Rebel Stakes

Rebel Stakes Picks

By Brent Sedo

The second of three Kentucky Derby preps to be run at Oaklawn, the Rebel has drawn a wide mix of both locally based runners and others shipping in from various locations. All are looking to take a crack at picking the 50 Kenucky Derby qualifying points on the table, and, with it, an almost certain start in the Run for the Roses on May 6.

Perrenial Kentucky Derby contender trainer Bob Baffert comes into the Rebel with American Anthem, the favorite in the morning line at odds of 2-1.

The well-bred son of multiple graded-stakes winner Bodemeister will be making only his third lifetime start and second of 2017 after he ran second in the (G3) Sham Stakes at Santa Anita in early January.

He managed to fight back after being passed in the lane on that one and regained some lost ground on the eventual winner. He should at least be able to equal that performance with a bit of added distance here.

Also coming in from California is Royal Mo (9-2). He has two wins and two second-place finishes in his career so far and was last seen winning the (G3) Robert B. Lewis Stakes, also at Santa Anita. There he was able to control the pace throughout before widening late to a 3 1/2 length victory over a pair that have since come back to be stakes-placed in their next effort. He's in with a shot if he can get the same kind of trip in the Rebel.

Coming in from Fair Grounds in New Orleans, where he was the runner-up in two consecutive graded-stakes on the New Orleans circuit, Untrapped (8-1) is another with a solid pedigree as a stakes runner. He is trained by Steve Asmussen, who won the Belmont Derby with Destin last year. As one that likes to come from just off the pace, he'll be hoping to sit behind a speed duel between the first two and pick up the pieces when they turn for home.

With lots of early speed expected, there may be a chance for a deep closer to at least get on the bottom of the ticket, and Asmussen's other starter, Lookin' At Lee (15-1) should be available at double-digit odds when the gates open.

He took on some top competition in several starts last year and ran a credible fourth in the 2016 Breeders' Cup Juvenile. He never really runs a bad race and deserves to be in this field.

The Rebel Stakes goes Saturday, March 18 from Oaklawn Park in Hot Springs, Arkansas. Post time is 6:06 PM Central.

Entries w/ML Odds

1) Silver Boullion (30-1)

2) Uncontested (10-1)

3) Sonnater (30-1)

4) Petrov (9-2)

5) Untrapped (8-1)

6) Malagacy (4-1)

7) American Anthem (2-1)

8) Silver Dust (15-1)

9) Appalachian Gem (30-1)

10) Royal Mo (9-2)

11) Lookin' At Lee (15-1)

BABB Picks

#1 - Royal Mo

#2 - American Anthem

#3 - Untrapped

#4 - Lookin' At Lee 

Category : Betting Picks

Tag : horse betting tips , Horse Racing , Rebel Stakes

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