Rebel Stakes draw: Super Ninety Nine gets outside post in 11-horse field

HOT SPRINGS, Ark. – Super Ninety Nine will have to overcome post 11 on Saturday, when he starts as a strong favorite in the Grade 2, $600,000 Rebel Stakes at Oaklawn Park. He is one of two starters in the 50-point Kentucky Derby qualifying race for trainer Bob Baffert, who also sends out Den’s Legacy.

In all a field of 11 was entered for the Rebel, a 1 1/16-mile race that was drawn on Wednesday. Super Ninety Nine, who wired the field in last month’s Grade 3, $300,000 Southwest at Oaklawn, will be ridden by Rafael Bejarano. Den’s Legacy, who rallied for second in the Grade 2 Lewis at Santa Anita in his last start, drew post 6 and is to be ridden by the Oaklawn-based Robby Albarado. The pair gives Baffert a two-pronged approach to the Rebel.

“We’ve got a horse that runs on the lead, and one that’s the type that comes from off the pace,” he said.

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Super Ninety Nine romped by 11 lengths and earned a 102 Beyer Speed Figure in the Southwest, one start after winning a first-level allowance at Santa Anita with a Beyer of 100. He was to arrive at Oaklawn on Thursday following a flight from Southern California.

“He’s training well going into it,” Baffert said. “He’s run some big races, and has trained just as well going into this one.”

Super Ninety Nine races for Tanma Corporation, while Den’s Legacy is owned by the Arkansas-based Westrock Stables.

Delhomme, a Florida-based runner who will be making his first start of the year for WinStar Farm, Twin Creeks Racing Stable, and trainer Todd Pletcher, arrived at Oaklawn on Wednesday. He flew into Little Rock, Ark., just after 9 a.m., then made a one-hour van ride to Hot Springs, according to track officials. Garrett Gomez has the mount on Delhomme, who in his last start Nov. 24 finished third by three-quarters of a length in the Grade 2 Remsen at Aqueduct. Delhomme drew post 4 for the Rebel.

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

Trainer Mac Robertson, who won the Rebel in 2009 with the longshot closer Win Willy, made the decision to enter Stormy Holiday after the horse breezed a bullet five furlongs in 1:01.80 on Wednesday. Stormy Holiday is a closer, and Robertson is hopeful the Rebel might offer a nice pace setup for him Saturday.

“If he finishes good, he’s a horse that could get a part of it,” said Robertson. “He trains good here, and it kind of makes sense right now.”

Derek Bell has the mount from post 8.

The complete Rebel field from the rail with riders is: Carve, Corey Nakatani; Treasury Bill, Joe Talamo; Texas Bling, Cliff Berry; Delhomme, Gomez; Hardrock Eleven, Terry Thompson; Den’s Legacy, Albarado; Will Take Charge, Jon Court; Stormy Holiday, Bell; Title Contender, Luis Quinonez; Oxbow, Mike Smith; and Super Ninety Nine, Bejarano.

Treasury Bill, who is trained by Ron Ellis, and Title Contender, who is trained by Wayne Catalano, will be coupled as both horses are owned by Gary and Mary West.

The Rebel will share a card with the Grade 3, $150,000 Azeri for fillies and mares at a mile and a sixteenth. The race will be the seasonal debut for champion My Miss Aurelia, who will break from the outside post in the field of seven, with Nakatani to ride for trainer Steve Asmussen.

The complete field from the rail with riders is Tiz Miz Sue, Joe Rocco Jr.; Holy Heavens, Israel Ocampo; She’s All In, Luis Quinonez; Songs and Sonnets, Gomez; Keiai Tokyo, a supplementary nomination to be ridden by Rosemary Homeister Jr.; Don’t Tell Sophia, Albarado; and My Miss Aurelia, Nakatani.

The Rebel will go as the 10th race on an 11-race card that begins at 1 p.m. Central. Post for the Rebel is 5:48 p.m. The Azeri will go as the ninth, with a post of 5:13 p.m.