HOT SPRINGS, Ark. - The Factor put himself on the road to the Kentucky Derby on Saturday, when he answered the two-turn question with authority in the Grade 2, $300,000 Rebel Stakes at Oaklawn Park. The 1 1/16-mile was his first start beyond seven furlongs, and he settled beautifully before winning off by 6 1/4 lengths.
"He could have gone a mile and an eighth today," said Bob Baffert, who trains The Factor.
The Factor dominated from the start Saturday when winning by daylight in the 51st running of the Grade 2, $300,000 Rebel Stakes at Oaklawn Park in Hot Springs, Ark.
With Martin Garcia riding for trainer Bob Baffert, The Factor returned $4.80 as the favorite after finishing 1 1/16 miles in 1:42.19 over a fast track.
HOT SPRINGS, Ark. - Elite Alex will be scratched from Saturday’s Grade 2, $300,000 Rebel Stakes at Oaklawn and will run next in the Grade 2, $1 million Louisiana Derby at Fair Grounds on March 26, his trainer, Tim Ritchey, said on Saturday morning.
Glint, a stakes winner who on Friday morning was scratched from the Grade 2, $300,000 Rebel at Oaklawn, is being considered for a start in one of several races, including the Sunland Derby, said his trainer, Kellyn Gorder. He added that the other options for the horse include the Spiral or Rushaway at Turfway.
KENTUCKY DERBY NEWS: Track all the 3-year-olds on the Triple Crown trail
Bench Points, third in the Grade 2 San Felipe Stakes in his graded stakes debut on March 12, is expected to return in the $1 million Santa Anita Derby on April 9, trainer Tim Yakteen said.
In the San Felipe over 1 1/16 miles, Bench Points closed from eighth to finish nine lengths behind Premier Pegasus, who finished 7 3/4 lengths clear of runner-up Jaycito. For Bench Points, the champion California-bred 2-year-old colt of 2010, the San Felipe was his first loss in five starts.
The field for the Grade 3, $800,000 Sunland Park Derby on March 27 was beginning to come together on Friday, with Astrology and Supreme Ruler committing to the 1 1/8-mile race and Nacho Saint and Ruler On Ice settled in after shipping from New York.
The Sunland Derby is the richest race of the meet and part of a program of six stakes worth a cumulative $1.4 million. There were 224 nominations to the race. Other stakes on the Sunland Derby card will include the $200,000 Sunland Park Oaks and the $100,000 Harry Henson.
Premier Pegasus rocketed to the top of the Santa Anita Derby rankings list after an authoritative triumph March 12 in the Grade 2 San Felipe. Stretching out following a sharp third-place comeback behind The Factor and Sway Away in a seven-furlong sprint, Premier Pegasus went long for the first time and drew off by 7 3/4 lengths in the 1 1/16-mile race. His time was 1:41.23; he earned a 96 Beyer Speed Figure.
A full gate of 12 looks like a good possibility when the Grade 3, $500,000 Vinery Racing Spiral Stakes is run next Saturday, March 26, at Turfway Park.
Racing officials with the Florence, Ky., track are counting at least 11 3-year-olds as likely for the 1 1/8-mile Polytrack race, with another half-dozen or so possible for when entries are drawn Wednesday evening.
The top contenders in what appears to a wide-open field include Preachintothedevil, King Congie, Crimson China, Positive Response, Decisive Moment, Rescind the Trade, and Thirtyfirststreet.
OZONE PARK, N.Y. -- Monzon, the 3-year-old who won the Count Fleet Stakes at Aqueduct on New Year’s Day, is being pointed to the $750,000 Blue Grass Stakes at Keeneland on April 16, trainer Ignacio Correas IV said Friday.
After winning the Count Fleet, Monzon ran in the Sam. F. Davis Stakes, in which he finished fifth, beaten 7 3/4 lengths by Brethren. Correas said the horse came out of that race “a little tired.”
“Physically, he’s 100 percent,” Correas said. “Maybe it wasn’t the race, it was the trip.”
