On Saturday 17th March, Magnum Moon defied all odds and won the Gr 2 Rebel Stakes with Luis Saez on the mount. The son of Malibu Moon did make the owners and trainer Todd Pletcher happy with his performance. Getting his third win in three starts Magnum Moon maintains his winning spell.
The son of Curlin, Solomini gave a tough fight but got caught at the stretch to cross the finish line after him in second spot while being ridden by F. Prat. Combatant came in third under R. Santana, Jr. “We had a good trip,” jockey Flavien Prat said after the Rebel effort, 3 1/2 lengths back of Magnum Moon at the wire. “We got on the inside and that’s not the best for him, but then I wasn’t going to keep him off. And he made a nice run. I mean he ran a good second.”
Magnum Moon won 50 points after his win at Oaklawn Park. This puts him in fifth position on the Kentucky Derby Leadership Board.
Title Ready was in lead for some time but when Magnum Moon took over the lead he just did not stop for anyone. Gaining speed with every gallop he finished 3 1/2 lengths ahead of Solomini who by now had managed to move to number two. Combatant also took the opportunity and moved to number three.
Magnum Moon stands qualified as of now for the Kentucky Derby.
By Apurva Chavan, Racing Writer, apurva.chavan@secretariatsworld.com