Too cold to run; Oaklawn cancels $250K Southwest

[February 16, 2010]  HOT SPRINGS, Ark. (AP) -- Oaklawn Park postponed the $250,000 Southwest Stakes because of freezing conditions Monday, putting off the Kentucky Derby prep race until this weekend.

Track announcer Terry Wallace said the mile race for 3-year-olds will be held Saturday. It will be redrawn on Thursday and entrants on the card Monday could opt out. He said there could be some jockey changes because of prior commitments.

The race was to have featured a trio of top finishers from the $100,000 San Rafael Stakes at Santa Anita and a promising mount belonging to Oaklawn's owner among the 10-horse field.

Conveyance was the 5-2 favorite on Monday, but the race was called off after jockeys said conditions were deteriorating.

"The track was starting to ice up. It (the ice) was balling up, it was flying back and hitting the jockeys," Wallace said. "A couple had broken goggles."

After a delay following the fourth race, the track canceled its final six races.

Wallace said the scheduled $60,000 Spring Fever for older fillies and mares will go on as scheduled on Saturday, but the Southwest Stakes will be the feature race.

Despite the frigid weather, the track was packed Monday with President's Day patrons. Attendance wasn't immediately available.

Oaklawn's series of Kentucky Derby prep races continues with the $300,000 Rebel Stakes on March 13 and the $1 million Arkansas Derby on April 10. The track earlier rescheduled the $5 million Apple Blossom to April 9 so it can feature top fillies Rachel Alexander and Zenyatta.

[Associated Press; By CHUCK BARTELS]

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