Rebel Stakes: Reincarnate goes from Baffert to Yakteen
Switched from Bob Baffert to Tim Yakteen, Reincarnate leads a field of 11 for Saturday's Grade 2 Rebel Stakes at Oaklawn.
Reincarnate won the Sham (G3) last out after breaking his maiden in November on his fourth try. He drew post position 3 and will be ridden by John Velazquez.
The 1 1/16-mile Rebel offers Kentucky Derby qualifying points on a 50-20-15-10-5 basis, virtually guaranteeing the winner a shot at the roses on May 6.
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Baffert’s horses are ineligible for Derby points because of his suspension by Churchill Downs Inc. His horses can pick up points if they are transferred to an eligible trainer by Feb. 28.
Brad Cox has two entries for the Rebel. Verifying, who won a one-mile optional-claiming allowance at Oaklawn last out by 5 1/4 lengths, drew the inside post and will be ridden by Florent Geroux. And Giant Mischief, winner of his first two starts before finishing second in the Springboard Mile, drew post 5 and will be ridden by Irad Ortiz Jr.
Red Route One, beaten 5 1/2 lengths by Baffert's Arabian Knight last out in the Southwest (G3), drew post 3 and will be ridden by Cristian Torres for trainer Steve Asmussen.
Asmussen also entered Powerful, making his 2023 debut with Isaac Castillo aboard from post 2, and Gun Pilot, ridden by Ricardo Santana Jr. from post 4. He is making his stakes debut after winning two of his first three starts.
Kenny McPeek’s Frosted Departure, another two lengths back in the Southwest, drew post 11 and will be ridden by Francisco Arrieta.
These were the best Kentucky Derby futures odds in Las Vegas on Monday morning for the Rebel entrants:
30-1 Verifying
50-1 Giant Mischief
50-1 Reincarnate
65-1 Red Route One
85-1 Gun Pilot
100-1 Confidence Game
250-1 Frosted Departure
300-1 Bourbon Bash
400-1 Powerful
Others were not listed.
Yakteen has picked up three other Baffert 3-year-olds, all of whom he nominated for the Gotham (G2) on March 4: Hejazi, a well-regarded maiden winner; Arabian Lion, fourth in the Robert B. Lewis (G3); and Carmel Road, second in the Los Alamitos Futurity (G2).