Trainer Brad Cox said Sunday that champion Essential Quality emerged from his Southwest Stakes win at Oaklawn in good order and that plans for his final prep race for the Kentucky Derby are still being determined. The horse was making his 3-year-old debut Saturday.

Cox has a second champion returning this weekend in Monomoy Girl. He said Sunday morning she remains on deck to run later this afternoon in the Bayakoa. It will be her first start since winning the Breeders' Cup Distaff, while the Southwest was Essential Quality's first start since winning the Breeders' Cup Juvenile.

Oaklawn's surface was downgraded to sloppy for the second half of the card Saturday after a rainstorm hit. This morning, clockers labeled the track muddy for morning works.