The gang’s back from Oaklawn’s Southwest Stakes to renew acquaintances, all the while welcoming newcomers from Kentucky Derby-winning trainers Bob Baffert, Todd Pletcher and Kenny McPeek. It’s a Sunday stakes showcase in the Rebel over 1-1/16 miles with 50 Kentucky Derby qualifying points to the winner – and major geographic strength of schedule implications.
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Let’s meet the contenders for the Rebel Stakes (Race 11):
#1-BRAVARO: Cross-entered in Saturday’s Fountain of Youth Stakes at his home base in Florida, he’ll reportedly scratch from the Rebel to run at Gulfstream.
#2-LITMUS TEST: 8-time Rebel winner Bob Baffert looks to pad his race record with the 2026 return of this Los Alamitos Futurity winner. The son of Kentucky Derby winner Nyquist had been pointed to the Southwest, but scratched out of that race, presumably after a subpar workout. He’s trained right on beat since and gets reigning Eclipse Award-winning jockey Flavien Prat aboard the fourth-place finisher in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile.
#3-CLASS PRESIDENT: Gulfstream debut winner Dec. 27 at a mile, this Todd Pletcher trainee returned simply second-best to elite sprinter Solitude Dude in the Swale Stakes a month later at 7 furlongs. The Florida-based colt by Uncle Mo stretches out around 2 turns for the first time as Pletcher seeks a third Rebel win (2017 Malagacy, 2018 Magnum Moon). John Velazquez takes the return call.
#4-BLACKOUT TIME: Morning line favorite makes his first start since finishing second in the Breeders’ Futurity at Keeneland in October. The Not This Time colt was scratched by the veterinarians prior to the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile and did not return to the workout tab until Jan. 23. He’s had 5 drills for the comeback bid between his Fair Grounds base and a Feb. 11 bullet move at Oaklawn. Kenny McPeek and Brian Hernandez Jr., who came through this circuit with 2024 Kentucky Derby winner Mystik Dan, reunite.
#5-HONEY’S TO BLAME: Arkansas-bred has won 2 straight at Oaklawn and rises into the stakes ranks for the first time. His last victory came at the Rebel’s 1-1/16 miles trip. Emmaneul Esquivel has been perfect on him locally after the colt began 0-for-3 in open company in New York. Sire Blame was also responsible for 2020 Rebel winner Nadal. Second of 2 Kenny McPeek charges in the field, joining Blackout Time.
#6-STRATEGIC RISK: The Southwest Stakes and Florida Sire Stakes In Reality winner had a massive fall from grace in the Southwest when finishing 10th of 12. It’s one of the few missteps by Mark Casse trainees at Oaklawn dating back to the holiday meet (a remarkable 13: 8-2-0 stakes record). He’s had 1 workout since to get things righted as jockey Javier Castellano returns from Florida to find out.
#7-SILENT TACTIC *pictured*: The second of 2 Mark Casse entrants likely will flip the toteboard this time with Strategic Risk. He was a 12-1 outsider when rallying to upset the Southwest Stakes on Feb. 6 but now will be considered a leading contender. Cristian Torres rides the colt making his third stakes start of the meet, opening with a runner-up to Strategic Risk in the Smarty Jones. The $500,000 Tacitus colt wants a fast pace.
#8-RANCHO SANTA FE: Another local stakes veteran making his third start of the Arkansas Derby series, this Brad Cox trainee tries to improve on a Smarty Jones fifth and Southwest Stakes fourth. He won both starts at 2 for a barn that captured the Rebel 2 years ago with favored Timberlake. Irad Ortiz Jr. takes the mount for the first time as Flavien Prat hops seats to Oaklawn newcomer Litmus Test. Sire Tapit was responsible for 2016 Rebel winner Cupid.
#9-TIME FOR MUSIC: Longshot entrant for Steve and Keith Asmussen has won 1 of 6 starts and was soundly defeated in the Springboard Mile at Remington Park in his lone stakes attempt. This $750,000 Not This Time colt hasn’t lived up to the billing. He’ll try to shock the lineup and give Asmussen a second Rebel victory, following 8-1 shot Long Range Toddy in 2019.
#10-SOLDIER N DIPLOMAT: Stronger chance of the Steve Asmussen uncoupled pair in the Rebel, his runner-up from post 11 in the Southwest Stakes was an admirable performance. The post doesn’t get much easier here over the same trip, so return jockey Jose Ortiz will be tasked with working out a trip. This $950,000 juvenile purchase by Army Mule has won 2 of 5 but has never been out of the superfecta despite stakes journeys to Saratoga, Churchill and Oaklawn.
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