Tipsheet: 2024 Rebel Stakes

A huge field of 13 three-year-olds will run 1 1/16 miles at Oaklawn Park in Saturday’s lucrative $1.25 million Rebel S. (G2). The 2024 Road to the Kentucky Derby challenge series tilt will reward the top five across the wire with qualifying points on a 50-25-15-10-5 basis. 

Rebel Stakes Picks

• #7 Timberlake
• #1 Carbone
• #9 Lagynos

Rebel Stakes Wagers

• $30 win #7 Timberlake
• $15 exacta 7 with 1,9
• $1 trifecta 7 with 1,9 with all 

Rebel Stakes Contenders

#1 CARBONE (15-1): Mitole colt was quite impressive in his first pair of lifetime scores prior to fading in the lane in the Southwest S. (G3) as the favorite last time out. This Kentucky-bred colt gets a pass for his latest over a muddy surface and is well placed on the rail to be in the mix from the start of this event. Win threat will have Isaac Castillo in the irons. 

#2 NORTHERN FLAME (5-1): First of two from the Kenny McPeek shedrow led from gate-to-wire in an allowance score on the oval leading up to Saturday. The Flameaway colt was unplaced in his first pair of graded attempts, but he lands in a reasonable field and rates as an exotics contender with a top effort. 

#3 COMMON DEFENSE (30-1): McPeek pupil was a sharp maiden winner here two back and made little impact in the Southwest in his latest venture. The Karakontie colt has displayed a decent turn of foot to this stage of his development, but he will have to get faster to upset this cast beneath Brian Hernandez, Jr. 

#4 TEJON PASS (30-1): Peter Miller charge didn’t run all that well in his first route attempt last time out, and the son of Justify will need vast improvement to make the frame on Saturday. The chestnut will be forwardly placed with Chris Landeros in the silks. 

#5 MAGIC GRANT (50-1): Springboard Mile S. third showed nothing in the Southwest last time out, but he is better than that and will improve in his second local try. This $300,000 Good Magic colt will be doing his best work from off the pace under Harry Hernandez. 

#6 DIMATIC (8-1): Interesting sort from the Steve Asmussen shedrow was a smart allowance victor in his latest try and will add blinkers off of the win with Tyler Gaffalione taking the reins. The well-bred son of Gun Runner has improved in each career attempt to date and merits top-three consideration with another move in the right direction. 

#7 TIMBERLAKE (6-5): Standout in the field for Brad Cox seems poised to give a fine account of himself in his seasonal bow. By Into Mischief, the Grade 1 hero was a decent fourth in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile (G1) in his 2023 finale, and he has trained well in the interim. The bay simply seems faster than this group and picks up Christian Torres. 

#8 NEXT LEVEL (30-1): Grade-1 placed son of Vino Rosso rallied well to be second in a local allowance contest in his latest offering and is another who can hit the board with a best performance. The Keith Desormeaux pupil will be stalking the pace from the opening bell beneath Jose Riquelme. 

#9 LAGYNOS (20-1): Chestnut son of Kantharos showed little late in the Smarty Jones S. most recently but is a sneaky win contender against this group with expected improvement. The $200,000 yearling purchase looked the part in an allowance victory beneath the Twin Spires two back, and he will be in the hunt late with something resembling that outing. 

#10 MENA (15-1): Hard Spun colt has finished first or second in his last trio of races on the dirt and had a nice prep for Saturday when a close second in a local allowance try. The Kentucky bred possesses some tactical speed and could get first run on the deep closing types under Francisco Arrieta. 

#11 JUST STEEL (7-2): Consistent D  Wayne Lukas trainee has found his stride in his last trio of races and showed heart in retaining second in the Southwest (G3). The $500,000 son of Justify will be as fit as any runner in the field, and he owns the gate presence to endure a sensible voyage despite drawing wide. Ramon Vazquez retains the mount. 

#12 WOODCOURT (20-1): Ransom the Moon colt is two-for-two since having the blinkers removed, but the sophomore has to make a leap forward to take this field down. The Cipriano Contreras charge will likely take back and make one run from well off the early tempo. 

#13 TIME FOR TRUTH (15-1): Omaha Beach colt had put in a pair of good runs while sprinting to this stage of his development, but he is in a tough spot drawing widest of all for his stakes debut. I’m not sure if the $47,000 two-year-old purchase wants to run long, so I’ll let him beat me with Rafael Bejarano in the stirrups.