Distance the question for Southgate

Southgate started in seven straight stakes races to end his 2-year-old campaign and begin his 3-year-old season, but does that alone make him a worthy 2-1 favorite Tuesday at Will Rogers Downs in the $55,000 Will Rogers Stakes?

Southgate is one of just six entrants in the Will Rogers, carded as a two-turn, one-mile race restricted to 3-year-old Oklahoma-breds. Southgate drew post 5 and has Floyd Wethey named to ride for Scott Young, who’s in a battle with Robertino Diodoro for leading trainer at the meet and also entered November Mike in the Will Rogers Stakes, Tuesday’s fifth race.

Southgate’s only win from eight starts came last summer at Prairie Meadows, where he won a heavily restricted Iowa Stallion Futurity. He probably turned in a career-best performance in his most recent start, on Jan. 26, when he was sixth, beaten nine lengths, in the Texas Turf Mile, his grass debut. Southgate was badly overmatched in the $400,000 Springboard Mile, an open 2-year-old stakes, and failed even to make much impression in a pair of Oklahoma-bred stakes last fall. Moreover, he has not finished off his two turn races like a horse especially desirous of racing over a route of ground.

Great Faces and Caney’s Ghost appear to be the primary speed elements in the Will Rogers and either could win, with Great Faces rating an edge. Great Faces, in from Oaklawn Park for trainer Donnie Von Hemel, debuted last fall in a onemile Oklahoma-bred maiden at Remington, where he was second to Kirkcules. Kirkcules returned with a second-place stakes finish behind Rowdy Yates, the best Oklahoma-bred 2-year-old of 2019, while finishing about six lengths in front of Southgate. Great Faces remains a maiden after three starts but was beaten just a neck making his 3-year-old debut and second career start in a highly rated $75,000 maiden claimer at Oaklawn. Most recently, he finished well up the track in an Oaklawn maiden special weight route but got in a speed duel over a wet track while facing older rivals and can be forgiven that defeat.

Caney’s Ghost won an Oklahoma-bred first-level allowance earlier this Will Rogers meet and tries two turns for the first time Wednesday while racing for the first time on Lasix. He’s by Dramady out of Caney Creek, by Service Stripe, and on pedigree, at least, can get one mile.

Khola is light on speed figures compared to the race’s shorter prices but has been tested over a route of ground and has a recency edge on Southgate. If the pace horses falter, he could be the one to benefit.