Oaklawn Park: Tapiture works half-mile ahead of Rebel Stakes

HOT SPRINGS, Ark. – Tapiture was out for a maintenance move Monday at Oaklawn Park, breezing a half-mile in 50.20 seconds in preparation for the Grade 2, $600,000 Rebel on Saturday.

Tapiture could go favored in the 1 1/16-mile race following his win in last month’s Grade 3, $300,000 Southwest at Oaklawn. He was a 4 1/2-length winner for Winchell Thoroughbreds and trainer Steve Asmussen and earned a career-high Beyer Speed Figure of 98.

Tapiture on Monday came out in the second set at Oaklawn, on a clear, 48-degree morning. The track was fast. Tapiture was accompanied by a pony ridden by Asmussen’s assistant, Darren Fleming. After warming up to the wire, he went into his breeze at the half-mile pole.

Tapiture worked a few paths off the fence, with Oaklawn clocker Ronnie Morse getting his first eighth-mile in 13.20, his opening quarter in 25.80, and his final quarter in 24.40. Tapiture galloped out five furlongs in 1:04.20.

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

Tapiture worked under regular exercise rider Abel Flores.

Tapiture won his maiden in the Grade 2 Kentucky Jockey Club Stakes in November. He ranks ninth in Kentucky Derby preference points with 22. The Rebel winner will earn 50 points on the system administered by Churchill Downs.

The Rebel will be drawn Wednesday. Other probables for the race include Strong Mandate, the Southwest runner-up who won the Grade 1 Hopeful at Saratoga; Kobe’s Back, winner of the Grade 2 San Vicente at Santa Anita in February; and Ride On Curlin, the third-place finisher in both the Southwest and Grade 1 Champagne.