By Christie DeBernardis
A total of 14 sophomore colts will line up Saturday evening for Oaklawn's $900,000 GII Rebel S., which is the final local prep for the $1 million GI Arkansas Derby Apr. 16 and offers 85 points towards the GI Kentucky Derby May 7. The top three finishers from the Hot Springs oval's Feb. 15 GIII Southwest S., as well as four other runners from that event will face off once again this weekend.
Samuel Henderson's Suddenbreakingnews (Mineshaft), who uncorked a wide late rally to capture the Southwest, drew the outside post Wednesday morning and will once again be ridden by Luis Quinonez. Top New York rider Irad Ortiz, Jr. will fly in to pilot Southwest runner-up Whitmore (Pleasantly Perfect), who will break from the 12-hole for Robert LaPenta, Harry Rosenblum and Southern Springs Stables.
“I feel more comfortable about the 12 than the inside for him,” trainer Ron Moquett said. “I said I wanted the seven through the nine, but we won't be in the gates real long.”
Hall of Famer Bob Baffert, who won last year's Rebel and Arkansas Derby with Triple Crown winner American Pharoah (Pioneerof the Nile), also has an entry here in Cupid (Tapit), who enters off a decisive third-out graduation when stretched to 1 1/16 miles at Santa Anita Feb. 7. Scratched from last Saturday's GII San Felipe S. in favor of this spot, the Coolmore runner will exit post three with regular rider Martin Garcia aboard.
Also, shipping in from California is Reddam Racing's GI Hopeful S. winner Ralis (Square Eddie), who has not been seen since finishing last to stablemate and champion Nyquist (Uncle Mo) in the GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile on Halloween. The Doug O'Neill pupil drew alongside his fellow Californian in the two-hole and will have Mario Gutierrez in the irons.
“It's going to be an exciting race,” O'Neill said. “He's ready to go and I'm pumped. This is a deep prep but a great prep and it will give us a heads-up. It's a test to see if he can compete with these guys and if we can still think about the Kentucky Derby.”
“TDN Rising Star” Cherry Wine (Paddy O'Prado) will look to gain some Derby points in this stakes debut after being forced to miss an expected start in Gulfstream's GII Fountain of Youth S. Feb. 27 due to a fever. The William Pacella and Frank Jones, Jr. runner, who will exit stall 13 with Corey Lanerie at the controls, broke through at fifth asking with a 9 1/4-length romp in the slop at Churchill Nov. 28. The Dale Romans trainee was equally impressive when last seen dominating a Hallandale allowance by six lengths Jan. 9.
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