Southwest Starters Head Busy Oaklawn Worktab

Five projected starters for the $300,000 Southwest Stakes (gr. III) Feb. 16 at Oaklawn Park, completed their final major preparations at the Arkansas oval the morning of Feb. 11.

Zayat Stables' Mr. Z, a troubled third in the Jan. 19 Smarty Jones Stakes, worked a half mile in :49 1/5 for Hall of Fame trainer D. Wayne Lukas. 

Lukas said he's been "fooling with some different bridles" during training hours on Mr. Z, who opened a clear lead turning for home in the one-mile Smarty Jones, but ducked out sharply when struck left-handed by Jon Court. The Malibu Moon   colt has shown a habit of getting out in other races and during training hours.

Lukas said Mr. Z was on his best behavior when he worked from the half-mile pole to the wire about 10 minutes after the track opened. Clockers caught his final quarter mile in :22 4/5 and he galloped out five furlongs in 1:02 3/5.

"That's about as good as I can get him," Lukas said. "It was a pretty work, really pretty—without incident, straight as a string. Everything's good."

Lukas said he also plans to start Calumet Farm's Majestico in the 1 1/16-mile Southwest after the Majesticperfection   colt worked a half mile in :51 about five minutes before Mr. Z breezed. He exits a fifth in a Jan. 19 allowance/optional claimer at 1 1/16 miles. The trainer said Corey Nakatani will ride Mr. Z and Terry Thompson will be aboard Majestico.

War Story recorded a bullet half mile in :47 flat for trainer Tom Amoss. The Northern Afleet   gelding, owned by Christopher Dunn and Loooch Racing, worked about five minutes after Mr. Z and covered his final quarter in :22 2/5 before galloping out five furlongs in 1:00 1/5.

Clark Brewster's Bayerd also worked a half mile in :51, the son of Speightstown   getting the last quarter in :25 for trainer Steve Asmussen. Asmussen's other scheduled Southwest starter, Bold Conquest, will work the morning of Feb. 12.

Mr. Z, Majestico, War Story, and Bayerd worked before the renovation break.

Instant Replay, another projected Southwest starter, worked five furlongs in 1:03 1/5 after the break for trainer Wayne Catalano. The Jan. 19 first-level allowance winner galloped out six furlongs in 1:18 1/5.

Oaklawn racing secretary Pat Pope listed 11 probables for the Southwest late Wednesday morning. Along with Mr. Z, Majestico, War Story, Bayerd, Bold Conquest, and Instant Replay, he is expecting Far Right, Private Prospect, Kantune, The Truth Or Else, and J S Bach. Post positions for the Southwest will be drawn Feb. 13.

In additional news on Oaklawn's sophomore scene, trainer Donnie K. Von Hemel said unbeaten Hillbilly Royalty is under consideration for the $750,000 Rebel Stakes (gr. II) March 14 following his front-running 4 1/2-length entry-level allowance/optional claiming victory at 1 1/16 miles Feb. 6.

Von Hemel said it's likely Hillbilly Royalty will make his stakes debut in his next start—whether it's the Rebel or the $800,000 Sunland Derby (gr. III) March 22—because he doesn't see a "non-three" allowance race for 3-year-olds going in the interim.

"The Rebel is most likely because we're here, but you've got to look and see what's coming, too," Von Hemel said. "Basically if you've won two races, you're either going to run in a stake or you're not going to run right now."

Bred and owned by the Dream Walkin Farms operation owned by country music star Toby Keith, Hillbilly Royalty wasn't an early Triple Crown nominee. He debuted Nov. 22 at Remington Park and was a 2 1/2-length winner at a mile. The gelding had a steady series of local works leading up to his 3-year-old debut, but Von Hemel said none were spectacular.

"He showed that he was probably all right in the morning," Von Hemel said. "The two races, I think I've been surprised both times."

Von Hemel praised the principals at Dream Walkin for allowing him to take his time with the son of Langfuhr  .

"Kudos to them," Von Hemel said. "They've never said, 'When are you going to run? Run him here.' (Keith is) great to train for. He enjoys it. But as far as when and where to run, he leaves it up to you."

The early Triple Crown nomination period with a $600 fee closed Jan. 17. The late period, which has a $6,000 nomination fee, runs through March 23. Von Hemel said Hillbilly Royalty would be a late nominee if it's warranted.

"If you're going to spend $6,000, you wait until the deadline," Von Hemel said.

Finally, trainer Lynn Whiting said Hebbronville is again training at Oaklawn following a recent stay at Rood & Riddle Equine Hospital near Lexington. The colt needed treatment for several dislodged teeth suffered in a freak stall accident shortly after a sixth-place finish in the Smarty Jones Stakes.