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 lengths in a fast time on 1:10.

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 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 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: 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 RefSouthwest Stakes2026Silent TacticCristian A. TorresMark E. CasseJohn C. Oxley miles1:44.85$1,000,000III2025Speed King Rafael BejaranoRon MoquettTriton Thoroughbreds miles1:45.86$1,000,000III2024Mystik DanEmmanuel EsquivelJuan SanchezJ. Patrick Lee Racing miles1:45.04$800,000III2023Arabian KnightJohn R. VelazquezBob BaffertZedan Racing Stables miles1:43.50$750.000III2022NewgrangeJohn R. VelazquezBob BaffertSF Racing, Starlight Racing, Madaket Stables, Robert E. Masterson, Stonestreet Stables, Jay A. Schoenfarber, Waves Edge Capital, Catherine Donovan, Golconda Stable & Siena Farm miles1:45.83$750,000III2021Essential Quality Luis SaezBrad H. CoxGodolphin Racing miles1:45.48$750,000III2020Silver ProspectorRicardo Santana Jr.Steven M. AsmussenEd & Susie Orr miles1:43.01$750,000III2019Super SteedTerry J. ThompsonJ. Larry JonesMichael Pressley & Steed Jackson miles1:44.05$500,000III2018My Boy JackKent J. DesormeauxJ. Keith DesormeauxDon't Tell My Wife Stables & Monomoy Stables miles1:46.00$500,000III2017One LinerJohn R. VelazquezTodd A. PletcherWinStar Farm, China Horse Club International & SF Racing miles1:41.83$500,000III2016SuddenbreakingnewsLuis S. QuinonezDonnie K. Von HemelSamuel F. Henderson miles1:45.14$500,000III2015Far RightMike E. SmithRon MoquettRobert V. LaPenta & Harry T. Rosenblum miles1:47.50$300,000III2014TapitureRicardo Santana Jr.Steven M. AsmussenWinchell Thoroughbreds miles1:44.95$300,000III2013Super Ninety NineRafael BejaranoBob BaffertTanma Corporation miles1:44.84$300,000III2012CastawayRafael BejaranoBob BaffertWillmott Stables1 mile1:37.08$250,000III Secret CircleRafael BejaranoBob BaffertDerrick Smith, Susan Magnier, Michael Tabor 1:38.09$250,0002011ArcharcharchJon CourtWilliam H. FiresRobert Yagos1 mile1:38.23$250,000III2010 ConveyanceMartin GarciaBob Baffert Zabeel Racing International 1 mile1:36.94$250,000III2009 Old FashionedRamon A. DominguezJ. Larry JonesFox Hill Farms 1 mile1:37.41$250,000III2008 Denis of CorkRobby AlbaradoDavid M. CarrollMr. & Mrs. William K. Warren Jr.1 mile1:37.89$250,000III2007 Teuflesberg Stewart ElliottJamie SandersGary S. Logsdon, Jamie Sanders & Donnie Kelly 1 mile1:38.20$250,000 Listed 2006 Lawyer RonJohn McKeeRobert E. HolthusEstate James T. Hines, Jr.1 mile1:40.00$250,000 Listed 2005Greater GoodJohn McKeeRobert E. HolthusLewis G. Lakin1 mile1:39.09$100,000 Listed 2004 Smarty JonesStewart ElliottJohn C. ServisSomeday Farm1 mile1:37.57$100,000 Listed 2003Great NotionTerry J. ThompsonDarrin MillerSilverton Hill 1 mile1:38.96$75,000Listed 2002 Private Emblem Donnie MecheSteven M. AsmussenJames Cassels & Bob Zollars1 mile1:41.70$75,000 Listed Paloma ParillaJames LopezLarry Robideaux Jr.Barnett Stables 1:40.29$75,0002001Son of RocketTerry J. ThompsonRobert E. HolthusFrank Fletcher Racing1 mile1:38.34$75,000 Listed 2000Afternoon AffairJoseph C. JudiceRobert E. HolthusSwifty Farms1 mile1:37.18$75,000 Listed 1999Jim'smrteeJohn MillironJames M. Hutzel1 mile1:39.52$75,000III1998 Hot WellsCalvin H. BorelThomas M. AmossSo What's Nu Stable1 mile1:38.69$75,000III1997 Smoke GlackenCraig PerretHenry L. CarrollAlex Karkenny, Robert Levy & William Roberts 1 mile1:38.73$100,000III1996IdeCraig PerretPeter M. VestalWillmott Stables1 mile1:37.81$100,000III1995Mystery StormCarlos GonzalezLarry Robideaux Jr.David Beard1 mile1:36.63$100,000III1994Southern RhythmGarrett K. GomezJames O. KeeferL. William Heiligbrodt, Ted Keefer & Walter New 1 mile1:36.95$100,000 Listed 1993FoxtrailWillie MartinezLarry Robideaux Jr.Linda Bennett1 mile1:36.51$100,000 Listed 1992Big SurDavid GuilloryD. Wayne LukasOverbrook Farm 1 mile1:36.68$100,000 Listed 1991FenterDonald Lee HowardThomas K. BohannanLoblolly Stable1 mile1:37.06$75,000 Listed 1990TarasconLarry SnyderJack Van BergJohn A. Franks1 mile1:35.80$58,400 1989 TermezDean KutzJ. Bert SonnierKip Knelman & Steve Hayden1 mile1:37.80$63,000 1988Proper RealityJerry D. BaileyRobert E. HolthusJames A. Winn1 mile1:36.80$60,700 1987Demons BegonePat DayPhilip M. HauswaldLoblolly Stable1 mile1:34.60$59,900 1986Rare BrickMike E. SmithA. J. Foyt IIIA. J. Foyt1 mile1:36.20$66,400 1985Clever AllemontPat DayLynn S. WhitingW. Cal Partee1 mile1:37.60$62,300 Southwest Handicap1984WhitebrushGarth PattersonLoblolly Stable1 mile1:34.40$50,0001983Say I'm SmartLarry SnyderDavid R. VanceFlying Zee Stable6 furlongs1:11.80$50,0001982El BabaDonald BrumfieldDewey P. SmithMrs. Joe W. Brown6 furlongs1:12.60$50,0001981Bold EgoJohn LivelyDennis WerreDouble B Ranch6 furlongs1:11.80$50,0001980Be A ProspectHerb McCauleyBarr H. InmanCarl W. Swan6 furlongs1:12.00$50,0001979Clever TrickLarry SnyderDel W. Carroll William S. Farish III 6 furlongs1:11.20$50,0001978Bold L. B.John LivelyDennis Werre Dazoc Stable6 furlongs1:11.00$50,0001977J. J. BattleCarlos RivasW. R. Charlie Morse Jay Chestnut6 furlongs1:12.80$25,0001976Our Future KingJames McKnightKenneth Burkhart Attica Farm6 furlongs1:10.60$25,0001975Promised CityDavid E. WhitedLarry R. Spraker Big 1 Farm6 furlongs1:11.00$25,0001974§ J. R.'s PetDarrel G. McHargueHarold TinkerW. Cal Partee6 furlongs1:11.20$25,0001973§ Game LadLouis Spindler David R. VanceDan Lasater6 furlongs1:10.60$30,0001972Parlez EncoreLonnie RayJames L. LevitchDr. C. R. Jarrell6 furlongs1:13.20$20,000Billy RogellEarl KnappLarry L. FontenotPerle L. & Charles R. Grissom1:12.20$20,0001971Barbizon StreakArturo RomeroOran BattlesMrs. Herman J. Udouj6 furlongs1:10.80$20,0001970Love That DollarRonald J. CampbellD. Scott PoseyEverett Lowrance6 furlongs1:12.60$15,0001969Ruler in GoldPhil GrimmRonnie G. WarrenMr. & Mrs. R. F. Roberts6 furlongs1:11.60$15,0001968Mr. CrozyLonnie RayDouglas Davis Jr.Robert E. Lehmann6 furlongs1:10.40$12,500Southwest Purse1962KilloquaKenward BernisW. TomlinsonJohn D. Askew furlongs1:05.20$3,2001960–1961Race not held1959† Call HyEugene CurryW. DorseyM-S Stable6 furlongs1:11.20$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.

See also List of American and Canadian Graded races

External links Oaklawn Park Media Guide 2020

References