While Uncontested (Tiz Wonderful) will face many of the same rivals he easily bested in the sloppy Smarty Jones S. last out, and could enjoy similar underfoot conditions this time, the speedy 'TDN Rising Star' must also take on several formidable new foes in Oaklawn's GIII Southwest S. Monday.
One Liner (Into Mischief) invades from Florida and makes his two-turn debut for Todd Pletcher. A debut winner over subsequent GI Hopeful S. runner-up Royal Copy (Bodemeister) at Saratoga in July, the bay returned at Gulfstream Jan. 26 to annex a six-panel optional claimer by daylight with a decent 87 Beyer Speed Figure. While Pletcher hasn't shipped a runner in for the Southwest in recent memory, he did take back-to-back runnings of the GI Arkansas Derby in 2013 and 2014.
Lookin At Lee (Lookin At Lucky), a stakes winner last summer at Ellis, played also-ran to two of the top juveniles from last season. He took turns finishing second to Not This Time (Giant's Causeway) and Classic Empire (Pioneerof the Nile) in the GIII Iroquois S. and GI Claiborne Breeders' Futurity, respectively, before checking in fourth behind those two in the GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile Nov. 5.
Brad Grady's Cool Arrow (Into Mischief) hasn't been out of the exacta since donning blinkers before romping in a Laurel maiden claimer in July, and was last seen dominating Remington's Springboard Mile on an uncontested lead Dec. 11. Sophomores who competed in the Springboard Mile have done well in the Oaklawn series of Triple Crown preps in recent years–last year's Southwest winner Suddenbreakingnews (Mineshaft) entered off a runner-up effort in that race.
Hence (Street Boss) knocked on the door last year, and barged his way through on seasonable debut last time with a drama-filled maiden breaker over sloppy track and trip Jan. 16. Having stumbled at the start, the Calumet Farm homebred uncorked a powerful turn move and appeared well on his way to victory before ducking in badly and nearly hitting the rail. The chestnut somehow regained his composure, and kicked back in to defeat his Calumet entrymate Horse Fly (Mineshaft), who returned to grab his own diploma next out.
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