No Parole to get open-company test in Rebel Stakes

Unbeaten 3-year-old No Parole will make his first start outside Louisiana-bred competition in the $1 million Rebel Stakes on March 14 at Oaklawn Park.

Part-owner Maggi Moss announced the race choice on Twitter after No Parole worked a half-mile in 49.40 on Monday at Fair Grounds. Tom Amoss trains No Parole and has the crack 4-year-old filly Serengeti Empress pointed to the $350,000 Azeri Stakes on the same Oaklawn program.

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No Parole, by Violence out of Plus One, by Bluegrass Cat, won his debut Dec. 15 at Fair Grounds by 14 1/4 lengths and a first-level allowance on Jan. 12 by 13 1/4 lengths. Both starts came over six furlongs, and No Parole successfully stretched out to a two-turn mile easily winning the Premier Prince at Delta Downs. While technically a route, Delta has a bull-ring oval and a homestretch only of only about a furlong. The Rebel, over a true route of ground, will further test No Parole’s stamina, to say nothing of his class, as he’ll be taking a considerable step up by leaving Louisiana-bred competition.

No Parole’s debut Beyer has been revised downward from 90 to 89 but remains the highest of his career. He got an 84 for his allowance win and a 79 in the Prince, perhaps a further sign, beyond his sprint-leaning pedigree, that No Parole might in the end best suit one-turn races. Had he stayed home to race at his Fair Grounds base while trying open stakes competition, No Parole would’ve been tested at 1 3/16 miles in the Louisiana Derby.

Following the Prince, Moss sold a half-interest in No Parole to Greg Tramontin.