Risen Star S. (G3) winner LAWYER RON (Langfuhr) was the top draw for last
Monday’s $250,000
Southwest S. and remains the horse to beat in Saturday’s
rescheduled edition, but the one-mile event now has MUSIC SCHOOL (A.P. Indy) in
the cast. The original eight entrants will all return on Saturday, but the
unbeaten Music School and a first-time starter have bumped the field size up to
10.
A winter storm canceled racing and forced Oaklawn Park to reschedule the
Southwest. Lawyer Ron clearly owns the strongest credentials, having captured
his last three starts, including two stakes, by a combined 27 1/2 lengths. He
ran off through the stretch to an 8 1/4-length score when making his graded debut
in the Risen Star last out, and the Bob Holthus-trained colt is the leading
Kentucky Derby (G1) candidate currently based in the Midwest on many lists. John
McKee retains the mount.
Music School will be spotting seasoning to most rivals, but he’s done
everything right so far for conditioner Neil Howard. With his dam being a
half-sister to Horse of the Year Mineshaft, the dark bay colt is regally bred,
and he’s shown talent on the racetrack. A smart debut maiden winner at Churchill
Downs last summer, Music School improved to two-for-two overall with a solid
allowance victory at Oaklawn on February 5. Regular rider Robby Albarado will
take the reins.
STEPPENWOLFER (Aptitude) merits respect in his stakes bow. A winner in three
of his last four, the Dan Peitz-trained gray exits a sharp 4 1/2-length triumph
in Hot Springs, Arkansas, earlier this month. Stakes winner RED RAYMOND (Deputy
Minister), who placed in the Arlington-Washington Futurity (G3) and finished
fourth in the Kentucky Jockey Club S. (G2); CELLULOID HERO (Glitterman), who
exits a commendable victory in the Dixieland S. earlier in the meet; and
multiple stakes hero KINGSFIELD (Ecton Park) are also part of the mix.
Risen Star runner-up MARK OF SUCCESS (Mt. Livermore) will lead the post
parade with jockey Calvin Borel. Next comes AGRAPHA (Magic Cat), James Graham;
TRAVELIN LEROY (Two Punch), Carlos Marquez Jr.; Music School; SHARP ATTACK
(Storm Cat), John Jacinto; Steppenwolfer, Corey Lanerie; Kingsfield, Terry
Thompson; Red Raymond, Luis Quinonez; and Celluloid Hero, Seth Martinez.
Earlier on the card, 11 sophomores will contest the
Mountain Valley S. The
six-furlong race marks the stakes debut for the unbeaten CORREDOR DE PLATA (El
Corredor), who generated a stir with a pair of impressive wins at Louisiana
Downs last year. FORMAL APPEAL (Successful Appeal), who exits a third to
eventual Hutcheson S. (G2) winner Keyed Entry (Honour and Glory), has shipped in
for trainer Steve Asmussen, and other top contenders include Dixieland runner-up
URBAN GUY (Marquetry); Sugar Bowl S. winner CATONIGHT (Katowice); and PREMIER
DANCE (Premiership), who had a five-stakes winning streak snapped by Lawyer
Ron in the Diamond Jo S. most recently.