Meet the Contenders: 2025 Southwest Stakes
Gaming winning the Del Mar Futurity (G1) at Del Mar (Photo by Benoit Photo)
January 21st, 2025
Meet the horses running in the 2024 Southwest S. Saturday at Oaklawn Park. For each horse, we're listing a pro, a con, and a rating of potential. The star rating of 1 to 5 represents opportunity to perform well. Be sure to follow these contenders by adding them to your stable alerts.
Gaming winning the Del Mar Futurity (G1) at Del Mar (Photo by Benoit Photo)
#1 Gaming *****
Pro: One of last year’s top juveniles, despite a dull showing in Los Al Futurity (G2).
Con: Pre-race behavior is key and this Baffert trainee obviously will offer little to no value.
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Monet's Magic wins at Churchill Downs (Photo by Coady Media)
#3 Monet’s Magic **
Pro: Enters off back-to-back wins, including local allowance in mud.
Con: Latest not all that fast, and this is a pretty deep spot.
Tiztastic wins at Kentucky Downs. (Photo by Coady Media)
#4 Tiztastic ***
Pro: Multi-surface talent got significant slices in Street Sense, KJC.
Con: Beaten a total of nine lengths in his last two and must find a little more.
🎥 POST RACE INTERVIEW 🎤
— TwinSpires Racing 🏇 (@TwinSpires) September 8, 2024
Jockey @iradortiz speaks with @James_Scully111 about Tiztastic’s closing kick to win the $1M Kentucky Downs Juvenile Mile. pic.twitter.com/v2feABaQWW
Render Judgment wins at Churchill Downs. (Photo by Coady Media / Credit to Kurtis Coady)
#5 Render Judgment **
Pro: Barn going well this meet and might get a more favorable pace this time.
Con: Speed figures are a bit on the light side; needs to quicken.
Sandman (Photo by Coglianese Photography / Credit to Chelsea Durand)
#6 Sandman ***
Pro: Debut over this track was a solid allowance win going a mile.
Con: Earned only minor checks in two prior stakes attempts.
Sandman returned to the Winner's Circle on Friday @OaklawnRacing, when the 2yo colt looked to get back on the Derby trail!
— TwinSpires Racing 🏇 (@TwinSpires) December 17, 2024
That performance earned him TS Stable Alerts Horse of the Week and you can add him to your stable below!#NeverMissAWinner ⤵️ https://t.co/NzkX4A2KVT pic.twitter.com/nL5MMhPCUt
Patch Adams wins at Chuchill Downs. (Photo by Coady Media)
#7 Patch Adams *****
Pro: Looked like an up-and-coming star with a blowout maiden win at Churchill Downs.
Con: Barn has been surprisingly cold this meet and tends to be overbet.
American Promise is a Justify half-brother to Hoosier Philly (Photo by Coady Media)
#8 American Promise **
Pro: Skipped over the mud to earn an overdue maiden win in fast time.
Con: Must reverse form with some of the more marginal contenders.
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#9 Bon Temps *
Pro: Outran expectations when fourth in Smarty Jones.
Con: Maiden has yet to hit the board in three tries.
Speed King wins at Churchill Downs. (Photo by Coady Media)
#10 Speed King ***
Pro: Close second at RP to Coal Battle, who flattered form in Smarty Jones.
Con: Wide draw a potential concern with other speed inside.
.@trustyourluck with a 22/1 top #ExpertPick winner! 💰
— TwinSpires Racing 🏇 (@TwinSpires) November 1, 2024
Speed King is a debut winner in R5 at Churchill Downs under @emoralesracing for trainer @ronmoquett! 👑
🎥 #TwinSpiresReplay pic.twitter.com/zAtzXRCJDZ
