Kentucky Derby prep: Rebel Stakes entries, posts, jockeys

Grade 1 winner Timberlake is among 13 scheduled starters for Oaklawn’s Grade 2, $1.25 million Rebel Stakes for 3-year-olds Saturday.

The Rebel is among four stakes races on a 12-race card that begins at 1 p.m. EST. The probable post time for the Rebel, the 11th race, is 6:23 p.m. EST.

Click here for Oaklawn entries and results.

The 1 1/16-mile Rebel is Oaklawn’s third of four Kentucky Derby 2024 qualifying races and will offer 50-25-15-10-5 points to its top five finishers toward starting eligibility for the first leg of the Triple Crown.

If the field remains intact, it will equal the third largest in Rebel history. The 1980 Rebel, won by eventual 3-year-old champion male Temperence Hill, had a record 15 starters.

Timberlake hasn’t started since finishing fourth in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile at 1 1/16 miles Nov. 3 at Santa Anita for trainer Brad Cox, who is seeking his first Rebel victory. Timberlake won the one-mile Champagne (G1) on Oct. 7 at Aqueduct. The son of super sire Into Mischief has been based this winter at Fair Grounds.

Cox and jockey Cristian Torres teamed to win Oaklawn’s first 2024 Kentucky Derby points race, the Smarty Jones Stakes on Jan. 1, with Catching Freedom.

Just Steel finished second in both the Smarty Jones and the Feb. 3 Southwest (G3) for Hall of Fame trainer D. Wayne Lukas. The Southwest, delayed one week because of winter weather, was Oaklawn’s second Kentucky Derby points race.

Conspicuous by his absence is Muth, who had been listed by the Oaklawn racing office as probable for the Rebel. After breezing the Good Magic colt Sunday, trainer Bob Baffert said he changed his mind about shipping the recent San Vicente (G2) winner from Southern California to Arkansas. He did not elaborate or say what race may be next, but the San Felipe (G2) on March 2 at Santa Anita appeared to be a possibility.

Four Rebel entrants worked after the surface renovation break Sunday morning at Oaklawn.

Mena went a half-mile in 49.2 seconds for trainer Steve Hobby. Time for Truth covered the same distance in 50.0 seconds for Ron Moquett. Tejon Pass and Woodcourt each breezed five furlongs. Tejon Pass, from the gate, went in 1:00.2 for Peter Miller. Woodcourt was clocked at 1:00.4 for Cipriano Contreras.

The Rebel has a record purse in 2024 after previously being worth $1 million.