weather at Woodbine two back, which preceded a closing runner-up effort in the Smarty Jones in his first try on the dirt for Mark Casse. The bay had a slow pace at which to run at late last time out, and a more favorable pace scenario could aid the attractive colt on Friday, with Christian Torres taking the reins for the initial time. 

#12 BAYTOWN DREAMER (30-1): Chestnut son of Mendelssohn outran his 84-1 odds when finishing a clear third in the Smarty Jones, but the colt has been too inconsistent to back with any confidence in this huge field under Bocachica. 

#13 SOLDIER N DIPLOMAT (12-1): $950,000 juvenile buy led in the lane only to ultimately finish third in the Kentucky Jockey Club (G2) in his freshman finale. The Steve Asmussen trainee has a solid foundation under him, and if he proves that he wants to be a route horse, then the colt will be a contender against this field beneath Jose Ortiz. 

#14 SLEEPINGONFREEDOM (30-1): Smarty Jones fourth is the second from the McPeek shedrow, and he will need a big step forward from this post to challenge the cast in the latter stages of this tilt. Emmanuel Esquivel will guide the Independence Hall colt.