Oaklawn: Rebel nominees opt for allowance route

HOT SPRINGS, Ark. – A handful of runners that were nominated to Saturday’s Grade 2, $500,000 Rebel Stakes at Oaklawn Park have instead landed in a first-level allowance that highlights the card Friday. Unbridled’s Note, Kid Sidney, and Ring It Up should all start as top contenders in the 1 1/16-mile race that goes with a field of 11.

Unbridled’s Note is moving back to the allowance ranks after a start in the first division of the Grade 3, $250,000 Southwest at Oaklawn on Feb. 20. He opened up as the favorite for the one-mile race, which was his first start since a powerful debut win at Churchill Downs in October. Unbridled’s Note broke on top in a maiden special weight at six furlongs, then went on to win by more than four lengths in a sharp time of 1:10.40.

“He’s tremendously talented,” said Steve Asmussen, who trains the horse for Mike McCarty.

But Unbridled’s Note did not get a chance to show that in the Southwest, a race in which he broke last in the field of 11, then chased front-running winner Castaway.

“His back end slipped out from him completely away from there, and then they crawled,” said Asmussen.

Unbridled’s Note ended up ninth, beaten seven lengths. The horse, who is a half-brother to Grade 1 winner Spoken Fur, will be ridden by Channing Hill.

Kid Sidney was another big debut winner, with his score coming in a maiden special weight route at Oaklawn on Feb. 25. He won the 1 1/16-mile race by a head, after breaking last from the rail then launching a powerful bid on the final turn.

“He’s been breaking better than he did,” said trainer Jinks Fires. “But he just kind of reared out of there and got himself shuffled way back. And the dirt got to hitting him and he wasn’t used to that, so he had to deal with that for a while. And then he got out, and there he came. He ran a very impressive race.”

Jon Court has the mount on Kid Sidney.

Ring It Up finished fourth in the same Southwest division as Unbridled’s Note. He has trained strongly since, and on Monday went four furlongs in a bullet 47.60 seconds, in company with Rebel candidate Pee H Dee. Ring It Up galloped out five furlongs in 1:00.40, according to Oaklawn head clocker Jim Hamilton.