Southwest Stakes distance 'wouldn't hurt' Six Shooter

Six Shooter is being pointed for the Grade 3, $500,000 Southwest Stakes

for 3-year-olds Feb. 18 at Oaklawn, trainer Paul Holthus of Hot Springs said Sunday morning.

Six Shooter was beaten 1 ½ lengths in his last start, the $150,000 Smarty Jones Stakes Jan. 25, a one-mile race that is Oaklawn’s first of our major preps for the Kentucky Derby.

“He ran a good race,” Holthus said. “Kind of got sucked back around the turn a little bit. Was in a little tight quarters and sucked back out of there and probably lost a couple of lengths when he first turned up the backside. Then he made a run down the lane and I thought he was at least finishing. Looking like more ground wouldn’t hurt him.”

A gelded son of Trappe Shot, Six Shooter races for Holthus and wife Nancy (N P H Stable), Dundalk 5 LLC (Tim Kindlon) and Wes Herek. Claimed for $20,000 out of his Sept. 20 career debut at Churchill Downs, Six Shooter broke his maiden Oct.b17 at Indiana Grand, was a Nov. 25 allowance winner at Churchill Downs and won the $75,000 Big Drama Stakes Jan. 5 at Delta Downs. He has a 3-0-3 record from eight career starts and earnings of $131,350.

Nominations to the 1 1/16-mile Southwest close Thursday. Other locally based horses pointing for the Southwest, include Gray Attempt and Super Steed, first and seventh, respectively, in the Smarty Jones.

Finish Lines:

The track was rated fast for workouts Sunday morning. … Boldor and Bankit, third and sixth, respectively, in the $150,000 Smarty Jones Stakes for 3-year-olds Jan. 25, worked in company before the renovation break Sunday morning for Hall of Fame trainer Steve Asmussen

. Both colts were timed in :52 for a half-mile. The Smarty Jones is Oaklawn’s first of four preps for the Kentucky Derby. … Cowboy Diplomacy, a 3-year-old full brother to champion Monomoy Girl, worked a half-mile in company in :48.40 just after the track opened Sunday morning for trainer Brad Cox

. Cowboy Diplomacy is scheduled to make his career debut in Friday’s seventh race at 6 furlongs. … Smart Spree, a three-time winner at the 2018 Oaklawn meeting, worked a half-mile in :45.80 in company before the break Sunday morning for trainer Norman McKnight. Smart Spree, who galloped out 5 furlongs in :58.40, finished fourth in the $400,000 Count Fleet Sprint Handicap (G3) last year at Oaklawn.

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Southwest Stakes distance 'wouldn't hurt' Six Shooter

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