Rebel: Timberlake, Muth are likely for Derby prep at Oaklawn
Grade 1 winners Timberlake and Muth lead the list horses expected to race at Oaklawn next Saturday in the Grade 2, $1.25 million Rebel Stakes, a virtual win-and-you’re-in prep for Kentucky Derby 2024.
The Oaklawn racing department listed as many 10 horses under consideration early Saturday afternoon for the 1 1/16-mile race for 3-year-olds. Entries will be taken and post positions drawn Sunday for the Rebel.
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The Rebel is Oaklawn’s third of four Derby qualifying races and will offer 50-25-15-10-5 to the top five finishers if they are eligible.
Expected Rebel entrants include Timberlake, trained by Brad Cox; Muth, by Bob Baffert; Just Steel, by D. Wayne Lukas; Northern Flame, by Kenny McPeek; Tejon Pass, by Peter Miller; Time for Truth, by Ron Moquett; and Woodcourt, by Cipriano Contreras.
Oaklawn racing secretary Pat Pope said Hall of Fame trainer Steve Asmussen has two or three candidates under consideration but did not indicate who would be entered.
Muth and Timberlake finished second and fourth, respectively, in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile on Nov. 3 at Santa Anita.
Muth opened 2024 with a victory in the seven-furlong San Vicente (G2) on Jan. 6 at Santa Anita. Baffert has won the Rebel a record eight times, including 2015 with eventual Triple Crown winner American Pharoah.
Because of Baffert’s suspension from Churchill Downs through 2024, Muth is ineligible to run in the Kentucky Derby. Any points he may earn will be vacated and not transferred down.
Timberlake will be making his 3-year-old debut for Cox, who captured Oaklawn’s first Derby points race, the Smarty Jones on Jan. 1, with Catching Freedom. Currently based at the Fair Grounds, Timberlake won the one-mile Champagne Stakes (G1) on Oct. 7 at Aqueduct.
The Rebel will anchor a 12-race card that begins next Saturday at 1 p.m. EST.