As much as Medina Spirit’s disqualification on February 21 in the Kentucky Derby presented by Woodford Reserve (G1) and the 90-day suspension of coach Bob Baffert can be the subject of racing talk. car, then Baffert’s stables will be up and running this weekend in some pretty decent stakes.
Highest on the list is the $1 million Rebel Stakes (G2) for 3-year-olds on February 26 at Oaklawn Parkwhere Baffert is undefeated Newgrange will go one step further on the fenced Triple Crown trail to the final destination.
While Baffert plans to appeal the 90-day ban starting March 8, he is facing a separate 2-year suspension at Churchill Downs and currently, his 3-year-olds such as Newgrange cannot compete in the Kentucky Derby or qualify for it in prep races.
While that means some of the 85 qualifying points (50-20-10-5 for the top four finishers) to win in Rebel could be left blank, it doesn’t change the mission. for Newgrange’s opponents in 1/16- Mile Rebellion.
The son of Violence Newgrange has been a perfect three in his young career, including winning bets in the Jan 1 Sham Stakes (G3) and Jan 29 Southwest Stakes (G3) in Oaklawn.
Bred by Jack Mandato and Black Rock Thoroughbreds of Kentucky, Newgrange was purchased by “The Avengers” partnership with SF Racing, Starlight Racing and Madaket Stables for $125,000 from Brookdale Sales at Promotions. September 2020 in Keeneland. The ownership group has since grown to include Robert Masterson, Stonestreet Stables, Jay Schoenfarber, Waves Edge Capital, Catherine Donovan, Golconda Stable and Siena Farm.
Sol Kumin of Madaket Stable said: “Newgrange did a very good job of purifying last weekend. “He’s a horse. Bob is excited about moving forward and he feels comfortable transporting him for the race. We expect him to run well on Saturday.”
Last time out, Newgrange reached 1/2 victory in the Southwest, a stepping stone to prepare for Rebel.
Among Baffert’s other contenders on Saturday were Pinehurst One Spinning candy The 3-year-old was running in the $1.5 million Saudi Arabia Derby introduced by Al Rajhi Bank (G3) at King Abdulaziz Racecourse in Saudi Arabia for the same ownership group as Newgrange.
Area 11 for the million dollar bet includes the top five finishers in the Southwest.
WSS Racing’s Haircut line second in the Southwest for coach John Ortiz, rallying from 11th to claim 1st place in 1/16 mile bets. ONE Race day colt, he’s finished second in his last three games, including Smarty Jones Stakes at Oaklawn and Lively Shively Stakes at Churchill Downs, and has eight Kentucky Derby qualifying points, putting him 17th in the standings.
Dash Attack was second choice 3-1 in the Southwest behind Newgrange but failed to fire and took sixth place for Catalyst Stable, Magdelena Racing, Kevin Pollard and Patty Slevin. Coach Ken McPeek was disappointed in that effort by winner Smarty Jones but believes his son Munnings returnable on Saturday.
“I think we were a little soft on him before the last race. We missed some training because the track was icy and freezing,” said McPeek, the athlete who landed in position. outside and is 13th with 10 Kentucky Derby points. “He’s had two strong winds since then and I think you’ll see him run better.”
Also from the Southwest, Willis Horton Racing’s Ben Diesel (Fees will be charged ), who came in third, and James Rogers and Michael Robinson of Kavod (meadow ), who came in fourth, will also return in Rebel.
Coach Steve Asmussen will nominate a trio in MyRacehorse Stable’s Chasing time L and N Racing and Winchell Thoroughbreds’ Stellar Tap and HRH of Prince Sultan Bin Mishal Al Saud’s Cairama .
Chasing Time, son of Not this time is about to hit a 7 3/4 long win in the race for the January 14 allowable option rights in Oaklawn while trying two turns for the first time.
“He’s obviously got the pace, the pace, and he showed that early on,” Asmussen said. “But the two turns, the separation and ease he did, plus the last 1/8 mile of his first two-pass race at: 12 2/5 under minimum incentive and the way he’s been practicing since then, it’s got us excited.”
Stellar Tap, one Tapit The 3-year-old, clinched a place in racing history on Aug. 7 taking Asmussen’s 9,446th win, giving the Hall of Fame coach the all-time record for victories in the race. Karma.
He was dropped from the position in the next two starts at 2 and starts 2022 with a third in an optional claimant on January 22 at Fair Grounds & Slots.
Cairama broke slowly and finished sixth in Smarty Jones at the age of 3 debut.
Additional reporting by Byron King.
Item: Rebel S. (G2)
Oaklawn ParkSaturday, February 26, 2022, Race 11
- Level II
- 1 1/16m
- Dust
- 1,000,000 dollars
- 3 yo
- 5:22 pm (local)
