According to Google AI:

Several horses have used the Southwest Stakes at Oaklawn Park as a springboard to a top-three ("hit the board") finish in the Kentucky Derby.


Mystik Dan (2024): Won the 2024 Southwest Stakes before winning the 2024 Kentucky Derby.
Essential Quality (2021): Won the 2021 Southwest Stakes and went on to finish third in the 2021 Kentucky Derby (and subsequently won the Belmont Stakes).
Lookin At Lee (2017): Finished third in the 2017 Southwest Stakes and went on to finish second in the 2017 Kentucky Derby.
Smarty Jones (2004): Won the 2004 Southwest Stakes and subsequently won the 2004 Kentucky Derby.
Lil E. Tee (1992): Finished third in the 1992 Southwest Stakes before winning the 1992 Kentucky Derby.

Other Notable Participants

Pine Bluff (1992): Finished second in the 1992 Southwest Stakes, then won the Preakness Stakes and ran in the Kentucky Derby.
Lawyer Ron (2006): Won the 2006 Southwest Stakes.
Smoke Glacken (1997): Won the 1997 Southwest Stakes