Lows aiming high with Magnum Moon in Rebel Stakes

HOT SPRINGS, Ark. – Robert and Lawana Low have won races with five different 3-year-olds this year, and one of them could make a splash on the Kentucky Derby trail Saturday at Oaklawn. The couple owns the undefeated Magnum Moon, who figures to vie for favoritism with Solomini in the Grade 2, $900,000 Rebel.

The Rebel drew 11 entries Wednesday. Magnum Moon will start from post 4 under Luis Saez, while Solomini drew post 3 and will be ridden by Flavien Prat. The 1 1/16-mile race awards Kentucky Derby eligibility points to its first four finishers on a scale of 50-20-10-5. The Rebel card also includes the Grade 2, $350,000 Azeri and the $300,000 Essex Handicap.

The Rebel field, from the rail with riders, is: Title Ready, Jose Ortiz; Curlin’s Honor, Florent Geroux; Solomini, Prat; Magnum Moon, Saez; Higher Power, Richard Eramia; Pryor, Robby Albarado; Sporting Chance, John Velazquez; High North, Gary Stevens; Zing Zang, Corey Lanerie; Combatant, Ricardo Santana Jr.; and Bode’s Maker, Jareth Loveberry

Magnum Moon, who arrived Tuesday at Oaklawn for trainer Todd Pletcher, has won both of his starts. He accounted for a maiden special weight sprint with a Beyer Speed Figure of 95 in his career debut Jan. 13 at Gulfstream Park, then won his two-turn debut in a first-level allowance Feb. 15 at Tampa Bay Downs. The son of Malibu Moon was a $380,000 yearling purchase at Keeneland and is from the female family of Graeme Hall, a winner of the Arkansas Derby.

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Pletcher also has another notable 3-year-old for the Lows in Ruler of the Nile, a $1 million purchase during the Ocala Breeders’ Sales Co. auction of 2-year-olds in training last March. He won his debut last Saturday at Tampa. The Lows’ success with 3-year-olds also extends to Oaklawn, where the homebred Bourne in Nixa won the $125,000 Gazebo on Feb. 24 for trainer Steve Margolis, who said the horse is now being pointed to the $150,000 Bachelor, another sprint for 3-year-olds, on April 12 at Oaklawn. The other 3-year-old winners for the Lows this year are Kabella, who has won three straight at Fair Grounds, including the Allen LaCombe Memorial; and Holly Go Lightly, a maiden special weight winner at Fair Grounds. Both fillies are homebreds trained by Margolis.

The Lows, based in Missouri, have long been active in racing. The couple won the Grade 3 Humana Distaff back in 1997 with Capote Belle. Real Cozzy, a homebred for the Lows, was second in the 2001 Kentucky Oaks after winning the Grade 2 Fair Grounds Oaks.

Another 3-year-old of note for the couple was Steppenwolfer, who ran third in the 2006 Kentucky Derby after finishing second in the Arkansas Derby. Green Fee, another homebred, won the Grade 2 Kelso at Belmont in 2002. Dan Peitz, who has horses for the couple at Oaklawn, trained Capote Belle, Real Cozzy, Steppenwolfer, and Green Fee.

The Rebel will go as the final race on a 10-race program that starts at 1:05 p.m. Central. A flight from Southern California was due to arrive Wednesday at Oaklawn. Those expected to be on the flight included Solomini, runner-up in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile for trainer Bob Baffert.

The forecast for Saturday is for a high of 76 degrees with a 40 percent chance of thunderstorms in the evening, according to The Weather Channel. Oaklawn is scheduled to open its infield Saturday.

The stakes Saturday will be run in consecutively, with the Essex Handicap on deck first as the eighth race. The field, from the rail with riders: Blueridge Traveler, Channing Hill; Hedge Fund, Jose Ortiz; Petrov, Richard Eramia; Untrapped, Ricardo Santana Jr.; Dazzling Gem, Gary Stevens; Rocking the Boat, Fernando De La Cruz; Leofric, Luis Saez; Dalmore, Paco Lopez; Thirsforlife, Corey Lanerie; Far Right, Ramon Vazquez; and Multiplier, John Velazquez.

The Essex is expected to produce starters for the Grade 2, $750,000 Oaklawn Handicap on April 14. The Azeri will go as the ninth race. The field, from the rail with riders: Actress, Jose Ortiz; Farrell, Channing Hill; Terra Promessa, Ricardo Santana Jr.; Tiger Moth, Florent Geroux; Sandy’s Surprise, Flavien Prat; Streamline, Gary Stevens; Martini Glass, Paco Lopez; and Blue Prize, James Graham.

The Azeri is the final local prep for the Grade 1, $700,000 Apple Blossom Handicap here April 13.

The Rebel is a stepping-stone to the Grade 1, $1 million Arkansas Derby, which closes the meet April 14.

◗ The annual St. Patrick’s Day parade in downtown Hot Springs will start an hour later than normal to allow Oaklawn patrons time to see the entire Rebel card and make the parade. Oaklawn is running one fewer race to accommodate parade attendees, according to track officials.

◗ The Budweiser Clydesdales are scheduled to make an appearance Friday at Oaklawn. The popular steeds will head to the infield to receive visitors after parading before the public.