First Look: Rebel, 2 Ky. Oaks preps lead weekend stakes

Brad Cox could qualify another colt for Kentucky Derby 2023, with two entered in Saturday’s Grade 2 Rebel at Oaklawn. Also entered is Reincarnate, the Sham (G3) winner switched to Tim Yakteen and therefore eligible to earn qualifying points.

On the Kentucky Oaks trail, two weekend races will offer 50 points to the winners, all but guaranteeing their spots at Churchill Downs on the first Friday in May.

Here’s an early look at weekend graded stakes and other stakes of interest.

Saturday

Rebel (G2), Oaklawn, 1 1/16 miles, 3-year-olds, 50-20-15-10-5 Kentucky Derby qualifying points

It took Reincarnate four tries to break his maiden, and then he held on to win the Sham (G3) by a neck. Giant Mischief was 2-for-2 until the Springboard Mile, where he finished second after lunging and bobbling at the start. Verifying won an optional-claiming allowance race here by 5 1/4 lengths in his first start since finishing sixth in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile.

Honeybee (G3), Oaklawn, 1 1/16 miles, 3-year-old fillies, 50-20-15-10-5 Kentucky Oaks qualifying points

The top five finishers in the Martha Washington are in the 12-filly field. Wet Paint finished “full of run” to win by two lengths, according to the Equibase chart. The Martha Washington was the only loss in four starts for Olivia Twist. Effortlesslyelgant broke her maiden last out with a 4 3/4-length win.

Santa Ysabel (G3), Santa Anita, 1 1/16 miles, 3-year-old fillies, 50-20-15-10-5 Kentucky Oaks qualifying points

Faiza is 3-for-3 after winning the Las Virgenes (G3) last out and the Starlet (G3) before that. Pride of the Nile finished second in both races, beaten a half-length in the Las Virgenes and a head in the Starlet. Justique, third in the Las Virgenes, also is expected here. And Tell Me Nolies had won three straight before finishing eighth in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies and would make her first start since.

Gulfstream Park Sprint (listed), Gulfstream Park, 6 furlongs, 4-year-olds and up

Lightening Larry won at this track and distance last out in the Sunshine Sprint, with Cajun’s Magic, also entered here, second by 2 1/2 lengths. Scaramouche had won three of his last three starts before finishing eighth in the Janus at five furlongs.

Carousel (listed), Oaklawn, 6 furlongs, fillies and mares, 4-year-olds and up

Yuugiri won an allowance at this track and distance by 2 1/4 lengths in her first start since finishing 13th in the Kentucky Oaks (G1). Pretty Birdie led gate to wire in winning the Poinsettia last out. American Lilly would ship from California to try her first stakes after an optional-claiming allowance win at Santa Anita last out.