The Southwest Stakes (G3) at Oaklawn Park Jan 29 “probably leads” for next start for Los Alamitos Futurity (G2) winner Slow down Andy , coach Doug O’Neill said December 29.
The Reddam Racing pony crossed by Paul and Zillah Reddam was 2v3 with an earnings of $249,850. He won 10 qualifying points for the Kentucky Derby presented by Woodford Reserve (G1) at Churchill Downs with his win at the 1/16-mile Los Alamitos Futurity. Southwest is at the same distance and offers an additional 10 qualifying points for its winner, plus a score on a 4-2-1 scale for the second-to-fourth finisher.
O’Neill calls the $750,000 Southwestern price tag attractive due to “the fact that we get a chance to see him travel, see if he likes it or if he enjoys it. Just an early learning experience so we can adjust, if for whatever reason he’s not the greatest astronaut in the world.”
One adjustment was considered lightning after the pony stuck during the long run of Los Alamitos Futurity before regaining his focus and scoring a long win under Mario Gutierrez. Messier .
“Mario mentioned them,” O’Neill said. “He trained with them and without them, and I think the same, whether he wears them or not. That’s definitely something to consider because as the fields get bigger and bigger, the water gets deeper. than you can’t just start leaning over and doing weird things.”
O’Neill, Gutierrez and Reddam Racing are two-time Kentucky Derby champions, having teamed up to record the classic with I will have another in 2012 and Nyquist in 2016. Slow Down Andy is the son of Nyquist of a purebred mare Reddam Edwina E , the daughter of Square Eddie, a current star, another Reddams star athlete.
O’Neill also reported that the 1st grade winner Hot Rod Charlie finish near runner-up Santa Anita . Park on December 26 San Antonio Stakes (G2) in good condition and still on his way to Meydan next month to prepare for the $12 Dubai World Championships (G1) on March 26.
The Oxbow colt, who turns 4 January 1, competes in Boat racing, Gainesway Stable, Roadrunner Racing and Bill Strauss.
“As we said, we have a full team meeting in the next few days, but I believe the plan is still to go to Dubai in mid-January to prepare for the Dubai World Cup,” the coach said.
The preparatory round for reference is the second round of the Al Maktoum Challenge (G2) on February 4. The $350,000 race is over 1,900 meters (about 1 3/16 miles) long. The Dubai World Cup is slightly longer at 2,000 meters (about 1 1/4 mile).
Hot Rod Charlie is among 10-12 horses that O’Neill plans to send to Dubai during the winter and early spring on a flight that O’Neill says leaves January 17. The Southern California trainer has send a string of similar size there in 2020 with assistant Leandro Mora.
