Englehart's Villainous completes final prep for Southwest Stakes

Villainous completed his major preparations for the $750,000 Southwest Stakes (G3) for 3-year-olds Feb. 17 with a workout in company Sunday morning at Oaklawn for trainer Jeremiah Englehart.

Under 2019 Oaklawn riding champion David Cohen, Villainous breezed with stablemate Two Point Oh over a fast track following the second surface renovation break. Villainous, along the rail, edged away from his workmate approaching the wire and was credited with a half-mile in :49. Clockers caught Villainous’ final quarter-mile in :24 and galloping out 5 furlongs in 1:02.80.

A son of Grade 1 winner and millionaire Wicked Strong, Villainous broke his maiden opening day, Jan. 24, in his 2020 and two-turn debut under two-time Eclipse Award-winning jockey Irad Ortiz Jr. Englehart said before training hours Sunday morning that Cohen will have the mount on Villainous in the 1 1/16-mile Southwest, Oaklawn’s second of four Kentucky Derby points races. Villainous has started only one other time, finishing eighth in a maiden special weights sprint Dec. 7 at Aqueduct.

“Just reminds me of a horse that’s not at his best yet,” Englehart said. “Whether it’s this next race that will get him there or two races, three races down the road, I’m not sure. He’s just a horse that seems like he wants to be a good horse.”

Villainous, who is owned by Harold Lerner, represented Englehart’s first career Oaklawn winner. The New York-based Englehart is wintering at Oaklawn for the first time this year. Two Point Oh, a 3-year-old maiden, also received :49 for a half-mile.

Other locally based horses pointing for the Southwest include Gold Street for Hall of Fame trainer Steve Asmussen and Answer In for trainer Brad Cox. Gold Street was a front-running winner of the $150,000 Smarty Jones Stakes Jan. 24. The 1-mile Smarty Jones is Oaklawn’s first Kentucky Derby points race. Answer In will be making his first start since finishing second in the $400,000 Springboard Mile Dec. 15 at Remington Park.

Answer In worked 5 furlongs in 1:01.40 Sunday morning. The Dialed In gelding breezed with stablemate and Southwest candidate Wells Bayou, who was also credited with 1:01.40. Wells Bayou was a sharp front-running first-level allowance winner Jan. 26 in his 3-year-old and two-turn debut.  

American Butterfly, the first Oaklawn starter by 2015 Triple Crown winner American Pharoah, is also under consideration for the Southwest, Hall of Fame trainer D. Wayne Lukas said before training hours Sunday morning. American Butterfly, in his 3-year-old debut, finished second, beaten a head, in a first-level allowance sprint Feb. 2. Lukas cited an encouraging speed rating for considering the Southwest. Ragozin Sheets, in this case, use factors such as weight, wind direction and ground lost, saved or lost to interpret performance.

“I think I might try the Southwest,” Lukas said. “He got a 6 on the Rag Sheets the other day. That’s pretty good. If he duplicates that, he’d get a piece of the Southwest. I don’t know if he can or not. We’ll see.”

The Southwest closed Feb. 6 with 72 nominations. Post positions will be drawn Friday. The Southwest will offer 17 points to the top four finishers – 10-4-2-1, respectively – toward starting eligibility for the Kentucky Derby.

Oaklawn’s Kentucky Derby points series continues with the $1 million Rebel Stakes (G2) March 14 and the $1 million Arkansas Derby (G1) April 11. Omaha Beach won the second division of the Rebel and the Arkansas Derby last year en route to a runner-up finish in voting for champion 3-year-old male.