Old Fashioned runs away with Southwest Stakes

By: SPORTS NETWORK

Hot Springs, AR (Sports Network) - Odds-on favorite Old Fashioned proved to be as good as everyone hoped with a solid victory in his 2009 debut Monday in the $250,000 Southwest Stakes at Oaklawn Park. Old Fashioned is expected to run next in the Rebel Stakes here on March 14.

Old Fashioned, owned by Fox Hill Farms, is one of the early favorites for the Kentucky Derby. The gray three-year-old was 7-1 in the year's first Kentucky Derby Future Wager, the lowest odds among the 23 individual horses listed.

In Monday's race, Old Fashioned and jockey Ramon Dominguez got a great start out of the gate. They were quickly joined on the lead by Silver City who won Oaklawn's Dixieland Stakes in January.

Silver City, ridden by Miguel Mena, led the field up the backstretch with the favorite in second, close behind. Running in third was Buzzin and Dreamin and Poltergeist was racing fourth in the 11 horse field.

Around the turn for home Old Fashioned joined Silver City on the lead and quickly moved into first heading into the stretch. The 1-2 favorite took command at the top of the stretch and opened his advantage as the wire drew closer.

Old Fashioned won the one-mile Southwest by 3 1/4-lengths over Silver City with Buzzin and Dreamin third and Flat Out rallying for fourth. The final time for the 44th renewal of the Southwest Stakes was 1:37.41.

Completing the order of finish was Loch Dubh, Gresham, Poltergeist, Professor Z, Retap, Silver Bayer and Kick On.

Old Fashioned is now undefeated in four career starts, including the Remsen Stakes at Aqueduct last November. Trained by Larry Jones, Old Fashioned picks up $150,000 with the President's Day win to bring his bankroll to $323,280.

Old Fashioned returned $3.00, $2.20 and $2.20. Silver City paid $2.80 and $2.80, and Buzzin and Dreamin paid $8.80 to show.

Following the Rebel on March 14, Kentucky Derby hopefuls will go in the Arkansas Derby on April 11.