Smokey Image and Uncle Lino, who were fifth and fourth in the San Felipe Stakes last Saturday, will try again against one-two-three finishers Danzing Candy, Mor Spirit, and Exaggerator in the Grade 1, $1 million Santa Anita Derby on April 9, their trainers said Thursday.
Cupid, the lone Santa Anita shipper in the Rebel Stakes at Oaklawn Park, is the logical alternative to Suddenbreakingnews, and is my play.
Grade 3 stakes winner Cocked and Loaded, gearing up for his first start of the year in the Blue Grass Stakes, breezed five furlongs in 59.80 seconds at Tampa Bay Downs on Thursday, the fastest of 15 works at the distance.
O, for a horse with points! Kentucky Derby qualifying points are what the owners of promising 3-year-olds crave seven weeks out from the Kentucky Derby, and plenty are at stake Saturday in the Grade 2, $900,000 Rebel Stakes at Oaklawn Park.
The wait for fast 3-year-olds officially ended last Saturday when first Destin improved on his 91 Beyer Speed Figure in the Sam Davis with a 100 while winning the Tampa Bay Derby. A half-hour later at Santa Anita, Danzing Candy hit triple digits with a 100 in his San Felipe win.
Add a ninth horse, Majesto, to the list of probable entrants Saturday for the Louisiana Derby on March 26.
Cupid carries the hopes of trainer Bob Baffert in the Grade 2, $900,000 renewal of the Rebel Stakes on Saturday at Oaklawn Park. He was one of 14 horses entered Wednesday in the 1 1/16-mile stakes.
Those with the closest interest in Suddenbreakingnews will be hoping he stops the presses with a victory in the Grade 2, $900,000 Rebel Stakes at Oaklawn Park, and continues his march toward the Kentucky Derby on May 7 at Churchill Downs.
The champion Mineshaft, standing just across the aisle from his great sire A.P. Indy in the Lane's End stallion barn, has quietly fashioned a solid stud career for himself. Carrying the banner is his Grade 3 Southwest Stakes winner Suddenbreakingnews, who will look to take the next step on the Kentucky Derby trail in this Saturday's Grade 2 Rebel Stakes at Oaklawn Park.
Outwork, who finished second to Derby Watch member Destin in the Tampa Bay Derby, and Cupid and Whitmore – both scheduled to run on Saturday in the Rebel at Oaklawn Park – are the three newcomers to this week's top 20.
