Tipsheet: 2022 Rebel Stakes

A total of 11 sophomores will travel 1 1/16 miles in Saturday’s lucrative $1 million Rebel S. (G2) at Oaklawn Park. The 2022 Road to the Kentucky Derby challenge series contest will reward the top four finishers with qualifying points (50-20-10-5) towards the Run for the Roses on May 7.

Rebel Stakes Picks

• #8 Chasing Time
• #2 Newgrange
• #10 Ethereal Road
• #11 Dash Attack

Rebel Stakes Wagers

• $20 win and place 8
• $1 superfecta 2,8 with 2,8 with 10,11 with all
• $1 superfecta 2,8 with 2,8 with all with 10,11

Rebel Stakes Contenders

#1 KAVOD checked in fourth in both the Smarty Jones S. and Southwest S. (G3) at the meeting for trainer Chris Hartman. The speedy son of Lea is well drawn on the rail, and he could be dangerous if left alone early on at a nice price. Francisco Arrieta will be in the silks.

#2 NEWGRANGE brings an unbeaten three-for-three mark to the race for Bob Baffert. The Violence colt drove home a smart victor of the Southwest S. (G3) last time out, and he drilled a rapid five furlongs in the interim to prepare for his second local try. John Velazquez retains the mount.

#3 CAIRAMA is the first of three in the cast for trainer Steve Asmussen. A belated sixth in the Smarty Jones, the $525,000 two-year-old purchase has been freshened up for this engagement and looms as a top-three contender with improvement off the short break under Geo Franco.

#4 UN OJO went last-to-second in the Withers S. (G3) in his latest venture, and the Empire State-bred gelding has to get a look as an exotics piece in the field. The son of Laoban has improved his Brisnet Speed number with each lifetime try and will be doing his best work down the stretch with Ramon Vazquez inheriting the ride.

#5 TEXAS RED HOT makes his seasonal debut in a tough spot for conditioner Randy Morse. The Texas Red colt has failed to hit the board in his previous pair of runs in the stakes ranks and will need a lifetime best to make the frame. Ricardo Santana is in the stirrups.

#6 STELLAR TAP was an allowance third in his three-year-old debut in advance of his third graded stakes effort. The son of Tapit has room for improvement as a colt bred to get better with experience, and he has trained steadily to ready for this spot. Christian Torres will be in the irons.

#7 BEN DIESEL loomed large late prior to finishing a solid third in the Southwest most recently. The Dallas Stewart pupil has obvious ability, and if he takes a step forward, the son of Will Take Charge will be in the hunt inside the final furlong beneath Jon Court.

#8 CHASING TIME romped in a recent allowance heat on the course and gets the upset nod for Asmussen. The $250,000 yearling purchase has been consistently solid to this stage of his development and seems poised to take the next step in his stakes debut on this occasion. The Kentucky-bred benefits from getting Tyler Gaffalione to ride.

#9 BARBER ROAD has been first or second in each of his five starts since adding blinkers for John Ortiz. The talented Race Day colt owns a pair of stakes placings at the meeting and will be a real threat if the pace backs up in the stretch. Reylu Gutierrez has the call atop the versatile sophomore.

#10 ETHEREAL ROAD seemed to put it all together with a stylish maiden romp last time out, and I believe that the D. Wayne Lukas pupil will make some noise in the race at a nice number. The bay son of Quality Road has upped his game since arriving at Oaklawn, and he has the turn of foot to grab a share late with Luis Contreras in the controls.

#11 DASH ATTACK rates as the wildcard in the cast while drawing the widest of all. The Ken McPeek trainee impressed in winning his first two lifetime tries, led by a clear victory in the Smarty Jones S., prior to running just evenly in the subsequent Southwest most recently. The Munnings colt has fired two bullet morning works in the interim and his best performance will make him a major contender. David Cohen stays in the silks.