Mary Rampellini's top 3-year-olds at Oaklawn Park on March 2

Far Right continues his reign as the leader of the 3-year-old division at Oaklawn Park, where the next Arkansas Derby prep on the calendar is the Grade 2, $750,000 Rebel on March 14. Trainer D. Wayne Lukas made news last week when he told Daily Racing Form that Take Charge Brandi, the champion 2-year-old filly of 2014, is being considered for the Rebel. If she were to run, the race would match last year’s 2-year-old champs, as American Pharoah is being pointed for the Rebel. Lukas said Take Charge Brandi is also a candidate to remain in her division for the Grade 3, $150,000 Honeybee.

Top 3-year-old males

1. FAR RIGHT
Trainer: Ron Moquett
Pedigree: Notional–Zindi, by Vindication
Last Race: 1st in Southwest on Feb. 22 at Oaklawn
Last Beyer/Best Beyer: 91/91
Target Race: Arkansas Derby on April 11 at Oaklawn
Comment: He’s won the first two stakes in Oaklawn’s four-race series for 3-year-olds, the $150,000 Smarty Jones in January and the Grade 3, $300,000 Southwest in February. Far Right has developed into a notable closer and showed athleticism in the Southwest, a race in which he was angled out on the final turn, then, on his rider’s command, darted back to the rail in the stretch to win over The Truth Or Else and Mr. Z.

2. MR. Z
Trainer: D. Wayne Lukas
Pedigree: Malibu Moon–Stormy Bear, by Storm Cat
Last Race: 3rd in Southwest on Feb. 22 at Oaklawn
Last Beyer/Best Beyer: 90/91
Target Race: Louisiana Derby on March 28 at Fair Grounds
Comment: Lukas said he’s being pointed for the Louisiana Derby, with American Pharoah targeting the Rebel. Both horses race for Zayat Stables, and Lukas said owner Ahmed Zayat wants to keep them separated. Mr. Z worked five-furlongs by himself Monday at Oaklawn, going in 1:03.80 on a track rated “good.” Mr. Z worked without blinkers, equipment he has worn in his recent races and in his works this season at Oaklawn.

:: TOP 3-YEAR-OLDS: Aqueduct | Fair Grounds | Gulfstream | Santa Anita

3. I SPENT IT
Trainer: Anthony Dutrow
Pedigree: Super Saver–Rateeba, Sky Mesa
Last Race: 6th in Champagne on Oct. 4 at Belmont
Last Beyer/Best Beyer: 59/85
Target Race: Undecided
Comment: Dutrow said last week he was pleased with how I Spent It, the winner of last year’s Grade 2 Saratoga Special, has done in his training at Oaklawn. He placed him about three weeks from the races. I Spent It continued preparations for his first start since October on Sunday, when he breezed five furlongs between races in 59.80 seconds at Oaklawn. Ricardo Santana Jr. was aboard for the move.

4. THE TRUTH OR ELSE
Trainer: Ken McPeek
Pedigree: Yes It’s True–Lakenheath, Colonial Affair
Last Race: 2nd in Southwest on Feb. 22 at Oaklawn
Last Beyer/Best Beyer: 90/90
Target Race: Rebel on March 14 at Oaklawn
Comment: He was pushed out in the first turn of the Southwest but rebounded and launched a significant bid on the final turn. The Truth Or Else continued on strongly to the wire in a big effort for his first start since November. Last year, The Truth Or Else was third in the Grade 1 Champagne.

5. BOLD CONQUEST
Trainer: Steve Asmussen
Pedigree: Curlin–One for Jim, Distorted Humor
Last Race: 4th in Southwest on Feb. 22 at Oaklawn
Last Beyer/Best Beyer: 85/85
Target Race: Rebel on March 14 at Oaklawn
Comment: He ran a creditable fourth in the Southwest, his first out since finishing third to Carpe Diem in the Grade 1 Breeders’ Futurity at Keeneland in October. He had prepped for the Southwest at Fair Grounds but is scheduled to remain at Oaklawn in advance of the Rebel, said Asmussen.

Honorable Mention: Hillbilly Royalty, Conquest Curlinate, Magic of Believing, Poseidon’s Way, Instant Replay

:: DERBY WATCH: Top 20 from Jay Privman and Mike Watchmaker

:: ROAD TO THE KENTUCKY DERBY: Prep races, point standings, replays

Top 3-year-old fillies

1. TAKE CHARGE BRANDI
Trainer: D. Wayne Lukas
Pedigree: Giant’s Causeway–Charming, Seeking the Gold
Last Race: 1st in Martha Washington on Jan. 31 at Oaklawn
Last Beyer/Best Beyer: 77/87
Target Race: Honeybee on March 7 at Oaklawn, or Rebel on March 14 at Oaklawn
Comment: Lukas said last week that a number of factors will be discussed with owner Willis Horton before deciding on the next move for Take Charge Brandi. They include the anticipated field for the Rebel, the potential race shape, and how the timing of her next start will flow with either the Fantasy or the Ashland, options for the final steppingstone to the Kentucky Oaks. Take Charge Brandi breezed in company Monday at Oaklawn. She went five furlongs on a good track in 1:01.80.

2. PROMISE ME SILVER
Trainer: Bret Calhoun
Pedigree: Silver City–Uno Mas Promesa, Macho Uno
Last Race: 1st in division of Texas Stallion Stakes on Feb. 14 at Sam Houston
Last Beyer/Best Beyer: 80/83
Target Race: Possible for Honeybee on March 7 at Oaklawn
Comment: She is undefeated in six career starts, with her last five wins coming in stakes races. One of them, the Dixie Belle, was over the Oaklawn surface in January. She would be making her two-turn debut in the Honeybee after winning over seven-eighths of a mile in hand in the Stallion Stakes.

3. PANGBURN
Trainer: Ken McPeek
Pedigree: Congrats–It’s True Love, Yes It’s True
Last Race: 2nd in Pocahontas on Sept. 6 at Churchill Downs
Last Beyer/Best Beyer: 78/78
Target Race: Possible for Honeybee on March 7 at Oaklawn
Comment: She closed from last to win a first-level allowance route at Oaklawn on Feb. 20, spotting her rivals several lengths at the start when she turned her head and broke “flat-footed,” said McPeek. The race was her first since September.

Honorable Mention: Sarah Sis, Super Saks, Oceanwave, Indian Annie, Bootsy’s Girl, Desert Valley