Tipsheet: 2025 Southwest Stakes

A cast of 10 sophomores will travel 1 1/16 miles on the Oaklawn dirt on Saturday in the lucrative, $1 million Southwest S. (G3). The 2025 Road to the Kentucky Derby challenge series tilt will reward the first five across the wire with qualifying points on a 20-10-6-4-2 structure. 

Southwest Stakes Picks

• #7 Patch Adams
• #1 Gaming
• #4 Tiztastic
• #6 Sandman

Southwest Stakes Wagers

• $20 win and place #7 Patch Adams
• $5 trifecta key 7 with 1,4,6

Southwest Stakes Contenders

#1 GAMING (2-1): Breeders’ Cup Juvenile (G1) runner-up didn’t fire his best shot in the Los Alamitos Futurity (G2) last time but has a wealth of ability and early speed. The Grade 1 winning son of Game Winner gets a nice draw on the fence to get involved early under Juan Hernandez, and the dark bay looms large with a clean break from the gate. 

#2 PUBLISHER (12-1): First of two from the Steve Asmussen barn has hit the board in each of his four lifetime runs and will attempt to break his maiden in this ambitious spot. The American Pharoah colt was a nice runner-up on the surface most recently, and he could grab a minor share with another move in the right direction. Erik Asmussen will be in the silks. 

#3 MONET’S MAGIC (15-1): Good Magic colt has won two in succession led by an allowance tally on the strip in his latest showing. The Kentucky-bred colt will be rallying from off the pace for conditioner Ben Colebrook, but he would be a surprise to me. 

#4 TIZTASTIC (10-1): Stakes winner finished second in the Street Sense (G3) and third in the Kentucky Jockey Club (G2) to close out a nice 2024. The son of fine young sire Tiz the Law has trained steadily in preparation for Saturday and will be in the mix turning for home beneath Keith Asmussen. 

#5 RENDER JUDGEMENT (15-1): Kenny McPeek trainee has been outrun in a pair of stakes runs as of late and will race with blinkers on for the initial time in hopes of improving. This bay son of Blame will need a lifetime best performance to challenge this deep field. 

#6 SANDMAN (5-1): Talented son of Tapit was a solid third in the Street Sense S. (G3) two back which preceded a smart allowance victory on the strip in his latest offering. The $1.2 million purchase earned a hefty 104 Brisnet Late Pace in his debut at this venue and could be a major threat late if the pace backs up in the stretch. Christian Torres will take the reins. 

#7 PATCH ADAMS (5-2): Brad Cox trainee was an ultra-impressive graduate in a seven-furlong heat in his latest appearance and gives me the impression of a fine prospect going forward. The well-bred son of Into Mischief gave every indication that 1 1/16 miles will be in his wheelhouse, and he comes in with a trio of bullet morning drills posted in Florida to prepare for his stakes bow. Flavien Prat inherits the ride. 

#8 AMERICAN PROMISE (6-1): First of two for trainer D. Wayne Lukas has improved in each start since adding blinkers and comes off a nice maiden tally most recently. The $750,000 Justify colt will be forcing the action from the start with Tyler Bacon in the stirrups, but he would be something of a shocker to me. 

#9 BON TEMPS (30-1): Calumet homebred was fourth in the Smarty Jones S. in his second local try, but the bay has yet to hit the board from three career attempts to date and looks overmatched in this spot. 

#10 SPEED KING (15-1): Gray son of Volatile was a swift maiden sprint winner on debut and comes off a good second-place result in the Springboard Mile S. after leading for most of the way. The Ron Moquett trainee drilled a bullet half-mile in advance of his graded debut and will be in the mix soon after the break beneath Rafael Bejarano.