The Rebel Stakes Tipsheet

A superb field of eight will travel 1 1/16 miles at Oaklawn Park on Saturday in the lucrative $1 million Rebel S. (G2). The 2021 Road to the Kentucky Derby challenge series event will reward the top four finishers with qualifying points on a 50-20-10-5 structure towards the Run for the Roses on May 1.

Rebel Picks

• #7 Concert Tour
• #1 Caddo River
• #8 Super Stock
• #6 Keepmeinmind

Rebel Wagers

• $20 Win and Place #7 Concert Tour
• $1 Superfecta 1,7 with 1,7 with 3,6,8 with all

Rebel Contenders

#1 CADDO RIVER has improved with each lifetime start and could be the one to beat for Brad Cox. Hard Spun colt has dominated two fields in succession, which includes a romp in the Smarty Jones S. on the course most recently, and he gets a perfect draw on the rail for his graded debut. Dark bay will be sent from the break with Geroux in the controls.

#2 BIG LAKE is the first of a pair of contenders in the field for Asmussen. Improving son of American Pharoah is two-for-two this season and has shown steady improvement as a solid long-term prospect. The Kentucky-bred will stalk the pace while saving ground under Santana.

#3 HOZIER impressed in a stubborn maiden victory at Santa Anita in his initial route attempt for Baffert. The expensive son of Pioneerof the Nile has trained swiftly in the interim, and he could be dangerous late if the speed backs up on Saturday. Martin Garcia will guide the twice-raced colt.

#4 GET HER NUMBER capped his juvenile campaign with a tally in the American Pharoah S. (G1) while making his dirt debut. Talented son of Dialed In lands in a demanding spot for his sophomore bow, but if he improves off of his two-year-old form, he could be an obvious factor beneath Castellano.

#5 TWILIGHT BLUE defeated allowance foes in his initial try running long most recently, but he will have to get a lot faster to challenge this deep cast inside the final furlong.

#6 KEEPMEINMIND displayed a lot of talent, as well as a fine closing kick, during his excellent two-year-old season for Diodoro. Laoban colt, who capped 2020 with a score in the Kentucky Jockey Club S. (G2), bypassed some other opportunities to contest the Rebel, and I expect him to come with his best effort late with David Cohen back in the silks.  

#7 CONCERT TOUR gamely wore down the leader to post a fine San Vicente S. (G2) victory to move his mark to two-for-two. Street Sense colt has been training rapidly in the interim, and I believe that he will thrive on the stretch out on Saturday. Regular pilot Joel Rosario comes in to retain the mount atop the fine prospect.

#8 SUPER STOCK has never run a bad one on the dirt and gets a top-three chance while making his seasonal bow. The son of Dialed In is a Grade 1-placed stakes winner who has trained steadily in preparation of his toughest test to date. Tactical colt could sit a good trip stalking a swift pace to the top of the stretch with Talamo in the stirrups.