Oaklawn’s Southwest Stakes on Sat (2/25) – Music School is in

Posted on Thursday, February 23rd, 2006

Lawyer Ron headlines field for Derby prep race

HOT SPRINGS, Ark. (AP) — Bob Holthus has trained four winners of the Southwest Stakes, including Greater Good last year, but none generated prerace publicity like Lawyer Ron for this week’s $250,000 race at Oaklawn Park.

The 3-year-old colt has four straight victories — including two stakes — by a combined 30 lengths since he was switched from turf to dirt.

But Lawyer Ron’s owner, James T. Hines Jr., 69, of Owensboro, Ky., won’t be around to see how his colt fares for the rest of his 3-year-old season. Hines died Tuesday at his home, apparently the victim of an accidental drowning in an indoor swimming pool.

Lawyer Ron dropped from 200-1 to near 20-1 in Kentucky Derby advance wagering after his eight-length victory in the Grade III Risen Star Stakes on Jan. 14 at Louisiana Downs.

 

Howard changes mind, enters Music School in Southwest

Following the cancellation of racing on Monday at Oaklawn Park due to a winter storm, trainer Neil Howard saw a second chance to enter Music School in the $250,000 Southwest Stakes on Saturday.

Music School was not among the original field of eight drawn for the one-mile prep race for three-year-olds on the Triple Crown trail.

"We know we’re still playing catch up with Music School," Howard said. "If he runs well Saturday, finishes strong, and gallops out well, it will be a forward thrust for us."

Music School, a son of A.P. Indy, prepped for his stakes debut with a four-furlong breeze in :49.60 on a muddy track on Wednesday. He enters the Southwest off a three-quarter-length victory in an allowance/optional claiming race on February 5, his second win in as many starts.

Howard originally passed on the Southwest because he felt 15 days was not enough time for Music School between starts.

Confirmed entries for Southwest Stakes at Oaklawn Park

Music School

Kings Challenge, trainer Bob Holthus, jockey Stewart Elliott

Red Raymond

Lawyer Ron. Lawyer Ron will race for the estate of James T. Hines Jr. in the Southwest following Hines’s death earlier this week.

Mark of Success, the runner-up in the Risen Star for trainer Dallas Stewart;

Kingsfield, winner of the off-the-turf Black Gold at the Fair Grounds meet for trainer Thad Keller;

Travelin Leroy, a stakes-placed colt trained by Gammy Vazquez.

Celluloid Hero, winner of the $50,000 Dixieland at Oaklawn, trainer Mac Robertson

Sharp Attack, fourth in the Grade 1 Breeders’ Futurity for trainer Wayne Lukas

Free Oaklawn Park, Kentucky Derby Picks & Tips at HorsesWild.com

 

"Oaklawn’s Southwest Stakes on Sat (2/25) – Music School is in" was posted on Thursday, February 23rd, 2006 at 12:36 pm and is filed under Horses, Kentucky Derby, Stakes Races, Triple Crown, USA Horse Racing. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. Leave a response, or trackback from your own site.

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Comments For "Oaklawn’s Southwest Stakes on Sat (2/25) – Music School is in"

  1. Friday, February 24th, 2006 3:18 pm By Dead Owner’s Luck For Derby Hopeful…Just Might Work » OddJack, the Gambling Guide - Casino, Poker, Sports Betting, Horse Racing

    [...] Bob Holthus has trained four winners of the Southwest Stakes, including Greater Good last year, but none generated prerace publicity like Lawyer Ron for this week’s $250,000 race at Oaklawn Park. The 3-year-old colt has four straight victories — including two stakes — by a combined 30 lengths since he was switched from turf to dirt. [...]

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