Tipsheet: 2023 Rebel Stakes
Reincarnate wins the Grade 3 $100,000 Sham Stakes, Jan. 8, 2023 at Santa Anita Park. (Benoit Photo)
February 23rd, 2023
A total of 11 three-year-olds will travel 1 1/16 miles on the Oaklawn Park dirt in Saturday’s lucrative $1 million Rebel S. (G3). The 2023 Road to the Kentucky Derby challenge series tilt will reward the top five across the line with qualifying points on a 50-20-15-10-5 basis.
Rebel Stakes Selections
- #1 Verifying
- #4 Gun Pilot
- #5 Giant Mischief
- #6 Reincarnate
Rebel Stakes Wagers
Rebel Stakes Contenders
#1 VERIFYING (2-1): Looked the part when dominating allowance foes on the surface in his 2023 debut for Brad Cox. The $775,000 son of Justify has speed from the rail and shows four solid morning drills in advance of Saturday. The morning-line choice and top pick will be in the hunt from the opening bell. Florent Geroux has the assignment.
#2 POWERFUL (20-1): The Steve Asmussen trainee closed out his juvenile season with a smart stakes win while sprinting and gets more ground to work with in his sophomore bow. The Nyquist colt is bred to handle the distance and will be forwardly placed from a good post slot soon after the break with Isaac Castillo in the controls.
#3 RED ROUTE ONE (10-1): The Gun Runner chestnut rallied from well back to be second best in the Southwest S. (G3) here last time out to commence his season for Asmussen. The Winchell homebred has put in solid late runs in three of his four career outings on dirt to date, and the colt lands in a field with ample speed to aid his late kick.
#4 GUN PILOT (8-1): The third contender from the Asmussen shedrow owns two wins and a second from three career tries to date and rates a chance with expected improvement on this day. The bay son of Gun Runner has stamina influences through his dam’s side and has flashed a lot of early foot in each of his trio of lifetime outings to date. Regular rider Ricardo Santana retains the mount aboard the intriguing sophomore.
#5 GIANT MISCHIEF (5-2): The Brad Cox pupil rallied to finish a clear second in the Springboard Mile S. at Remington Park in his latest showing and has trained well in the interim. The talented Into Mischief colt has displayed a fine turn of foot in each of his three races to date and will likely receive a solid and contested pace to run into on Saturday. Irad Ortiz comes in to guide the contender.
#6 REINCARNATE (7-2): The gray son of Good Magic took a nice step forward when annexing the Sham S. (G3) at Santa Anita last time out. Now in the barn of Tim Yakteen, the colt has been first or second in each of his lifetime tries leading up to this event, and the consistently good three-year-old gives the impression of one who will only get better with distance. John Velazquez will take the reins.
#7 CONFIDENCE GAME (15-1): The dark bay Candy Ride colt was outrun late when third in the Lecomte S. (G3) at Fair Grounds most recently, and he will need marked improvement to upend this deep cast. James Graham will be in the silks once again.
#8 TALLADEGA (30-1): The Rodolphe Brisset pupil broke his maiden most recently and takes a hefty class rise in this race. The $850,000 son of Into Mischief might have turned the corner in his latest effort, but I will need to see him do it again before backing him in a field of this nature.
#9 EVENT DETAIL (30-1): The City of Light three-year-old will make the move from the All-Weather to the dirt, while also going from the maiden ranks to graded company. The Paulo Lobo pupil looks to have talent, but the $600,000 yearling purchase has a lot to overcome to pull off the upset against this group. Gerardo Corrales will be in the stirrups.
#10 BOURBON BASH (20-1): Exits a solid runner-up allowance try on the oval and has some appeal for conditioner D. Wayne Lukas. The City of Light colt has posted a pair of good races on the course in succession and could garner a minor award with a career-best showing on Saturday.
#11 FROSTED DEPARTURE (20-1): The Southwest S. (G3) third will make his 11th lifetime run in the heat and received a tough post assignment while widest of all in the field for Kenny McPeek. The talented Frosted colt has flashed good tactical speed in the past, but his inconsistency makes him difficult to back with confidence. Francisco Arrieta has the controls.
