Stakes winners LITMUS TEST and STRATEGIC RISK headline a competitive field of 14 in the Grade 3, $1 million-dollar Southwest Stakes, which has been moved to Friday, February 6th.

Oaklawn Park in Hot Springs, Arkansas announced last Tuesday that racing in the final weekend of January had been canceled due to freezing temperatures.

The Southwest Stakes, which was originally scheduled for Saturday (1/31), is a Kentucky Derby points race (20-10-6-4-2) will be the feature race at Oaklawn on Friday.

LITMUS TEST, who drew Post 5, won the Grade 2 Los Alamitos Futurity in his last start December 13th. He is one of two starters in the field for trainer Bob Baffert.

Baffert has also entered BUETANE– the runner-up in the Grade 2 San Vicente in his last start January 10th at Santa Anita. BUETANE drew Post 3.

STRATEGIC RISK won the $250,000 dollar Smarty Jones at Oaklawn in his last start January 3rd. He’ll be starting from Post 9 and is one of two horses trainer Mark Casse has entered in the Southwest– the other being SILENT TACTIC who drew Post 11.

First Post on Friday at Oaklawn is 11:30 a.m. Central. The Southwest is slated as race 11 on a card of 12 with a scheduled Post Time of 4:40 Central Time.

LITMUS TEST has been installed as the 5-2 Morning Line favorite, with D’CODE, the second choice opening at 3-1.

The $300,000 dollar Martha Washington Stakes is the sixth race on Friday’s card and is a Kentucky Oaks qualifying race, offering points to the first five finishers on a 20-10-6-4-2 basis.

The Daily Racing Blog will take a look at the field for the Southwest Stakes on Wednesday.