Castaway overcame breaking from the far outside post position to score a convincing win in the first division of the $250,000 Southwest Stakes (gr. III) this afternoon at Oaklawn Park, coasting away in the stretch to win by four or five lengths at the finish.
Ridden to victory by Rafael Bejarano, the Bob Baffert-trainee got off to an excellent start from gate eleven and raced away to contend for the early lead with longshot Majestic Stride. Reckless Jerry, Ring It Up, Jake Mo, and Red Jack were all up close as well, while Junebugred and Unbridled's Note raced toward the rear of the pack. Longview Drive, the race favorite, was expected to be close to the lead, but instead found himself trapped in a pocket in mid-pack with nowhere to run.
Through fractions of :23.56 and :48.08, Castaway and Majestic Stride continued to lead the way. Reckless Jerry was inching just a bit closer, and Laurie's Rocket was making an eye-catching move on the far outside, but no one was seriously threatening the leaders at this stage. Rounding the final turn, Longview Drive managed to extract himself from traffic and was beginning to rally on the far outside, but wasn't really coming as strongly as he needed to.
So as the field entered the homestretch, it was Castaway still in front and pulling away. Reckless Jerry and Ring It Up gamely gave chase on the outside, while Jake Mo rallied up the fence, but no one was able to get anywhere near Castaway, who flew to a convincing victory. The final time for the one-mile race was 1:38.09.
Jake Mo defeated Reckless Jerry by a half-length for second, with Ring It Up another half-length back in fourth. Majestic Stride rounded out the top five. Amazingly, there was a three-way dead-heat for sixth between Longview Drive, Junebugred, and No Spin. Unbridled's Note, Laurie's Rocket, and Red Jack completed the order of finish.
-Keelerman
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