Castaway pulls clear of the Southwest field

With the $250,000 Southwest S. (G3) split in two divisions for 2012, Castaway and Secret Circle gave Bob Baffert a rare stakes double in the Oaklawn Park President's Day co-features. The duo topped a spectacular three-day weekend that saw Baffert win with eight of his ten starters.

Running in the first division of the Southwest, Castaway may have been the lesser regarded of Baffert's California shippers, but after his dominating performance, his trainer has yet another 3-year-old contender on the Kentucky Derby (G1) trail.

Castaway broke sharply from the outside of the field of 11, securing second just behind longshot Majestic Stride. Castaway stalked his foe for better than six furlongs, then moved to the front just before hitting the homestretch. Under a strong ride from Rafael Bejarano, he pulled away readily in the final furlong to win by 3 3/4-lengths in 1:38.09 for the mile.

"Everyone said we drew bad when we got the 11, but I wasn't that bothered by it," said winning assistant trainer Jimmy Barnes. "You put them in from the rail out, so they're not in the gate that long. Rafael did a good job getting him out of the gate and getting over to the rail. I knew we brought two good horses, and this one had been getting over the track great all week."

This was the first stakes win for Castaway, who broke his maiden Jan. 21 at Santa Anita. He is 2-0-1 in three starts going two turns. Owned by Michael Tabor, Mrs. John Magnier and Derrick Smith, Castaway has earned $209,930.

Secret Circle holds off Scatman

Secret Circle brought some strong credentials in the second division, and the 2011 Breeders' Cup Juvenile Sprint winner got plenty of support from the public, going off at 3-5. Ironically, Secret Circle got a trip nearly identical to Castaway's, though his margin of victory was not as large. Stalking Scatman basically from the outset, the duo raced as one coming into the stretch. Scatman proved a stout foe, but Secret Circle assert himself in deep stretch to get to the wire a half-length in front. His time was 1:37.08.

Secret Circle has won four of five starts for Karl Watson, Mike Pegram and Paul Weitman and increased his bankroll to $518,990.

"This horse tries every time," said Weitman. "I was a little nervous at the end, but he dug in and got there. It's always fun to come here. It's one of my favorite places. We'll leave his next start up to Bob. He's the coach."

"I was just so thankful to Oaklawn they split the race," Baffert said. "That was nice. If I can just get them to split the Rebel (on March 17), now that would be great!"

Both Castaway and Secret Circle will return to California, with their next starts to be determined in the coming weeks.

Baffert has now won the Southwest three times; Conveyance took the 2010 running.