WinStar Farm and Siena Farm's Timberlake (Into Mischief), winner of the Feb. 24 GII Rebel S., will return to Oaklawn Park for the Mar. 30 GI Arkansas Derby, trainer Brad Cox confirmed Wednesday.
“I like the timing,” Cox said. “Obviously, he has the experience there now, that one run under him. I kind of thought the Rebel was the spot when we were getting started. At the beginning of the winter, we thought the Rebel was the spot. It worked out.”
Timberlake worked five furlongs in 1:02.00 (18/30) at Cox's Fair Grounds base last Friday. The colt won last year's GI Champagne S. and second in the GI Hopeful S. The Rebel was his first start since finishing fourth in the GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile.
Cox has won the last two renewals of the Arkansas Derby, with Cyberknife (Gun Runner) in 2022 and Angel of Empire (Pioneerof the Nile) in 2023. He could become the first trainer to win the race in three straight years.
Other horses pointing to the Arkansas Derby include Mystik Dan (Goldencents), Liberal Arts (Arrogate), Just Steel (Justify) and Time for Truth (Omaha Beach).
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