The 54th running of the Southwest Stakes read like an eye chart in a foreign language.
A race producing a 62-1 longshot winner was, in a word, indecipherable.
In terms of sorting out Kentucky Derby-based contenders at Oaklawn Park, the Grade 3 $500,000 race for 3-year-olds only confused matters. To a past winning trainer of the Southwest, recently down with the flu, the outcome did not have a therapeutic effect.
But for Larry Jones, whose horses finished second in back-to-back runnings of the Kentucky Derby, Super Steed's victory, however improbable, helped open doors to Churchill Downs on the first Saturday in May.
Son of 2010 Derby winner Super Saver, Super Steed surged in front on the far turn and held on by three quarters of a length over California shipper Sueno, clocking a fast-rated mile and sixteenth in 1:43.55 after a final 110 yards in 6.34 seconds. Besides $300,000 to owners Mike Pressley (the bay colt's breeder) and Steed Jackson, the victory was worth 10 points toward a possible start May 4 in Derby 145.
Two races after going off at even money in the Sugar Bowl at Fair Grounds, Super Steed paid $126.60, $39.80 and $19.80 to his backers in the estimated Presidents' Day crowd of 20,000 and beyond.
After beating winners second time out at Churchill Downs, Super Steed tailed off form when fourth in New Orleans and seventh in Oaklawn's Smarty Jones Jan. 25, the latter race marking his two-turn and 3-year-old debut. Turns out he had an excuse.
"He's a nice horse," Jones said. "He got sick going into the Fair Grounds race. It wasn't serious, but you could tell he didn't feel well. And in the Smarty Jones they ran a merry-go-round race."
Super Steed's lack of early speed proved a blessing on this day. Ninth early, the eventual winner thus missed the chaotic scene on the first turn involving last-out Oaklawn mile winners Gray Attempt and Jersey Agenda.
Gray Attempt, frontrunning hero of the Smarty Jones, responded early from the rail for Shaun Bridgmohan, no surprise, with Jersey Agenda, breaking from post five, to his outside with Ricardo Santana Jr.
Winning from an inside post around two turns at Oaklawn is seldom easy. Gray Attempt's Southwest trip had caution signs posted everywhere. Second choice in the betting at 7-2, the Smarty Jones winner "about got put over the fence on the first turn," an irate Jinks Fires, the colt's trainer, said.
Fires' wrath was directed at Jersey Agenda, whose trainer, Hall of Famer Steve Asmussen, had four other Southwest starters.
"I called the stewards about it and said something to Steve about it," said Fires, watching the replay with the owners, Bob and Val Yagos, of 2011 Southwest winner Archarcharch.
In a quote from the Oaklawn media relations department, Fires said. "I don't mind them outrunning us, making us keep running. But don't come in and wipe us out."
Gray Attempt reached six furlongs a head in front but at the end of his rope, finishing last (with Jersey Agenda eighth).
Super Steed, by contrast, received virtual valet service from Terry Thompson. Getting a clean trip outside, the bay colt went from fifth midway on the far turn to three lengths in front faster than most fans could say, "Who's the six?"
"He ran just a beautiful race," Thompson said. "The other day (in the Smarty Jones), he got shuffled back, but he was aggressive. Today everything was in flow. It worked out perfect. Larry said wherever we were, make sure he gets the lead heading into the stretch."
Sueno closed ground for second with Corey Lanerie, the colt's finish also in the Grade 3 Sham Jan. 5 at Santa Anita. "We are very thankful to have him in our stable," said trainer Keith Desormeaux, who won last year's Southwest with My Boy Jack in the slop.
Cutting Humor, the Todd Pletcher-trained favorite at 2-1, finished seventh in his stakes debut, John Velazquez riding.
With everyone looking for other horses in the stretch, along came Jones'.
"Our horse wasn't fast enough to be up front where the trouble was," the trainer quipped. About those prices: "Maybe the colt was setting us up."
Born on the same day (Sept. 2) as Wayne Lukas but with four less Derby wins than the Hall of Fame trainer, Jones has been close two times. The man who finished second with Hard Spun in 2007 and the filly Eight Belles in 2008 would be a popular winner on the first Saturday in May.
For now, he looks ahead to Oaklawn's Grade 2 $1 million Rebel March 16, mindful of racing gods and an even higher power.
Paraphrasing a verse from Proverbs 21, Jones said, "The horse is made for battle but the victory goes to the Lord."'
Sports on 02/19/2019