Arabian Knight best in Southwest

Jan 29, 2023 James Scully/TwinSpires.com

Arabian Knight made
all the running as the odds-on favorite in Saturday’s $750,000 Southwest (G3)
at Oaklawn Park, winning comfortably by a 5 1/2-length margin. John Velazquez piloted
the son of Uncle Mo for Zedan Racing Stable (Amr Zedan).

A Road to the Kentucky Derby series qualifier, the 1
1/16-mile Southwest offered points on a 20-8-6-4-2 basis to the top five
finishers, but Arabian Knight isn’t eligible to receive points since trainer
Bob Baffert is suspended by Churchill Downs Inc. The $2.3 million two-year-old
purchase has won both starts convincingly wire-to-wire, and Arabian Knight was
timed in 1:43.50.

Red Route One, who was exiting a fourth in the Kentucky
Jockey Club (G2) at Churchill Downs in late November, rallied well from last to
be a clear second in his three-year-old opener. Third in the Breeders’ Futurity
(G1) in his penultimate juvenile appearance, Red Route One increased his point
total 13 with the runner-up finish.

Oaklawn sprint stakes winner Frosted Departure, dismissed at
46-1 on the stretch back out in distance, chased Arabian Knight from the
starting gate and held for third, about two lengths better than Sun Thunder.

Jace’s Road, last seen winning the Gun Runner S. at Fair
Grounds by open lengths in late December, weakened to fifth after making a middle
move on the far turn. Corona Bolt, the 5-2 second choice, never fired after
stalking the pace in midpack. El Tomato, and Western Giant completed the order
of finish.