The Oaklawn racing department listed nine probables Sunday morning for the $1-million Rebel Stakes (G2) for 3-year-olds at 1 1/16 miles Feb. 25. The Rebel is Oaklawn's third Kentucky Derby points race, a series that concludes with the $1.25-million Arkansas Derby (G1) April 1.
Expected Rebel entrants are Bourbon Bash for Hall of Fame trainer D. Wayne Lukas, Confidence Game (Keith Desormeaux), Event Detail (Paulo Lobo), Frosted Departure (Kenny McPeek), Giant Mischief (Brad Cox), Gun Pilot (Steve Asmussen), Red Route One (Asmussen), Reincarnate (Bob Baffert), and Verifying (Cox).
Cox (four) and Baffert (three) have combined to win seven of Oaklawn's last 10 Kentucky Derby points races, including the first two in 2023. Victory Formation (Cox) captured the $250,000 Smarty Jones Stakes at one mile Jan. 1. Baffert won the $750,000 Southwest Stakes (G3) at 1 1/16 miles Jan. 28 with unbeaten Arabian Knight. Arabian Knight wasn't nominated to the Rebel.
Reincarnate, from the first crop of champion Good Magic, has won his last two starts, including the $100,000 Sham Stakes (G3) at 1 mile Jan. 8 at Santa Anita. Baffert has won the Rebel a record eight times.
The Rebel will bring back the 2-3 Southwest finishers in Red Route One and Frosted Departure, respectively. Verifying, in his 3-year-old debut, was a powerful 5 ¼-length first-level allowance winner Jan. 14 at Oaklawn. The son of 2018 Triple Crown winner Justify covered a mile over a fast track in 1:37.23. Gun Pilot, second to Verifying Jan. 14, returned to post a sharp two-length entry-level allowance victory at 1 mile Feb. 4 at Oaklawn. Bourbon Bash finished second in the race.
Lightly raced Giant Mischief (2 for 3) will be making his 3-year-old debut in the Rebel. The son of champion sire Into Mischief concluded his 2022 campaign with a troubled runner-up finish in the Remington Park Springboard Mile Dec. 17 at Remington Park. Confidence Game finished third in the Lecomte Stakes (G3) at 1 1/16 miles Jan. 21 at Fair Grounds in his last start.
The Rebel will offer 100 points (50-20-15-10-5, respectively) to the top five finishers toward starting eligibility for the Kentucky Derby. Horses trained by Baffert remain ineligible to collect qualifying points, owing to a suspension by Churchill Downs. The suspension stems from Baffert's Medina Spirit being disqualified from his 2021 Kentucky Derby victory because of a medication violation.
Post positions for the Rebel and two other Feb. 25 stakes races – $300,000 Honeybee (G3) for 3-year-old fillies at 1 1/16 miles and the $150,000 Carousel for older female sprinters – will be drawn Monday. The Honeybee is Oaklawn's second of three points race for the Kentucky Oak (G1).
Early Honeybee probables include the Cox-trained Wet Paint, who won the $200,000 Martha Washington Stakes at 1 1/16 miles Jan. 28 at Oaklawn. Taxed, Defining Purpose, Take Charge Briana and Olivia Twist, the 2-3-4-5 finishers, respectively, in the Martha Washington are also expected for the Honeybee.
The Honeybee will offer 100 points (50-20-15-10-5, respectively) to the top five finishers toward starting eligibility for the Kentucky Oaks, the country's biggest race for 3-year-old fillies. Secret Oath, last year's Honeybee winner, also captured the Kentucky Oaks. The Honeybee is the final major local prep for the $600,000 Fantasy Stakes (G3) at 1 1/16 miles April 1.
The Carousel is expected to attract, among others, 2022 Fantasy champion Yuugiri for trainer Rodolphe Brisset and multiple Oaklawn stakes winner Pretty Birdie for trainer Norm Casse.
Yuugiri completed major preparations for the six-furlong Carousel by working a half-mile in :48.20 over a fast track Sunday morning at Oaklawn. Brisset was aboard Yuugiri, who breezed with Rebel nominee Talladega. Yuugiri was a sharp allowance winner sprinting of her Dec. 30 comeback at Oaklawn.
Pretty Birdie won the $150,000 Poinsettia Stakes at 5 ½ furlongs Dec. 17 at Oaklawn in her last start.
Weather permitting, the infield will be open for the first time this season Feb. 25.
The post Fields Taking Shape For Oaklawn’s Rebel, Honeybee appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.
