HOT SPRINGS, Ark. – Jockey Rafael Bejarano began wintering at Oaklawn Park two seasons ago in search of a Kentucky Derby prospect, and everything came up roses for him Saturday when he guided Speed King to a length win over Sandman in the Grade 3, $1 million Southwest Stakes. Speed King picked up 20 points for the Kentucky Derby to add to the five he earned in December when he was second in the $300,000 Springboard Mile at Remington Park. Sandman secured 10 points, with Tiztastic another 1 1/2 lengths back in third in a finish worth six points. Patch Adams, the 4-5 favorite who was fourth, earned four points, and Monet’s Magic, who was fifth, earned two points Saturday. Speed King ($30.60) was able to cross over to the lead smartly after breaking from post 10, with Bejarano guiding him through fractions of 24.11 for the opening quarter, 47.82 for the half-mile and 1:12.23 for six furlongs. The competition moved in on the leader from there, but Speed King had more and went on to cover the 1 1/16 miles on a fast track in 1:45.86. :: Bet with the Best! Get FREE All-Access PPs and Weekly Cashback when you wager on DRF Bets. “It wasn’t my plan [to go to the lead],” Bejarano told the publicity department at Oaklawn. “I thought [Gaming] and [Patch Adams], they’re supposed to be on the lead. But my horse, he broke so good, so nice on the lead, I left him alone. “I took the lead and tried to get him relaxed. When I took a hold and got him relaxed, he responded to me. The horse, I think he can go a mile and a quarter. He’s improving every time he runs. I think this is a nice horse.” Bejarano won the Southwest for the fourth time in his career Saturday. Ron Moquett trains Speed King, a son of Volatile who races for Triton Thoroughbreds. He earned $540,000 for the win to improve his career record to 2 for 3 for earnings of $669,000. Sandman stumbled badly at the start, regrouped, and closed well through the lane in the Southwest. “We lost the race at the start,” jockey Cristian Torres told Oaklawn. “I let him settle the first part of the race. He’s a nice horse and responded really well when I asked him at the three-eighths and he finished up. “But definitely the start cost us. He just stumbled out of there. He was standing perfect. It happens a lot in horse racing, but I’m happy the way he finished up.” American Promise, who pushed the pace, came over on a rival in the stretch run and, after a stewards inquiry, was disqualified from sixth and placed eighth. The move elevated Publisher to sixth and Gaming to seventh. Bon Temps finished ninth in the field of nine. Render Judgment was scratched earlier in the day. Attendance ontrack was an estimated 27,500 and handle on the 12-race card from all sources was $11,499,129. Oaklawn handed out Mystik Dan bobbleheads and welcomed his Kentucky Derby trophy in honor of the horse who won last year’s Southwest. The Southwest was the second of four Kentucky Derby points races at Oaklawn. The Smarty Jones in January began the series and was won by Coal Battle, who edged Speed King in the Springboard Mile. The series continues next month with the Rebel and wraps up with the Arkansas Derby.   This year, the Southwest purse was boosted to seven figures after being worth $800,000 in 2024. Bejarano, a 42-year-old native of Peru, won two runnings of the Southwest in 2012, when it was split into divisions. He shipped in from Southern  California and accounted for both aboard Bob Baffert trainees Secret Circle and Castaway. Bejarano and Baffert returned a year later and won the Southwest with Super Ninety Nine. Bejarano is now based at Oaklawn – with Kentucky Derby dreams alive and well. :: Want to learn more about handicapping and wagering? Check out DRF's Handicapping 101 and Wagering 101 pages.