WHEAT. Chaff.

It’s that time of year. The Grade 3 Southwest at Oaklawn Park on Monday continued to separate the three-year-olds. My Boy Jack roared from eighth to win the $500,000 stakes to put the Desormeaux brothers back on the Derby Trail.

Trainer Keith and jockey Kent choreographed a Preakness win from Exaggerator in 2016. This year, they’re back with another low-priced yearling purchase.

IMPROVED

Don’t Tell My Wife Stable and Monomoy Stable purchased the son of Creative Cause for $20,000 at the Keeneland September Sales. The dark bay colt improved his record to two wins from eight starts and appears to relish the longer distance.

Combatant, a steady son of Scat Daddy trained by Steve Asmussen, and Sporting Chance, making his first start since winning the Hopeful in August, chased My Boy Jack to round out the trifecta and keep their hopes alive. Favorite Mourinho, winner of the Smarty Jones in January, faded to fourth and dimmed his hopes.

THREE WINS

Still Having Fun improved his record to three wins from four starts, taking the Miracle Wood at Laurel Park on Saturday.

The Maryland-bred earned a hard-fought neck victory in the three-year-old stakes for trainer and co-breeder Tim Keefe and jockey Feargal Lynch.

Owned by Gary Barber, Wachtel Stable and Terp Racing, the son of Old Fashioned overcame a tough rail trip to nail Old Time Revival in the final strides.

“His will to want to be the first one to the wire got him there. I was concerned when he broke so slow, then I was concerned when he was running last down the backside. He gave every reason why he didn’t have to win,” Keefe said.

“He never really had it easy, but he overcame everything. He had to work harder in this race than he’s had to in his last couple. He really had to dig down deep to gut this one out.”