18 Feb. USA. Southwest S. G3. Oaklawn Park. 8f. Dirt. 250.000 $
1.- DENIS OF CORK (R.Albarado)
2.- SIERA SUNSET (C.Emigh)
3.- LIBERTY BULL (E.Razo)
3.- SACRED JOURNEY (J.Leparoux)
Denis of Cork surged into contention with a sweeping move leaving the turn and drove clear in the stretch to a 2 1/4-length score in the $250,000 Southwest Stakes (G3) on Monday at Oaklawn Park.
The unbeaten Harlan’s Holiday colt solidified his status as a contender on the road to the Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (G1) with a visually impressive victory in his stakes debut.
Trained by David Carroll for owners Mr. and Mrs. William K. Warren Jr., Denis of Cork won a maiden special weight race at Churchill Downs on November 24 and entered off a victory in a one-mile and 40-yard allowance race at Fair Grounds in his first attempt going two turns. After winning the Fair Grounds race by only a head, questions lingered about Denis of Cork’s ability to excel in a two-turn race, but he proved quite capable in the Southwest as the 4.80-to-1 third choice.
Denis of Cork dropped well back early under Robby Albarado as Sacred Journey sprinted to a clear lead and set a spirited pace through an opening quarter in :22.72 and a half-mile in :45.25. Sierra Sunset and Silver Edition both were prominent but backed off the sizzling pace with eight lengths separating them from the rest of the 11-horse field.
Denis of Cork began his winning bid when given his cue by Albarado approaching the far turn as Sierra Sunset edged closer to Sacred Journey.
Sierra Sunset gradually reeled in Sacred Journey but Denis of Cork closed with a determined charge from the outside and accelerated clear in the final sixteenth to prevail in 1:37.89 on a track rated as fast.
Sierra Sunset was 3 1/4 lengths clear of Sacred Journey, who finished in a dead heat for third with Smarty Jones Stakes winner Liberty Bull. Turf War, sent off as the 2.30-to-1 favorite off a dead-heat victory in the Boyd Gaming’s Delta Jackpot Stakes (G3), was never in contention and finished ninth.