Mucho Gusto will break from the rail in a field of 10 for the Grade 3, $800,000 Sunland Derby on March 24. He was installed as the 8-5 morning line favorite during a ceremonial draw of post positions Sunday at Sunland Park in New Mexico.
Road to the 2019 Kentucky Derby: Rebel Stakes (division 1) analysis
Omaha Beach and Long Range Toddy, who won divisions of the Grade 2 Rebel Stakes on Saturday, both emerged from their races in good order, and it is not impossible that they could face one another next time in the Grade 1, $1 million Arkansas Derby on April 13.
It’s been a rough few months for our sport – the sport we love. And some of the blows have come from quarters one would hope would know better. I mean, a major racetrack owner legitimizing PETA, whose stated mission is to end horse racing? Seriously? But just when you’re about to start praying that things won’t get any more troubling and bizarre, events occur to remind you of all that is great about our game. And such a major reset occurred Saturday in the second division of the Rebel Stakes at Oaklawn.
Omaha Beach showed how far he has come this year by nosing out champion Game Winner in a terrific, second division of the Grade 2, $750,000 Rebel Stakes for 3-year-olds at Oaklawn Park on Saturday.
A quartet of horses from Southern California invaded Oaklawn Park for the first division of the Grade 2, $750,000 Rebel Stakes on Saturday, but it was Long Range Toddy who stuck up for the home team by running down heavily favored Improbable in deep stretch to score an 8-1 upset.
War of Will, winner of the Lecomte and Risen Star Stakes, was installed as the 6-5-morning-line favorite when an 11-horse field was drawn Saturday for the Grade 2, $1 million Louisiana Derby at Fair Grounds on March 23.
With apologies to the late, great Ernie Banks, let's race two. A series of unfortunate events at Santa Anita has resulted in split divisions of the Grade 2 Rebel Stakes, with the upshot that the two colts currently listed as the top two choices on Daily Racing Form's Derby Watch list – Game Winner and Improbable – have traveled to Oaklawn for a blockbuster card on Saturday.
The top Kentucky Derby prospects Game Winner and Improbable will lead separate divisions of the Grade 2 Rebel on Saturday at Oaklawn Park. The races are part of a program of four stakes that includes the Grade 2, $350,000 Azeri, which drew Elate, and the $350,000 Essex Handicap, led by Giant Expectations.
Four-time Louisiana Derby-winning trainer Todd Pletcher will probably have a chance to notch his fifth winner in the $1 million race March 23.
