Southwest Stakes

Road to the Kentucky Derby > Southwest Stakes

Southwest Stakes Race Facts

  • Location: Oaklawn Park, Hot Springs, AR
  • Inaugural Race: 1968
  • Current Distance: 1 1/16 miles
  • Track Type: Left-Handed Dirt
  • Age Qualifications: Three-year-olds
  • Status: Grade 3
  • 2023 Purse: $750,000
  • 2023 Race Date: Saturday, January 28th

As a Road to the Kentucky Derby prep-race, the Southwest Stakes awards 20 points to the winner, in addition to 8-6-4-2 allotments for second, third, fourth and fifth position finishers.

2023 Southwest Stakes Race Results

POSTHORSEJOCKEY / TRAINERWIN / PLACE / SHOW
6Arabian KnightJohn R. Velazquez / Bob Baffert$2.80 / $2.40 / $2.20
7Red Route OneRicardo Santana, Jr. / Steven M. Asmussen$6.60 / $4.60
5Frosted DepartureFrancisco Arrieta / Kenneth G. McPeek$6.20
1Sun ThunderDavid Cabrera / Kenneth G. McPeek
3Jace's RoadJoseph Talamo / Brad H. Cox
2Corona BoltFlavien Prat / Brad H. Cox
9El TomateOrlando Mojica / Miguel Angel Silva
4Western GhentCristian A. Torres / D. Wayne Lukas

Exotic Payoffs:

  • $1 Exacta (6-7) Paid: $11.70
  • $0.50 Trifecta (6-7-5) Paid: $46.85
  • $0.10 Superfecta (6-7-5-1) Paid: $24.11

Watch the 2023 Southwest Stakes

The History of the Southwest Stakes

Launched in 1968, the Southwest Stakes has become a key part of the Oaklawn Park series of preps for the Kentucky Derby. The second of the four Oaklawn preps, it’s also part of the Road to the Kentucky Derby series, for which the first five home get points on a 20-8-6-4-2 basis. It was promoted to grade three status in 2008.

The best horse to win the race is probably Smarty Jones, who won the Southwest Stakes by three-quarters of a length in 2004. He went on to win the remaining Oaklawn Derby preps, the Rebel Stakes and the Arkansas Derby, before winning the Kentucky Derby and Preakness Stakes.

Two years later, Lawyer Ron completed the same treble that Smarty Jones did; he went on to win races such as the Whitney Handicap and Woodward Stakes. Belmont Stakes runner-up Denis of Cork won the race in 2008, while in 2012 one of the two divisions held that year was won by Secret Circle, later to win the Breeders’ Cup Sprint. Coming off the back off a fantastic 2020 two-year-old season where he was crowned American Champion, Essential Quality showed similar form in his three-year-old debut with a win at the Southwest.

With a win in 2023, trainer Bob Baffert captured his 6th win at the Southwest, pulling ahead of Robert E. Holthus for most wins all time. Unfortunately for Baffert, the win did not translate to any RTKD points. As a result of his suspension following Medina Spirit’s failed drug test after his win at the Kentucky Derby in 2021, Baffert will remain ineligible for RKTD points through 2023.

Southwest Stakes Past Winners

YearWinnerJockey / TrainerDistance / Time
2023Arabian KnightJohn R. Velazquez / Bob Baffert1 1⁄16 miles / 1:43.50
2022NewgrangeJohn R. Velazquez / Bob Baffert1 1⁄16 miles / 1:45.83
2021Essential QualityLuis Saez / Brad Cox​1 1⁄16 miles / 1:45.48
2020Silver ProspectorRicardo Santana Jr. / Steven M. Asmussen​1 1⁄16 miles / 1:43.01
2019Super SteedTerry J. Thompson / J. Larry Jones​1 1⁄16 miles / 1:44.05
2018My Boy JackKent J. Desormeaux / J. Keith Desormeaux​1 1⁄16 miles / 1:46.00
2017One LinerJohn R. Velazquez / Todd A. Pletcher​1 1⁄16 miles / 1:41.83
2016SuddenbreakingnewsLuis S. Quinonez / Donnie K. Von Hemel​1 1⁄16 miles / 1:45.14
2015Far RightMike E. Smith / Ron Moquett​1 1⁄16 miles / 1:47.50
2014TapitureRicardo Santana Jr. / Steven M. Asmussen​1 1⁄16 miles / 1:44.95
2013Super Ninety NineRafael Bejarano / Bob Baffert​1 1⁄16 miles / 1:44.84
2012 (Division 1)CastawayRafael Bejarano / Bob Baffert1 mile / 1:37.08
2012 (Division 2)Secret CircleRafael Bejarano / Bob Baffert1 mile / 1:38.09
2011ArcharcharchJon Court / William H. Fires1 mile / 1:38.23
2010ConveyanceMartin Garcia / Bob Baffert1 mile / 1:36.94
2009Old FashionedRamon A. Dominguez / J. Larry Jones1 mile / 1:37.41
2008Denis of CorkRobby Albarado / David M. Carroll1 mile / 1:37.89
2007TeuflesbergStewart Elliott / Jamie Sanders1 mile / 1:38.20
2006Lawyer RonJohn McKee / Robert E. Holthus1 mile / 1:40.00
2005Greater GoodJohn McKee / Robert E. Holthus1 mile / 1:39.09
2004Smarty JonesStewart Elliott / John C. Servis1 mile / 1:37.57
2003Great NotionTerry J. Thompson / Darrin Miller1 mile / 1:38.96
2002 (Division 1)Private EmblemDonnie Meche / Steven M. Asmussen1 mile / 1:41.70
2002 (Division 2)Paloma ParillaJames Lopez / Larry Robideaux Jr.1 mile / 1:40.29
2001Son of RocketTerry J. Thompson / Robert E. Holthus1 mile / 1:38.34
2000Afternoon AffairJoseph C. Judice / Robert E. Holthus1 mile / 1:37.18
1999Jim'smrteeTravis Wayne Hightower / John Milliron1 mile / 1:39.52
1998Hot WellsCalvin H. Borel / Thomas M. Amoss1 mile / 1:38.69
1997Smoke GlackenCraig Perret / Henry L. Carroll1 mile / 1:38.73
1996IdeCraig Perret / Peter M. Vestal1 mile / 1:37.81
1995Mystery StormCarlos Gonzalez / Larry Robideaux Jr.1 mile / 1:36.63
1994Southern RhythmGarrett K. Gomez / James O. Keefer1 mile / 1:36.95
1993FoxtrailWillie Martinez / Larry Robideaux Jr.1 mile / 1:36.51
1992Big SurDavid Guillory / D. Wayne Lukas1 mile / 1:36.68
1991FenterDonald Lee Howard / Thomas K. Bohannan1 mile / 1:37.06
1990TarasconLarry Snyder / Jack Van Berg1 mile / 1:35.80
1989TermezDean Kutz / J. Bert Sonnier1 mile / 1:37.80
1988Proper RealityJerry D. Bailey / Robert E. Holthus1 mile / 1:36.80
1987Demons BegonePat Day / Philip M. Hauswald1 mile / 1:34.60
1986Rare BrickMike E. Smith / A. J. Foyt III1 mile / 1:36.20
1985Clever AllemontPat Day / Lynn S. Whiting1 mile / 1:37.60
1984WhitebrushGarth Patterson / Claude R. McGaughey III1 mile / 1:34.40
1983Say I'm SmartLarry Snyder / David R. Vance6 furlongs / 1:11.80
1982El BabaDonald Brumfield / Dewey Smith6 furlongs / 1:12.60
1981Bold EgoJohn Lively / Dennis Werre6 furlongs / 1:11.80
1980Be A ProspectHerb McCauley / Barr H. Inman6 furlongs / 1:12.00
1979Clever TrickLarry Snyder / Del W. Carroll6 furlongs / 1:11.20
1978Bold L. B.John Lively / Dennis Werre6 furlongs / 1:11.00
1977J. J. BattleCarlos Rivas / W. R. Charlie Morse6 furlongs / 1:12.80
1976Our Future KingJames McKnight / Kenneth Burkhart6 furlongs / 1:10.60
1975Promised CityDavid E. Whited / Larry R. Spraker6 furlongs / 1:11.00
1974J. R.'s PetDarrel G. McHargue / Harold Tinker6 furlongs / 1:11.20
1973Game LadLouis Spindler / David R. Vance6 furlongs / 1:10.60
1972 (Division 1)Parlez EncoreLonnie Ray / James L. Levitch6 furlongs / 1:13.20
1972 (Division 2)Billy RogellEarl Knapp / Larry L. Fontenot6 furlongs / 1:12.20
1971Barbizon StreakArturo Romero / Oran Battles6 furlongs / 1:10.80
1970Love That DollarRonald J. Campbell / D. Scott Posey6 furlongs / 1:12.60
1969Ruler in GoldPhil Grimm / Ronnie G. Warren6 furlongs / 1:11.60
1968Mr. CrozyLonnie Ray / Doug Davis Jr.6 furlongs / 1:10.40
1962KilloquaKenward Bernis / W. Tomlinson​5 1⁄2 furlongs / 1:05.20
1960–1961Race not held
1959Call HyEugene Curry / W. Dorsey6 furlongs / 1:11.20