The 18th Running of the G3 Southwest Stakes
Saturday, January 28, 2023
OP Race #2 $750.000
3YOs 121/116 Lbs 11/16
KYD POINTS RACE (20-8-6-4-2)
Course Record-1:40.34 (Jesse James-2012)
Stakes Record-1:41.32 (Coup de Lyon-2016)
An all-day drizzle had the OP track rated as Good; however, Gorogue Laga found it suitable to his liking as he took down Saturday’s G3 Southwest Stakes. While the lion’s share of the $750.000 purse was nice, the Arindel-trainee also secured 20 KYD points for his two-length victory. Completing the 8.5-furlongs in 1:42.98, Gorogue Laga added the G3 Southwest to his G1 and G2 tallies last year and improved his ledger to 7-5-1-0 with $1,298.920 in earnings.
Gorogue Laga broke among the best of the field of 14; however, he acquiesced to his rider’s commands and settled in 7th while on the rail as Beautifully Grusome went out to dictate the pace. Shortly after the field sorted itself out, the eventual winner moved to one path off of the rail where the kickback wasn’t as tough to deal with.
As the leader got ready to enter the turn for home, Gorogue Laga began running in the footsteps of Crack The Party as the latter began applying serious pressure on the leader. Crack The Party was able to get by Beautifully Grusome as the field entered the stretch, but Gorogue Laga was just two lengths off of his tail. The winner made his final advance just inside the furlong-marker and proceeded to draw away in the latter stages to post a two-length victory.
Crack The Party was all out to hold off a rallying Quiet Return for the runner-up honors while Jedi Order ran into fourth, just ahead of Beautifully Grusome. That quartet earned eight, six, four, and two points, respectively, for KYD qualifying purposes. Sweet Shine, At The Gates, The Alchemist,Temperature, State Of Fury, Napples, and American Grandeur completed the order of finish.
The road to the KYD is a long one, and, while there will be other twists/turns in the weeks and months ahead, Gorogue Laga solidified himself as a serious contender with this performance. Congratulations to Gorogue Laga and Arindel for their victory in the G3 Southwest Stakes!
Categories: STAKES ARTICLES
