Road to the Kentucky Derby > Rebel Stakes
Rebel Stakes Race Facts
- Location: Oaklawn Park, Hot Springs, AR
- Inaugural Race: 1961
- Current Distance: 1 1/16 miles
- Track Type: Left-Handed Dirt
- Age Qualifications: Three-year-olds
- Status: Grade 2
- 2023 Purse: $1,000,000
- 2023 Race Date: Saturday, February 25th
The Remsen Stakes is any early race in the Road to the Kentucky Championship Series . Usually held each year early in March, winners of the contest are awarded 50-20-15-10-5 points respectively.
2023 Rebel Stakes Race Results
| POST | HORSE | JOCKEY / TRAINER | WIN / PLACE / SHOW |
|---|---|---|---|
| 7 | Confidence Game | James Graham / J. Keith Desormeaux | $39.00 / $13.20 / $7.80 |
| 3 | Red Route One | Cristian A. Torres / Steven M. Asmussen | $8.20 / $5.00 |
| 6 | Reincarnate | John R. Velazquez / Tim Yakteen | $5.20 |
| 1 | Verifying | Florent Geroux / Brad H. Cox | |
| 10 | Bourbon Bash | Mickaelle Michel / D. Wayne Lukas | |
| 5 | Giant Mischief | Irad Ortiz, Jr. / Brad H. Cox | |
| 4 | Gun Pilot | Ricardo Santana, Jr. / Steven M. Asmussen | |
| 11 | Frosted Departure | Francisco Arrieta / Kenneth G. McPeek | |
| 2 | Powerful | Isaac Castillo / Steven M. Asmussen | |
| 9 | Event Detail | Gerardo Corrales / Paulo H. Lobo | |
| 8 | Talladega | Flavien Prat / Rodolphe Brisset |
Exotic Payoffs:
- $1 Exacta (7-3) Paid: $134.00
- $0.50 Trifecta (7-3-6) Paid: $709.70
- $0.10 Superfecta (7-3-6-1) Paid: $419.79
The History of the Rebel Stakes
First run in 1961, the Rebel Stakes is an important part of the Oaklawn Park spring 3-year-old series, and an important lead-up to the Arkansas Derby. It’s a dirt surface race on a left-handed track for three-year-olds. Inaugurated in 1961 as the Rebel Handicap, the race was initially contested at 1 mile & 70 yards but it was increased slightly to 1 1/16th miles when the event was changed from handicap to stakes allowance in 1984 and renamed. The average number of of starters is 10.2, with the 15-horse field in 1980 being the largest ever for the event. It’s also included in the first part of the Road to the Kentucky Derby Championship series. The first five home are given points on a 50-20-15-10-5 basis.
The race considered an important prep race for the $1 million Arkansas Derby. Since the first running, a total of 14 horses have won both the Rebel Stakes and Arkansas Derby in the same year. Nine horses have won both the Rebel Stakes and Arkansas Derby and one American Classic race: Curlin, Smarty Jones, Victory Gallop, Pine Bluff, Sunny’s Halo, Temperance Hill, American Pharoah, Magnum Moon, and Omaha Beach.
Of these horses, Temperance Hill, Sunny’s Halo, Pine Bluff, Victory Gallop, Smarty Jones, Curlin, and American Pharoah would all go on to win legs of the Triple Crown, as did 2010 winner Lookin At Lucky. American Pharoah holds the distinction of winning both and the Triple Crown in 2015.
The biggest margin of victory at the Rebel Stakes is seven lengths. The record is co-owned by Etony (1968) and Manatash Ridge (1989). The record for fastest winning time at 1 1/16th miles is 1:41.00, set by Vanlandingham in 1984. The record set at 1 mile & 70 yards is 1:40 4/5, which was set by Betemight in 1967.
The record for most wins by an owner is five (Loblolly Stable – 1980, 1984, 1987, 1992, and 1993). The record for most wins by a jockey is five (Mike E. Smith – 1986, 1993, 1999, 2014 and 2019), and the most wins by a trainer is Bob Baffert, who won the event a whopping eight times (2010, 2011, 2012, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2020, and 2021)
Rebel Stakes Past Winners
| Year | Winner | Jockey / Trainer | Distance / Time |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | Confidence Game | James Graham / J. Keith Desormeaux | 1 1⁄16 miles / 1:44.21 |
| 2022 | Un Ojo | Ramon A. Vazquez / Ricky Courville | 1 1⁄16 miles / 1:45.69 |
| 2021 | Concert Tour | Joel Rosario / Bob Baffert | 1 1⁄16 miles / 1:43.18 |
| 2020 | Nadal | Joel Rosario / Bob Baffert | 1 1⁄16 miles / 1:44.97 |
| 2019 (Division 1) | Long Range Toddy | Jon Court / Steven M. Asmussen | 1 1⁄16 miles / 1:42.49 |
| 2019 (Division 2) | Omaha Beach | Mike E. Smith / Richard E. Mandella | 1 1⁄16 miles / 1:42.42 |
| 2018 | Magnum Moon | Luis Saez / Todd A. Pletcher | 1 1⁄16 miles / 1:42.68 |
| 2017 | Malagacy | Javier Castellano / Todd A. Pletcher | 1 1⁄16 miles / 1:43.00 |
| 2016 | Cupid | Martin Garcia / Bob Baffert | 1 1⁄16 miles / 1:43.84 |
| 2015 | American Pharoah | Victor Espinoza / Bob Baffert | 1 1⁄16 miles / 1:45.78 |
| 2014 | Hoppertunity | Mike E. Smith / Bob Baffert | 1 1⁄16 miles / 1:43.90 |
| 2013 | Will Take Charge | Jon Court / D. Wayne Lukas | 1 1⁄16 miles / 1:45.18 |
| 2012 | Secret Circle | Rafael Bejarano / Bob Baffert | 1 1⁄16 miles / 1:44.55 |
| 2011 | The Factor | Martin Garcia / Bob Baffert | 1 1⁄16 miles / 1:42.19 |
| 2010 | Lookin at Lucky | Garrett K. Gomez / Bob Baffert | 1 1⁄16 miles / 1:43.06 |
| 2009 | Win Willy | M. Clifton Berry / McLean Robertson | 1 1⁄16 miles / 1:44.41 |
| 2008 | Sierra Sunset | Christopher A. Emigh / Jeff Bonde | 1 1⁄16 miles / 1:43.88 |
| 2007 | Curlin | Robby Albarado / Steven M. Asmussen | 1 1⁄16 miles / 1:44.70 |
| 2006 | Lawyer Ron | John McKee / Robert E. Holthus | 1 1⁄16 miles / 1:44.09 |
| 2005 | Greater Good | John McKee / Robert E. Holthus | 1 1⁄16 miles / 1:44.92 |
| 2004 | Smarty Jones | Stewart Elliott / John C. Servis | 1 1⁄16 miles / 1:42.07 |
| 2003 | Crowned King | Chandra R. Rennie / Billy C. McKeever Jr. | 1 1⁄16 miles / 1:44.00 |
| 2002 | Windward Passage | Donnie Meche / Steven M. Asmussen | 1 1⁄16 miles / 1:45.06 |
| 2001 | Crafty Shaw | Joe M. Johnson / Peter M. Vestal | 1 1⁄16 miles / 1:43.82 |
| 2000 | Snuck In | Cash Asmussen / Steven M. Asmussen | 1 1⁄16 miles / 1:42.99 |
| 1999 | Etbauer | Mike E. Smith / Steve Wren | 1 1⁄16 miles / 1:44.02 |
| 1998 | Victory Gallop | Eibar Coa / W. Elliott Walden | 1 1⁄16 miles / 1:44.72 |
| 1997 | Phantom On Tour | Larry Melancon / Lynn S. Whiting | 1 1⁄16 miles / 1:42.93 |
| 1996 | Ide | Craig Perret / Peter M. Vestal | 1 1⁄16 miles / 1:44.10 |
| 1995 | Mystery Storm | Craig Perret / Larry Robideaux Jr. | 1 1⁄16 miles / 1:44.41 |
| 1994 | Judge T C | Joe M. Johnson / Gary G. Hartlage | 1 1⁄16 miles / 1:44.14 |
| 1993 | § Dalhart | Mike E. Smith / Thomas K. Bohannan | 1 1⁄16 miles / 1:42.31 |
| 1992 | Pine Bluff | Jerry D. Bailey / Thomas K. Bohannan | 1 1⁄16 miles / 1:42.83 |
| 1991 | Quintana | David Guillory / David C. Cross Jr. | 1 1⁄16 miles / 1:42.70 |
| 1990 | Nuits St. Georges | James Edward Bruin / Douglas R. Peterson | 1 1⁄16 miles / 1:46.00 |
| 1989 | Manastash Ridge | Antonio Lopez Castanon / D. Wayne Lukas | 1 1⁄16 miles / 1:43.00 |
| 1988 | Sea Trek | Patrick A. Johnson / Gary G. Hartlage | 1 1⁄16 miles / 1:42.60 |
| 1987 | Demons Begone | Pat Day / Philip M. Hauswald | 1 1⁄16 miles / 1:41.40 |
| 1986 | Rare Brick | Mike E. Smith / A. J. Foyt III | 1 1⁄16 miles / 1:43.20 |
| 1985 | Clever Allemont | Pat Day / Lynn S. Whiting | 1 1⁄16 miles / 1:44.40 |
| 1984 | Vanlandingham | Pat Day / Claude R. McGaughey III | 1 1⁄16 miles / 1:41.00 |
| 1983 | Sunny's Halo (CAN) | Larry Snyder / David C. Cross Jr. | 1 mile & 70 yards / 1:42.20 |
| 1982 | Bold Style | Larry Snyder / Jack Van Berg | 1 mile & 70 yards / 1:44.40 |
| 1981 | Bold Ego | John Lively / Dennis Werre | 1 mile & 70 yards / 1:41.20 |
| 1980 | Temperence Hill | Darrell Haire / Joseph B. Cantey | 1 mile & 70 yards / 1:44.40 |
| 1979 | Lucy's Axe | Eddie Maple / Joseph B. Cantey | 1 mile & 70 yards / 1:42.80 |
| 1978 | Chop Chop Tomahawk | Larry Snyder / Earl R. Jackson | 1 mile & 70 yards / 1:42.40 |
| 1977 | § United Holme | Jorge Enrique Tejeira / Robert E. Holthus | 1 mile & 70 yards / 1:44.20 |
| 1976 | ƒ Riverside Sam | Garth Patterson / Earl R. Jackson | 1 mile & 70 yards / 1:41.60 |
| 1975 | Promised City | David E. Whited / Larry Spraker | 1 mile & 70 yards / 1:44.40 |
| 1974 | § Perfect Aim | Geary E. Louviere / Harold Tinker | 1 mile & 70 yards / 1:44.40 |
| 1973 | Game Lad | Al Herrera / David R. Vance | 1 mile & 70 yards / 1:41.20 |
| 1972 | Our Trade Winds | Lonnie Ray / Robert E. Holthus | 1 mile & 70 yards / 1:42.60 |
| 1971 | Compte Deux | Don Brumfield / Ike K. Mourar | 1 mile & 70 yards / 1:44.40 |
| 1970 | Admiral's Shield | Stanley A. Spencer / Harvey L. Vanier | 1 mile & 70 yards / 1:44.00 |
| 1969 | Traffic Mark | Phil I. Grimm / Ronnie G. Warren | 1 mile & 70 yards / 1:42.80 |
| 1968 | Etony | John Pagano / Harry Holcomb | 1 mile & 70 yards / 1:43.80 |
| 1967 | Betemight (CAN) | Henry Moreno / Doug M. Davis, Jr. | 1 mile & 70 yards / 1:40.80 |
| 1966 | Timely Move | M. Freed / Charlie Vinci | 1 mile & 70 yards / 1:42.20 |
| 1965 | Swift Ruler | Larry Spraker / Gin L. Collins | 1 mile & 70 yards / 1:44.20 |
| 1964 | † Spike Nail | Ronnie J. Campbell / Robert E. Holthus | 1 mile & 70 yards / 1:43.00 |
| 1963 | Devil It Is | Robert Gallimore / G. Alberico | 1 mile & 70 yards / 1:45.00 |
| 1962 | Treasury Note | Wayne Chambers / Henry Forrest | 1 mile & 70 yards / 1:42.40 |
| 1961 | Bass Clef | Ronald Baldwin / Anthony W. Rupelt | 1 mile & 70 yards / 1:42.40 |