Rebel Stakes could split to accommodate Santa Anita horsemen

In an unprecedented move, the Oaklawn Jockey Club announced Wednesday that it stands ready to split the $1 million Rebel Stakes (G2), a key 2019 Kentucky Derby prep set for March 16.

The announcement came just hours after Santa Anita racetrack in California announced it is suspending racing indefinitely to examine its track surface. The Santa Anita suspension has the potential to upend traditional West Coast prep races for the Kentucky Derby.

If the Rebel is split, both divisions will carry a purse of $750,000 and offer 63.75 qualifying points for the Kentucky Derby.

Ron Anderson, agent for jockey Joel Rosario, said Wednesday he is planning to have his rider at Oaklawn on champion 2-year-old Game Winner in the Rebel. Jack Wolf, whose Starlight Racing owns a share of Improbable, said a trip to Arkansas is now possible for Improbable’s 3-year-old debut pending a Sunday breeze at Los Alamitos. West Point Thoroughbreds President and CEO Terry Finley says it’s an option to ship Gunmetal Gray with Galilean, another colt campaigned by the partnership and already Rebel-bound.

All three were pointing to the San Felipe Stakes (G2) which is among the top races postponed at Santa Anita.

RELATED: 'Unique situation' could bring top prospects to Oaklawn

In making the announcement, Oaklawn President Louis Cella said he hopes the situation in California resolves itself quickly, precluding any reason to split the Rebel. “But if that is not the case, Oaklawn stands ready to help horsemen around the country,” said Cella.

Cella added, “From a financial standpoint, splitting the race makes no sense whatsoever. If we split it, it will be strictly on the basis of sportsmanship and what is best for the sport and best for top 3-year-olds trying to get to Kentucky.”

Cella said both divisions of the Rebel would need to attract a minimum of 10 runners in order to justify the split. 

According to Oaklawn general manager Wayne Smith, track officials were on the phone all day Wednesday with horsemen around the country. “Plus we reached out to Arkansas Racing Chairman Alex Lieblong and to Bill Walmsley, president of the Arkansas division of the HBPA. Both gentlemen were completely supportive of our offer.”

The deadline for nominating to the Rebel Stakes was to have been midnight, March 7. But, Smith said the deadline is going to be pushed back to midnight, Friday, March 8.

If the Rebel is split, it will be first time in American racing history for a million dollar race to be split and run in two divisions.