HorseCenter: Southwest Stakes, Holy Bull top picks

This week on HorseCenter, Brian Zipse and Matt Shifman handicap and offer top picks for a pair of Kentucky Derby preps. The Grade 3 Southwest Stakes at Oaklawn Park features a wide-open field of 12, and the return of the champion Fierceness is the story in the Holy Bull (G3) at Gulfstream Park.

The Southwest Stakes drew a full field that includes seven horses who previously ran in a Derby points race. Otto the Conqueror won the Springboard Mile for Steve Asmussen. Wynstock was the winner of the Los Alamitos Futurity (G2) for Bob Baffert, whose horses are ineligible for the run for the roses. Liberal Arts (G3) had victory in the Street Sense at Churchill Downs when last seen in October.

The 2-year-old champion Fierceness returns to the races in the Holy Bull after his impressive win in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile. The Todd Pletcher runner is joined by four horses who ran in the Mucho Macho Man Stakes at Gulfstream, including the undefeated Otello.

With the Withers (G3) at Aqueduct and the Robert B. Lewis (G3) at Santa Anita, there are four Derby prep races, so enjoy all of the Derby doings on Saturday. As always, thanks for watching the show.