The Rebel Stakes rattled the latest usracing.com Kentucky Derby Top 10, with popular winner Coal Battle rising to No. 4, runner-up Madaket Road moving in at No. 10, and rallying-for-third Sandman improving to No. 6.
The 1 1/16-mile Rebel on Sunday (Feb. 23) was quite a race as yet another Bob Baffert 3-year-old – Madaket Road – joined the road to the Derby.
Barnes. Benoit Photo.
Showdown for No. 1 on Tap in California
Baffert, a six-time Derby winner back in contention for a record-setting seventh after a three-year suspension by Churchill Downs, also trains No. 1 Barnes, No. 3 Citizen Bull, and No. 5 Getaway Car.
On Saturday (March 1), Barnes makes his first start in a Derby points qualifier in the San Felipe Stakes (G2) at Santa Anita. It’ll be the $3.2 million colt’s first test around two turns after a pair of sprint wins, one at 5 ½ furlongs at Churchill Downs, the other in the 7-furlong San Vicente Stakes (G2).
Also in the San Felipe field is No. 3 Journalism, winner of the Los Alamitos Futurity (G3) against three Baffert colts – Getaway Car, Gaming, and Mellencamp. Both Mellencamp and Baffert’s Rodriguez are entered in the San Felipe.
Also new to the Top 10 this week is Holy Bull Stakes (G3) winner Burnham Square at No. 9. He’s been working well since the race and will face a stern test on Saturday in the Fountain of Youth Stakes (G2) at Gulfstream Park.
Jockeys are listed from the horse’s most recent race.
Kentucky Derby Contenders Top 10
Unbeaten $3.2 million colt worked 6 furlongs in 1:12.20 on Feb. 23 at Santa Anita … All set for first two-turn test in San Felipe … Won both starts, a 5 ½-furlong sprint at Churchill Downs, and the 7-furlong San Vicente by 5½ lengths on Jan. 4 … Pedigree: Into Mischief-All American Dream, by American Pharoah … Next start: San Felipe, Santa Anita, March 1 … Derby points: 0 … Derby future wager odds: 8-1 (pool 4).
Worked 6 furlongs in 1:13.00 on Feb. 22 at Santa Anita … Front-running 2-year-old champion already has Derby ticket punched … Won Robert B. Lewis on Feb. 1 and is 4-fo-5 … Pedigree: Into Mischief-No Joke, by Distorted Humor … Next start: Santa Anita Derby, Santa Anita, April 5 … Derby points: 60 (2nd) … Derby future wager odds: 9-1.
Much-anticipated 3-year-old debut only a few days away against No. 1 Barnes … Worked 5 furlongs in 1:01.00 on Feb. 22 at Santa Anita … Colt has beaten a few of Baffert’s Derby contenders, and could be better as distances increase … Pedigree: Curlin-Mopotism, by Uncle Mo … Next start: San Felipe, Santa Anita, March 1 … Derby points: 10 (24th) … Derby future wager odds: 19-1.
Sizzling outside run around the final turn to the front was a thing of beauty in Rebel win … $70,000 purchase is now 5-for-5 over dirt tracks for 72-year-old trainer with first Derby contender … Pedigree: Coal Front-Wolfblade, by Midshipman … Next start: Arkansas Derby, Oaklawn Park, March 29 … Derby points: 70 (1st) … Derby future wager odds: 58-1.
Hard to dismiss this guy after game win over Caldera in Sunland Park Derby … With 7-3-2-0 resume and enough qualifying points to make the Derby field, there may or may not be one more prep … Pedigree: Curlin-Surrender Now, by Morning Line … Ownership group, SF Racing, Starlight Racing, Madaket Stables, Stonestreet Stables, et al, also owns Citizen Bull and No. 10 Madaket Road … Pedigree: Curlin-Surrender Now, by Morning Line. Next start: TBD … Derby points: 36 (3rd) … Derby future wager odds: 50-1.
Loved ninth-to-third late run in the Rebel after being comprised early and was nearly 15 lengths back … Already has three starts over Churchill Downs, including third in the Street Sense … Pedigree: Tapit-Distorted Music, by Distorted Humor … Next start: Arkansas Derby, Oaklawn Park, March 29 … Derby points: 29 (6th) … Derby future wager odds: 16-1.
Last race was four months ago, but impressive win in the Street Sense at 1 1/16 miles … Worked 5 furlongs in 1:02.20 on Feb. 23 at Payson Park … Pedigree: Into Mischief-Crowned, by Bernardini … Next start: Fountain of Youth, Gulfstream Park, March 1 … Derby points: 10 (25th) … Derby future wager odds: 17-1.
Worked 4 furlongs in 48.20 on Feb. 24 at Belmont Park … Withers winner is 2-for-3 and bypassing Gotham to train up to Wood Memorial … Could be best on New York road to the Derby … Pedigree: Practical Joker-Pow Wow Wow, by Indian Charlie … Next start: Wood Memorial, Aqueduct, April 5 … Derby points: 20 (11th) … Derby future wager odds: 35-1.
9. BURNHAM SQUARE (Ian Wilkes, Edgard Zayas)
Holy Bull winner has prepped well for Saturday’s Fountain of Youth, most recently 5 furlongs in 1:01.05 on Feb. 22 at Palm Meadows … 2-for-2 since donning blinkers … Gelding joins Top 10 for first time … Owned by Whitham Thoroughbreds … Pedigree: Liam’s Map-Linda, by Scat Daddy … Next start: Fountain of Youth, March 1 … Derby points: 20 (9th) … Derby future wager: 15-1.
Super-fast pace and he nearly held on before second-place finish in Rebel … With 25 points for second to boost his total to 31, yet another Baffert colt becomes a Derby prospect … Back home in California, with next start uncertain … Purchased for $650,000 Saratoga yearling sale … Pedigree: Quality Road-Frolic’s Dream, by Smoke Glacken … Next start: TBD … Derby points: 31 (5th) … Derby future wager odds: 9-2 (all other 3-year-olds).
The writing team at US Racing is comprised of both full-time and part-time contributors with expertise in various aspects of the Sport of Kings.
