Kentucky Derby 2025: Cox hopes for hot pace in Rebel

Trainer Brad Cox is hopeful Admiral Dennis will get the right kind of setup in the Grade 2, $1.25 million Rebel Stakes on Sunday at Oaklawn Park. The son of Constitution won an allowance last out at Fair Grounds and will be returning to stakes competition after finishing fourth in the Gun Runner in December.

“I hope to see a really hot pace that he can close into,” Cox said. “Two back in the Gun Runner, he didn’t get away well, he sat behind a soft pace. There was not a lot of change in position in that race. We ran him last time trying to get him a confidence booster. Very similar pace scenario. He did range up four wide around the turn, ran well enough.”

Cox hopes Admiral Dennis, who is making his fifth start, is sitting on a forward move. The trainer won last year’s Rebel with Timberlake.

:: KENTUCKY DERBY 2025: Point standings, prep schedule, news, and more

Admiral Dennis was a $425,000 yearling purchase at Keeneland in 2023 by Albaugh Family Stables. Earlier that year, the ownership teamed with Cox to win the Arkansas Derby with closer Angel of Empire, who would go on to run third in the Kentucky Derby.

Cox has a number of promising 3-year-olds on this year’s trail. The trainer said Tappan Street is pointing for the Florida Derby, Patch Adams is on target for the Tampa Bay Derby, Disco Time will likely run next in either the Arkansas Derby or Blue Grass, and Rapture is currently on deck for the Virginia Derby.

:: Want to learn more about handicapping and wagering? Check out DRF's Handicapping 101 and Wagering 101 pages.