Bold Conquest targeting Rebel start

HOT SPRINGS, Ark. – Bold Conquest, who was fourth in Sunday's Southwest Stakes at Oaklawn Park in his first start since October, is being pointed for the Grade 2 Rebel Stakes on March 14, trainer Steve Asmussen said Tuesday. Bold Conquest will attempt to give his owner-trainer team of Ackerley Brothers Farm and Asmussen their second Rebel win together, following Snuck In in 2000.

The Southwest was Bold Conquest’s season opener, following his third-place finish to Carpe Diem in the Grade 1 Breeders’ Futurity at Keeneland on Oct. 4. Bold Conquest had largely prepped for the Southwest at Fair Grounds.

“I do expect to run him back in the Rebel,” Asmussen said. “I’m real pleased with how he came out of the Southwest. Because of the quick turnaround, he’ll stay at Oaklawn.”

Asmussen noted that the Rebel comes 20 days after the Southwest due to a winter storm system that forced the Southwest to be run six days later than its original date of Feb. 16.