HOT SPRINGS, Ark. -- Uncle Brent ran the Oaklawn meet’s fastest six furlongs on Saturday when he won his debut in 1:09.41, and he could be headed next to the Grade 2, $300,000 Rebel at Oaklawn on March 19. The 1 1/16-mile arace for 3-year-olds is being discussed for the horse, said Eric Reed, who trains Uncle Brent for Westwind Farms and his assistant, Brent Taylor.
“I really think he wants to stretch out, and Brent agrees, too,” Reed said. “Right now we don’t have any definite plans, but the Rebel is definitely on our mind. If for some reason it doesn’t work out, because it is back awful quick, there’s another stakes in April, the Northern Spur, and that’s on the table, too.”
The $75,000 Northern Spur is for 3-year-olds at a mile at Oaklawn on April 16.
Uncle Brent zipped a half-mile in 44.60 seconds and kept going in the maiden special weight, winning by 1 3/4 lengthss to earn a Beyer Speed Figure of 89. Israel Ocampo rode the horse, who is a son of the Mr. Prospector stallion Pioneering.
Reed has had a strong meet at Oaklawn. He won the $75,000 Pippin in January with Satans Quick Chick, who shipped in from Reed’s division in Kentucky. She then came back to Oaklawn on Feb. 19 and ran second in the $100,000 Bayakoa and could make one more trip to Hot Springs this meet, said Reed.
“We’re going to either come back for the Apple Blossom, which is number one on our list,” he said, “and if for some reason we don’t go there, we’ll run at Keeneland, in the Doubledogdare.”
The Grade 1, $500,000 Apple Blossom is on April 15, while the Grade 3, $100,000 Doubledogdare is April 22.
Jerry Jamgotchian owns Satans Quick Chick as well as Jelly Cable, who Reed said would be considered for one of the later 3-year-old filly route stakes at Oaklawn after running third in last weekend’s $50,000 Valdale at Turfway.