Otto The Conqueror, Carbone Regrouping After Poor Southwest Showing

Next-race plans are pending for Otto the Conqueror and Carbone after they finished sixth and seventh, respectively, in Saturday’s $800,000 G3-Southwest Stakes, Asmussen said Sunday afternoon.

Otto the Conqueror and Carbone set the pace before backing up in the lane and finishing 18 ¼ lengths and 21 ¾ lengths, respectively, behind runaway winner Mystik Dan. The 1 1/16-mile Southwest, Oaklawn’s second Kentucky Derby points race, was run over a muddy, sealed surface.

“They came out of it well,” Asmussen said. “Just very concerned with the missed training on two very large horses; just the circumstances going into the Southwest, moving the date and everything. We’ll see how they train after the race.”

The Southwest was postponed one week after winter weather led Oaklawn to cancel four days of racing (Jan. 14 and Jan. 19-21) and 11 days of training (Jan. 13-23).

Carbone (9-5) and Otto the Conqueror (4-1) were wagering favorites for the Southwest. Otto the Conqueror was exiting a victory in the $300,000 Springboard Mile Stakes Dec. 15 at Remington Park. Carbone was making his stakes debut after winning his first two starts, including an entry-level allowance Dec. 31 at Oaklawn in his first try around two turns.