Answer In Breezes Toward Start in Southwest
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Photo: Coady Photography
Answer In breaks his maiden at Churchill Downs
Answer In moved closer to his scheduled 3-year-old debut in the Feb. 17 Southwest Stakes (G3) at Oaklawn Park with a sharp workout in company Feb. 2 for trainer Brad Cox. The Southwest offers points to the first four finishers toward a start in the Kentucky Derby Presented by Woodford Reserve on a scale of 10-4-2-1.
Breezing on a fast track under exercise rider Edvin Vargas, Answer In completed five furlongs in :59 2/5 and galloped out six furlongs in 1:12 3/5. The Dialed In gelding worked with stablemate Gold Standard, who is scheduled to make her 4-year-old debut in the Feb. 17 Bayakoa Stakes (G3) for older fillies and mares. Exercise rider Gustavo Abrego, the brother of Cox's assistant Jorgito Abrego, was aboard Gold Standard. She was also credited with :59 2/5 for five furlongs.
"Both breezed really well," Cox said. "Solid breeze. We'll do a little something again next week."
Cox said Hall of Fame jockey Javier Castellano will have the mount on Answer In for the 1 1/16-mile Southwest, Oaklawn's second of four Kentucky Derby prep races. Answer In, who races for Robert LaPenta and Madaket Stables, hasn't started since a runner-up finish in the Dec. 15 Remington Springboard Mile Stakes at Remington Park. He has had five published works at Oaklawn since early January.
"He's a good work horse," Cox said. "She is, too."
Gold Standard is also seeking her first stakes victory after finishing second in the Sept. 29 Remington Park Oaks (G3) at Remington Park and third in the Nov. 29 Comely Stakes (G3) at Aqueduct Racetrack. Nominations to the Southwest and Bayakoa, also 1 1/16 miles, close Thursday.