Blackout Time to target the Rebel Stakes for 3-year-old debut

Blackout Time targets the Grade 2, $1 million Rebel Stakes on March 1 at Oaklawn for his 3-year-old debut, co-owner Lance Gasaway said Saturday morning.

Blackout Time has not started since a runner-up finish behind eventual 2-year-old champion Ted Noffey in the Breeders' Futurity Stakes (G1) at 1 1/16 miles Oct. 4 at Keeneland. Blackout Time entered the Breeders' Cup Juvenile on Oct. 31 at Del Mar, but a regulatory veterinarian scratched him because of an alleged soundness issue.

A son of red-hot sire Not This Time, Blackout Time returned to the work tab Jan. 23 at Fair Grounds and breezed two other times there (Jan. 30 and Thursday) before shipping to Oaklawn.

"We don't need any (hiccups), but we're doing good," Gasaway said. "He'll have his fourth workout here Wednesday."

In addition to preparing for his 3-year-old debut, Gasaway said Blackout Time will work to get off the Horseracing Integrity and Safety Authority veterinarian's list to regain racing eligibility in jurisdictions under HISA guidelines.

"Wednesday will be our fourth work and then we want to get two more," Gasaway said. "So, that's six works. He's doing good. He worked five-eighths the other day and a half the week before that and he wasn't even breathing."

Prior to the Breeders' Futurity, Blackout Time broke his maiden by 9 3/4 lengths at one mile Aug. 2 at Ellis Park. Overall, he compiled a 3: 1-2-0 record with earnings of $210,691.

Kenny McPeek, as an agent, purchased Blackout Time for $210,000 in 2024 at Fasig-Tipton's Kentucky Fall Yearling Sale. Gasaway races Blackout Time in partnership with Brookdale Racing and McPeek's Magdalena Racing.

Gasaway, of Star City, Ark., bred and raced 2024 Kentucky Derby winner Mystik Dan in partnership.

The 1 1/16-mile Rebel stands as Oaklawn's third Kentucky Derby points race and offers 50-25-15-10-5 points toward starting eligibility for the first leg of the Triple Crown.

Blackout Time earned five Kentucky Derby qualifying points for his runner-up finish in the Breeders' Futurity.