Grade 2, $900,000 Rebel Stakes; 1 1/16 miles; Oaklawn Park; March 17, 2018 (50 Derby qualifying points for a win, 20 for second, 10 for third, 5 for fourth) Winner: Magnum Moon, by Malibu Moon Trainer: Todd Pletcher Jockey: Luis Saez Owner: Robert and Lawana Low Beyer Speed Figure: 97 :: ROAD TO THE KENTUCKY DERBY: Prep races, point standings, replays, and analysis Talent trumped experience as MAGNUM MOON, who had looked like a star in the making in his first two starts in Florida, stepped into stakes competition and earned a career-best Beyer figure while confirming his status as one of the most exciting prospects for the Derby. Magnum Moon made his first start in January, so he’s trying to become the first horse since 1882 to win the Derby without a start at 2; the talented Justify – who could face Magnum Moon in the Arkansas Derby – also falls into that category. With horses making fewer and fewer starts prior to the Derby than in years past, the deficit in experience is not nearly as pronounced in the current era as it was years ago for horses who did not race at 2, and this colt has done everything right in every start, so he’s obviously a fast learner. In this race, Magnum Moon broke well, got tapped in his right hindquarters leaving the gate by HIGHER POWER, but showed good speed to lead briefly before conceding the lead in order to stalk from the three path around the first turn, outside both TITLE READY and CURLIN’S HONOR. He had to move a bit closer heading into the backstretch to hold his position inside of SPORTING CHANCE, went after Title Ready from the three path entering the far turn as Curlin’s Honor began to fade, was asked aggressively near the top of the stretch, surged to the front, drifted out in midstretch, but kept on motoring and was strong through the wire and on the gallop-out. He’s very good. SOLOMINI, who was second, bobbled slightly leaving the gate but wound up in a good position into the first turn, saving ground while just behind Title Ready. He remained right on the heels of Title Ready up the backstretch, was outrun briefly three furlongs out but closed the gap anew under urging, tried to come through inside Title Ready entering the lane but instead had to switch out and come around, then finished evenly. He gamely gained the place despite not changing leads, but he was never a threat to the winner. He’s a grinder who I think is better suited racing outside horses. This wasn’t a bad effort at all for his first start in more than three months. COMBATANT, who was third, hopped slightly leaving the gate, raced near the rear into the first turn while in the two to three path, advanced between horses down the backstretch and then dropped to the rail on the far turn, vied between Solomini and Sporting Chance in upper stretch, but was outfinished in deep stretch by Solomini. All in all he had a good trip. Perhaps he can’t quite finish off his races as effectively as he needs to the farther he goes. Title Ready, who was fourth, dipped slightly to his right when the gate opened but was sent along from the rail and secured the lead into the first turn, led narrowly down the backstretch and around the far turn, could not go with Magnum Moon in upper stretch, tried to fend off Solomini and Combatant in midstretch, but weakened in the final sixteenth. Sporting Chance, who was fifth, got away well and was on the hip of Magnum Moon while four paths wide around the first turn, moved closer to the leaders after turning into the backstretch, went into the far turn four paths wide, was lapped on Magnum Moon a quarter-mile out, but went evenly through the lane. The wide trip did not help, but he never really kicked it in. ZING ZANG, who was sixth, lacked speed per usual, lugged out a bit into the first turn, was well back down the backstretch, hugged the rail around the far turn and into the lane, and was gaining some ground when he had to steady at midstretch to avoid PRYOR, who was drifting in. He’s very reminiscent of Creator, the 2016 Belmont winner, who like Zing Zang was a gray late-running son of Tapit trained by Steve Asmussen who got better with experience. HIGH NORTH, who was seventh, raced mid-pack, in the clear, in the two to three path, around the first turn, had to be asked to advance more than three furlongs out to hold his position, went into the far turn in the three path, was angled to the four path heading into the lane, but never made any impact. Higher Power, who was eighth, got squeezed a bit between horses leaving the gate, had no speed and raced near the rear of the pack around the first turn while saving ground, stayed inside all the way to the far turn, was asked to advance three furlongs out, but had nothing to offer and was always outrun. Pryor, who was ninth, broke inward and bumped with Higher Power leaving the gate, saved ground on the first turn while following Solomini, was just outside Solomini with three furlongs to run, but was out-quickened at that point, then drifted in through the lane to make things tight for Zing Zang. Curlin’s Honor, who finished last of 10, bumped with Title Ready leaving the gate, pressed the pace between Title Ready and Magnum Moon around the first turn, had to be nudged at with a half-mile to go to try and hold his position, but faded badly beginning three furlongs out.   :: Just reduced! Save on The Road to the Kentucky Derby Player's Package