# Southwest Stakes

The Southwest Stakes is a Grade III American Thoroughbred horse race for three-year-old horses at a distance of one and one-sixteenth miles on the dirt run annually in late January at Oaklawn Park Race Track in Hot Springs, Arkansas. The event currently offers a purse of $1,000,000.

## History

The inaugural running of the event was on 2 March 1968 as the Southwest Handicap over a distance of six furlongs and was won by Robert E. Lehmann's Mr. Crozy by 2+1⁄2 lengths in a fast time on 1:102⁄5.
Oaklawn Park acknowledges that prior to 1968 there existed an event known as the Southwest Purse, however these events are not considered in the official counts of the renewal of this event. The event that was run on 24 March 1959 was a claiming event for four-year-olds and older while the event run on 17 February 1962 was held on opening day of the race meet and over a distance of 5+1⁄2 furlongs for three year olds.
The Southwest Handicap was increased to one mile in 1983.
The conditions of the event were changed from a handicap to a stakes race with allowances in 1985 with a rename of the race to Southwest Stakes. Originally ungraded, the Southwest Stakes was upgraded to a Grade III event in 2008 by the American Graded Stakes Committee.
The distance was increased to 1+1⁄16 miles in 2013.
The event has been held in split divisions in 1972, 2002, and 2012.
The 1984 winner Whitebrush set a new track record for the mile distance which still stands at Oaklawn Park.
The race is often used as a prep to the Rebel Stakes and Arkansas Derby, and is part of the Road to the Kentucky Derby. Among the horses who have used the Southwest as a springboard to the Triple Crown series are Lil E. Tee (won 1992 Kentucky Derby after finishing third in the 1992 Southwest), Pine Bluff (won Preakness after being second in the 1992 Southwest) and Smarty Jones (won the Southwest, Kentucky Derby and Preakness in 2004).
Since 2013 the event has been part of the Road to the Kentucky Derby.
For many years the event was usually held during the President's Day weekend but was moved to late January after Oaklawn Park introduced a new schedule of their expanded program for the 2021–22 racing season.
In 2024, the race was moved back one week from January 27 to February 3 due to weather.

## Records

Speed record:
* 1+1⁄16 miles – 1:41.83 One Liner (2017)
* 1 mile – 1:34.40 Whitebrush (1984) Track Record
* 6 furlongs – 1:10.40 Mr. Crozy (1968)
Margins:
* 12 lengths – Tarascon (1990)
Most wins by a jockey:
* 3 - Larry Snyder (1979, 1983, 1990)
* 3 - Rafael Bejarano (2012 - both divisions, 2013)
* 3 - John R. Velazquez (2017, 2022, 2023)
Most wins by a trainer:
* 6 - Bob Baffert (2010, 2012 - both divisions, 2013, 2022, 2023)
Most wins by an owner:
* 3 - Loblolly Stable (1984, 1987, 1991)

## Winners

| Year | Winner | Jockey | Trainer | Owner | Distance | Time | Purse | Grade | Ref |
| Southwest Stakes ||||||||||
| 2025 | Speed King | Rafael Bejarano | Ron Moquett | Triton Thoroughbreds | 1+1⁄16 miles | 1:45.86 | $1,000,000 | III | |
| 2024 | Mystik Dan | Emmanuel Esquivel | Juan Sanchez | J. Patrick Lee Racing | 1+1⁄16 miles | 1:45.04 | $800,000 | III | |
| 2023 | Arabian Knight | John R. Velazquez | Bob Baffert | Zedan Racing Stables | 1+1⁄16 miles | 1:43.50 | $750.000 | III | |
| 2022 | Newgrange | John R. Velazquez | Bob Baffert | SF Racing, Starlight Racing, Madaket Stables, Robert E. Masterson, Stonestreet Stables, Jay A. Schoenfarber, Waves Edge Capital, Catherine Donovan, Golconda Stable & Siena Farm | 1+1⁄16 miles | 1:45.83 | $750,000 | III | |
| 2021 | Essential Quality | Luis Saez | Brad H. Cox | Godolphin Racing | 1+1⁄16 miles | 1:45.48 | $750,000 | III | |
| 2020 | Silver Prospector | Ricardo Santana Jr. | Steven M. Asmussen | Ed & Susie Orr | 1+1⁄16 miles | 1:43.01 | $750,000 | III | |
| 2019 | Super Steed | Terry J. Thompson | J. Larry Jones | Michael Pressley & Steed Jackson | 1+1⁄16 miles | 1:44.05 | $500,000 | III | |
| 2018 | My Boy Jack | Kent J. Desormeaux | J. Keith Desormeaux | Don't Tell My Wife Stables & Monomoy Stables | 1+1⁄16 miles | 1:46.00 | $500,000 | III | |
| 2017 | One Liner | John R. Velazquez | Todd A. Pletcher | WinStar Farm, China Horse Club International & SF Racing | 1+1⁄16 miles | 1:41.83 | $500,000 | III | |
| 2016 | Suddenbreakingnews | Luis S. Quinonez | Donnie K. Von Hemel | Samuel F. Henderson | 1+1⁄16 miles | 1:45.14 | $500,000 | III | |
| 2015 | Far Right | Mike E. Smith | Ron Moquett | Robert V. LaPenta & Harry T. Rosenblum | 1+1⁄16 miles | 1:47.50 | $300,000 | III | |
| 2014 | Tapiture | Ricardo Santana Jr. | Steven M. Asmussen | Winchell Thoroughbreds | 1+1⁄16 miles | 1:44.95 | $300,000 | III | |
| 2013 | Super Ninety Nine | Rafael Bejarano | Bob Baffert | Tanma Corporation | 1+1⁄16 miles | 1:44.84 | $300,000 | III | |
| 2012 | Castaway | Rafael Bejarano | Bob Baffert | Willmott Stables | 1 mile | 1:37.08 | $250,000 | III | Division 1 |
| 2012 | Secret Circle | Rafael Bejarano | Bob Baffert | Derrick Smith, Susan Magnier, Michael Tabor | 1 mile | 1:38.09 | $250,000 | III | Division 2 |
| 2011 | Archarcharch | Jon Court | William H. Fires | Robert Yagos | 1 mile | 1:38.23 | $250,000 | III | |
| 2010 | Conveyance | Martin Garcia | Bob Baffert | Zabeel Racing International | 1 mile | 1:36.94 | $250,000 | III | |
| 2009 | Old Fashioned | Ramon A. Dominguez | J. Larry Jones | Fox Hill Farms | 1 mile | 1:37.41 | $250,000 | III | |
| 2008 | Denis of Cork | Robby Albarado | David M. Carroll | Mr. & Mrs. William K. Warren Jr. | 1 mile | 1:37.89 | $250,000 | III | |
| 2007 | Teuflesberg | Stewart Elliott | Jamie Sanders | Gary S. Logsdon, Jamie Sanders & Donnie Kelly | 1 mile | 1:38.20 | $250,000 | Listed | |
| 2006 | Lawyer Ron | John McKee | Robert E. Holthus | Estate James T. Hines, Jr. | 1 mile | 1:40.00 | $250,000 | Listed | |
| 2005 | Greater Good | John McKee | Robert E. Holthus | Lewis G. Lakin | 1 mile | 1:39.09 | $100,000 | Listed | |
| 2004 | Smarty Jones | Stewart Elliott | John C. Servis | Someday Farm | 1 mile | 1:37.57 | $100,000 | Listed | |
| 2003 | Great Notion | Terry J. Thompson | Darrin Miller | Silverton Hill | 1 mile | 1:38.96 | $75,000 | Listed | |
| 2002 | Private Emblem | Donnie Meche | Steven M. Asmussen | James Cassels & Bob Zollars | 1 mile | 1:41.70 | $75,000 | Listed | Division 1 |
| 2002 | Paloma Parilla | James Lopez | Larry Robideaux Jr. | Barnett Stables | 1 mile | 1:40.29 | $75,000 | Listed | Division 2 |
| 2001 | Son of Rocket | Terry J. Thompson | Robert E. Holthus | Frank Fletcher Racing | 1 mile | 1:38.34 | $75,000 | Listed | |
| 2000 | Afternoon Affair | Joseph C. Judice | Robert E. Holthus | Swifty Farms | 1 mile | 1:37.18 | $75,000 | Listed | |
| 1999 | Jim'smrtee | Travis Wayne Hightower | John Milliron | James M. Hutzel | 1 mile | 1:39.52 | $75,000 | III | |
| 1998 | Hot Wells | Calvin H. Borel | Thomas M. Amoss | So What's Nu Stable | 1 mile | 1:38.69 | $75,000 | III | |
| 1997 | Smoke Glacken | Craig Perret | Henry L. Carroll | Alex Karkenny, Robert Levy & William Roberts | 1 mile | 1:38.73 | $100,000 | III | |
| 1996 | Ide | Craig Perret | Peter M. Vestal | Willmott Stables | 1 mile | 1:37.81 | $100,000 | III | |
| 1995 | Mystery Storm | Carlos Gonzalez | Larry Robideaux Jr. | David Beard | 1 mile | 1:36.63 | $100,000 | III | |
| 1994 | Southern Rhythm | Garrett K. Gomez | James O. Keefer | L. William Heiligbrodt, Ted Keefer & Walter New | 1 mile | 1:36.95 | $100,000 | Listed | |
| 1993 | Foxtrail | Willie Martinez | Larry Robideaux Jr. | Linda Bennett | 1 mile | 1:36.51 | $100,000 | Listed | |
| 1992 | Big Sur | David Guillory | D. Wayne Lukas | Overbrook Farm | 1 mile | 1:36.68 | $100,000 | Listed | |
| 1991 | Fenter | Donald Lee Howard | Thomas K. Bohannan | Loblolly Stable | 1 mile | 1:37.06 | $75,000 | Listed | |
| 1990 | Tarascon | Larry Snyder | Jack Van Berg | John A. Franks | 1 mile | 1:35.80 | $58,400 | | |
| 1989 | Termez | Dean Kutz | J. Bert Sonnier | Kip Knelman & Steve Hayden | 1 mile | 1:37.80 | $63,000 | | |
| 1988 | Proper Reality | Jerry D. Bailey | Robert E. Holthus | James A. Winn | 1 mile | 1:36.80 | $60,700 | | |
| 1987 | Demons Begone | Pat Day | Philip M. Hauswald | Loblolly Stable | 1 mile | 1:34.60 | $59,900 | | |
| 1986 | Rare Brick | Mike E. Smith | A. J. Foyt III | A. J. Foyt | 1 mile | 1:36.20 | $66,400 | | |
| 1985 | Clever Allemont | Pat Day | Lynn S. Whiting | W. Cal Partee | 1 mile | 1:37.60 | $62,300 | | |
| Southwest Handicap ||||||||||
| 1984 | Whitebrush | Garth Patterson | Claude R. McGaughey III | Loblolly Stable | 1 mile | 1:34.40 | $50,000 | | |
| 1983 | Say I'm Smart | Larry Snyder | David R. Vance | Flying Zee Stable | 6 furlongs | 1:11.80 | $50,000 | | |
| 1982 | El Baba | Donald Brumfield | Dewey P. Smith | Mrs. Joe W. Brown | 6 furlongs | 1:12.60 | $50,000 | | |
| 1981 | Bold Ego | John Lively | Dennis Werre | Double B Ranch | 6 furlongs | 1:11.80 | $50,000 | | |
| 1980 | Be A Prospect | Herb McCauley | Barr H. Inman | Carl W. Swan | 6 furlongs | 1:12.00 | $50,000 | | |
| 1979 | Clever Trick | Larry Snyder | Del W. Carroll | William S. Farish III | 6 furlongs | 1:11.20 | $50,000 | | |
| 1978 | Bold L. B. | John Lively | Dennis Werre | Dazoc Stable | 6 furlongs | 1:11.00 | $50,000 | | |
| 1977 | J. J. Battle | Carlos Rivas | W. R. Charlie Morse | Jay Chestnut | 6 furlongs | 1:12.80 | $25,000 | | |
| 1976 | Our Future King | James McKnight | Kenneth Burkhart | Attica Farm | 6 furlongs | 1:10.60 | $25,000 | | |
| 1975 | Promised City | David E. Whited | Larry R. Spraker | Big 1 Farm | 6 furlongs | 1:11.00 | $25,000 | | |
| 1974 | § J. R.'s Pet | Darrel G. McHargue | Harold Tinker | W. Cal Partee | 6 furlongs | 1:11.20 | $25,000 | | |
| 1973 | § Game Lad | Louis Spindler | David R. Vance | Dan Lasater | 6 furlongs | 1:10.60 | $30,000 | | |
| 1972 | Parlez Encore | Lonnie Ray | James L. Levitch | Dr. C. R. Jarrell | 6 furlongs | 1:13.20 | $20,000 | | Division 1 |
| 1972 | Billy Rogell | Earl Knapp | Larry L. Fontenot | Perle L. & Charles R. Grissom | 6 furlongs | 1:12.20 | $20,000 | | Division 2 |
| 1971 | Barbizon Streak | Arturo Romero | Oran Battles | Mrs. Herman J. Udouj | 6 furlongs | 1:10.80 | $20,000 | | |
| 1970 | Love That Dollar | Ronald J. Campbell | D. Scott Posey | Everett Lowrance | 6 furlongs | 1:12.60 | $15,000 | | |
| 1969 | Ruler in Gold | Phil Grimm | Ronnie G. Warren | Mr. & Mrs. R. F. Roberts | 6 furlongs | 1:11.60 | $15,000 | | |
| 1968 | Mr. Crozy | Lonnie Ray | Douglas Davis Jr. | Robert E. Lehmann | 6 furlongs | 1:10.40 | $12,500 | | |
| Southwest Purse ||||||||||
| 1962 | Killoqua | Kenward Bernis | W. Tomlinson | John D. Askew | 5+1⁄2 furlongs | 1:05.20 | $3,200 | | |
| 1960–1961 | 1960–1961 | Race not held | Race not held | Race not held | Race not held | Race not held | Race not held | Race not held | Race not held | Race not held |
| 1959 | † Call Hy | Eugene Curry | W. Dorsey | M-S Stable | 6 furlongs | 1:11.20 | $2,500 | | |
Notes:
§ Ran as an entry
† The running of the event on 24 March 1959 was a claiming event for four-year-olds and older. The winner Call Hy was a five year old.