As the road to the 147th Kentucky Derby rolls along, US Racing looks back at some history of many of the prep races that now offer qualifying points to Run for the Roses at Churchill Downs on May 1.
By Margaret Ransom
Maybe it’s the $1 million purse or maybe it’s the race’s reputation as a solid Triple Crown prep [after all, American Pharoah won the Rebel before his Triple Crown run in 2015] but the Rebel Stakes (G2) at Oaklawn Park has become one of the most anticipated Kentucky Derby (G1) preps of the year.
Keepmeinmind – Photo Courtesy of: Oaklawn Park
The Rebel is the second leg of the Oaklawn 3-year-old stakes program, the first being the Southwest Stakes (G3) won by 2-year-old champion Essential Quality two weeks ago, and the third the Arkansas Derby (G1), set for April 10.
In addition to American Pharoah, some classic horses have taken home the Rebel trophy. Since it was first contested in 1961, we’ve seen classic winners and/or champions Smarty Jones, Lookin at Lucky, Curlin, Victory Gallop, Pine Bluff, Sunny’s Halo and Temperence Hill win, just to name a few. Other notables include Bold Ego, Vanlandingham, Demons Begone, Lawyer Ron, The Factor, Will Take Charge, Omaha Beach/Long Range Toddy in two divisions in 2019 and Nadal/Charlatan [later DQ’d] a year ago. Sunny’s Halo, Smarty Jones and American Pharoah each won the Rebel and the Derby. Temperence Hill (1980) and Victory Gallop (1998) went on to win the Belmont Stakes (G1) in 1990, while Pine Bluff (1992) and Curlin (2007) won the Preakness (G1).
Originally run as Rebel Handicap, the 1961 Louisiana Derby winner Bass Clef took home the inaugural running before going on to finish third in the Kentucky Derby behind Carry Back. The race was changed to be contested under stakes conditions in 1984 and has been held at 1 1/16 miles since. It has been at least a Grade 3 since 2003.
Two-time Triple Crown-winning Hall of Fame trainer Bob Baffert, who sends out a formidable pair this year in Hozier and 2-1 favorite Concert Tour, has owned the Rebel, saddling the winner seven times in the past 11 years: Lookin at Lucky, 2010; The Factor, 2011; Secret Circle, 2012; Hoppertunity, 2014; American Pharoah, 2015; Cupid, 2016; and Nadal, 2020. Hall of Famer Mike Smith has ridden five winners to lead all jockeys (Rare Brick, 1986; Dalhart, 1993; Etbauer, 1999; Hoppertunity, 1994; and Omaha Beach, 2019).
Once again, the 1 1/16-mile event offers road to the Derby points on a 50-20-10-5 basis to the first four finishers.
What is the weather for the Rebel Stakes?
The Saturday weather is expected to be warm in Hot Springs, with no rain likely at least through Saturday with a high near 80 degrees.
What is the post time for the Rebel Stakes?
The Rebel is the11th race on the card with a post time of 5:16 p.m. CT.
The eight-horse field for the Rebel, by post-position, with jockey, trainer, and odds:
Rebel Stakes 2021 Entries
1. Caddo River (Florent Geroux, Brad Cox) 9-5
Hard Spun—Pangburn, by Congrats
2. Big Lake (Ricardo Santana, Jr., Steve Asmussen) 12-1
American Pharoah—Resistivity, by Student Council
3. Hozier (Martin Garcia, Bob Baffert) 12-1
Pioneerof the Nile—Merry Meadow, by Henny Hughes
4. Get Her Number (Javier Castellano, Peter Miller) 8-1
Dialed In—Fancier, by Bernstein
5. Twilight Blue (Brian Hernandez, Jr., Joe Sharp) 15-1
Air Force Blue—Lily the Pink, by Rahy
6. Keepmeinmind (David Cohen, Robertino Diodoro) 4-1
Laoban—Inclination, by Victory Gallop
7. Concert Tour (Joel Rosario, Bob Baffert) 2-1
Street Sense—Purse Strings, by Tapit
8. Super Stock (Joe Talamo, Steve Asmussen) 6-1
Dialed In—Super Girlie, by Closing Argument
California native and lifelong horsewoman Margaret Ransom is a graduate of the University of Arizona’s Race Track Industry Program. She got her start in racing working in the publicity departments at Calder Race Course and Hialeah Park, as well as in the racing office at Gulfstream Park in South Florida. She then spent six years in Lexington, KY, at BRISnet.com, where she helped create and develop the company’s popular newsletters: Handicapper’s Edge and Bloodstock Journal.
After returning to California, she served six years as the Southern California news correspondent for BloodHorse, assisted in the publicity department at Santa Anita Park and was a contributor to many other racing publications, including HorsePlayer Magazine and Trainer Magazine. She then spent seven years at HRTV and HRTV.com in various roles as researcher, programming assistant, producer and social media and marketing manager.
She has also walked hots and groomed runners, worked the elite sales in Kentucky for top-class consignors and volunteers for several racehorse retirement organizations, including CARMA.
In 2016, Margaret was the recipient of the prestigious Stanley Bergstein Writing Award, sponsored by Team Valor, and was an Eclipse Award honorable mention for her story, “The Shocking Untold Story of Maria Borell,” which appeared on USRacing.com. The article and subsequent stories helped save 43 abandoned and neglected Thoroughbreds in Kentucky and also helped create a new animal welfare law known as the “Borell Law.”
Margaret’s very first Breeders’ Cup was at Hollywood Park in 1984 and she has attended more than half of the Breeders’ Cups since. She counts Holy Bull and Arrogate as her favorite horses of all time. She lives in Pasadena with her longtime beau, Tony, two Australian Shepherds and one Golden Retriever.