Discreetness Turns in Final Southwest Work

Multiple stakes winner Discreetness worked an easy half-mile in :50 over a fast track Feb. 10 at Oaklawn Park, his final major move in preparation for the $500,000 Southwest Stakes (gr. III) coming up Feb. 15 at the Arkansas track. He breezed after the renovation break under regular rider Jon Court, the son-in-law of the colt's trainer, Jinks Fires.

"Jon said he might have gone a little fast, because the track was deep this morning," Fires said. "But Jon said he handled the track like he owned it."

Fires called the work "perfect," because :50 was the time he was seeking from Discreetness, who opened his 3-year-old campaign with a victory in the $150,000 Smarty Jones Stakes Jan. 18 at Oaklawn. Discreetness also won the $250,000 Springboard Mile Dec. 13 at Remington Park; Springboard runner-up Suddenbreakingnews is scheduled to run in the Southwest.

LAMARRA: Discreetness Just Up in Smarty Jones

The 1 1/16-mile Southwest is Oaklawn's second major prep for the $1 million Arkansas Derby (gr. I) April 16 and offers 17 points toward the Road to the Kentucky Derby standings, including 10 to the winner.

The Southwest is expected to attract a large field, including Discreetness, Gordy Florida, and Synchrony, the top three finishers in the Smarty Jones, along with Bob Baffert-trained Collected, who won the $100,000 Sham Stakes (gr. III) Jan. 9 at Santa Anita Park. Baffert has won the Southwest four times since 2010.

LAMARRA: Collected Just Fine on Dirt, Wins Sham

Projected Southwest starter Luna de Loco, who finished fourth in the Smarty Jones, worked a half-mile in :50 1/5 after the break Feb. 9 for six-time Oaklawn training champion Steve Asmussen.

Also, after a half-mile in :50 1/5 before the break from War Stroll the morning of Feb. 9, trainer Kenny McPeek said he was leaning toward starting that runner in the Southwest. War Stroll broke his maiden going 1 1/16 miles Jan. 28 at Oaklawn in his last start.

Also on the Feb. 10 worktab was grade I winner Noble Bird, who moved closer to his 2016 debut by recording a five-furlong bullet out of the gate in 1:00 4/5 following the break for trainer Mark Casse. Casse said the $750,000 Oaklawn Handicap (gr. II) for older horses April 16 is the major spring objective for Noble Bird, who won the $500,000 Stephen Foster Handicap (gr. I) June 13 at Churchill Downs. Noble Bird was also an allowance/optional claiming winner at last year's Oaklawn meeting.