Blackout Time draws post 4 as morning-line favorite for Rebel

HOT SPRINGS, Ark. – Blackout Time was made the 8-5 morning-line favorite in a field of 10 for the Grade 2, $1 million Rebel when posts for next Sunday’s race were drawn on Saturday at Oaklawn Park.

Brian Hernandez Jr. has the mount on the Breeders’ Futurity runner-up from post 4 for trainer Kenny McPeek.

The Rebel, which will be run over 1 1/16 miles, will offer its first five finishers Kentucky Derby points on a sliding scale of 50-25-15-10-5. It will share a card with the Honeybee, a Kentucky Oaks points race that drew 10 led by Explora, the runner-up in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies, and Taken by the Wind, the unbeaten winner of the Grade 3 Pocahontas.

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The Rebel field from the rail with riders and morning line odds: Bravaro, Francisco Arrieta, 8-1; Litmus Test, Flavien Prat, 7-2; Class President, John Velazquez, 10-1; Blackout Time, Hernandez, 8-5; Honey’s to Blame, Manny Esquivel, 20-1; Strategic Risk, Javier Castellano, 12-1; Silent Tactic, Cristian Torres, 9-2; Rancho Santa Fe, Irad Ortiz Jr., 12-1; Time for Music, Keith Asmussen, 30-1; and Soldier N Diplomat, Jose Ortiz, 10-1.

Bravaro is cross-entered in the Fountain of Youth next Saturday at Gulfstream Park. He drew post 5 in Florida and will run there according to Daily Racing Form’s Mike Welsch.

The remaining races on the Rebel Day card will be drawn Monday, said Zack Gillam, vice president of racing and wagering for Oaklawn. The Rebel field was set during a ceremonial draw after the Nodouble Stakes in an event broadcast by Fox Sports Day at the Races and carried by the simulcast feed at Oaklawn.

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