One of the game changers for the horses aiming for the Kentucky Derby leadership board will be raced on 17th March at Oaklawn Park. The Rebel Stakes a group 2 race will be run over dirt for a distance of 1 1/16 mile. This race will award 50-20-10-5 points towards the leadership board. And show us some new names in the process. Click here for the updated leadership board for current standings.
Malagacy won the 2017 edition of the race under J. Castellano. This year neither of them runs here but we have a race card full of performer. Almost every one of the 11 shortlisted horses come in this race with a win or a placing in the top three.
Solomini in one of the contenders to win this race. Trained by the “Guru of Horse Racing”, Bob Baffert, who has won six of his last eight outings here at the Rebel Stakes. He will be ridden by F. Prat. Solomini’s last outing gained him a third place at the 2017 Los Alamitos Futurity, a G1 race. Another horse who will try and break his stint at number two is Combatant. Trained by S. Asmussen and ridden by R. Santana, Jr. He comes in this race with a second place in the 2018 Southwest Stakes, a G3 race.
The son of More than Ready, Title Ready will also be here along with the son of Curlin, Curlin’s Honor.
Let’s wait and see who takes the front seat in this race.
| Gate | Horse Name | Age | Origin | Pedigree | Trainer | Owner | Jockey | Race Form |
| 1 | Title Ready | 3 | USA | More Than Ready-Title Seeker(Monarchos) | S. Asmussen | Charles E. Fipke | J. Ortiz | 5 Starts, 2 Wins, 1 Places |
| 2 | Curlin's Honor | 3 | USA | Curlin-Franscat(Stormin Fever) | M. Casse | Oxley, John C. and Breeze Easy, LLC | F. Geroux | 2 Starts, 2 Wins, 0 Places |
| 3 | Solomini | 3 | USA | Curlin-Surf Song(Storm Cat) | B. Baffert | Zayat Stables LLC | F. Prat | 4 Starts, 1 Wins, 2 Places |
| 4 | Magnum Moon | 3 | USA | Malibu Moon-Dazzling Song(Unbridleds Song) | T. Pletcher | Lawana L. and Robert E. Low | L. Saez | 2 Starts, 2 Wins, 0 Places |
| 5 | Higher Power | 3 | USA | Medaglia D'Oro-Alternate(Seattle Slew) | D. Von Hemel | Pin Oak Stable | R. Eramia | 3 Starts, 2 Wins, 0 Places |
| 6 | Pryor | 3 | USA | Paynter-Awesome Humor(Distorted Humor) | R. Moquett | Alex & JoAnn Lieblong | R. Albarado | 4 Starts, 1 Wins, 0 Places |
| 7 | Sporting Chance | 3 | USA | Tiznow-Wynning Ride(Candy Ride) | D. Lukas | Robert C. Baker and William L. Mack | J. Velazquez | 4 Starts, 2 Wins, 1 Places |
| 8 | High North | 3 | USA | Midnight Lute-Spacy Tracy(Awesome Again) | B. Cox | Shortleaf Stable Inc. | G. Stevens | 5 Starts, 1 Wins, 1 Places |
| 9 | Zing Zang | 3 | USA | Tapit-Jet Away(Mr Greeley) | S. Asmussen | Jackpot Ranch | C. Lanerie | 5 Starts, 1 Wins, 0 Places |
| 10 | Combatant | 3 | USA | Scat Daddy-Border Dispute(Boundary) | S. Asmussen | Winchell Thoroughbreds LLC and others | R. Santana, Jr. | 5 Starts, 1 Wins, 3 Places |
| 11 | Bode's Maker | 3 | USA | Bodemeister-Romantic Frolic(Vindication) | A. Milligan | Keene Thoroughbreds LLC | J. Loveberry | 7 Starts, 1 Wins, 1 Places |
Trifecta:
1) Solomini
2) Combatant
3) Curlin's Honor
By Apurva Chavan, Racing Writer, apurva.chavan@secretariatsworld.com