A $200,000 bump to the Rebel Stakes (gr. II) and a condensed four-day, nine stakes Racing Festival of the South highlight Oaklawn Park's 2012 live racing season, which kicks off Jan. 13.
Thursday, August 18, 2011
Archarcharch, a contender despite dropping off Future Wager.
Steve and Lenny discuss the Rebel Stakes, Life At Ten, the Azeri Stakes, Blink Luck vs Havre de Grace and remember Cathy Roby.
MAHUBAH'S CORNER
Avalyn Hunter delves into the Rebel Stakes winner's pedigree to see if he'll have enough stamina for the upcoming classics.
Hall of Fame trainer Bob Baffert says Rebel Stakes (gr. II) winner The Factor being considered for both the Arkansas and Santa Anita Derbies.
Sunday, March 20, 2011
Can he stretch that speed for 1 1/4 miles?
Add The Factor to this year's list of serious contenders on the Triple Crown trail. The brilliant colt, trained by Bob Baffert, proved his ability to get a route of ground with a crushing win in the Rebel Stakes March 19.
Saturday, March 19, 2011The connections for Dreaminofthewin and Glint have informed Oaklawn Park officials March 18 they intend to scratch out of Saturday's $300,000 Rebel Stakes (gr. II).
Friday, March 18, 2011The grade II Rebel Stakes is, frankly, a difficult race to predict. But that doesn't mean we won't try. Let's start out with some numbers. If you didn't like numbers, you wouldn't be reading this in the first place.
Friday, March 18, 2011
Who will win the 2011 Rebel Stakes? Who will finish last? Will The Factor take them all the way? Is it time for Elite Alex or Sway Away to shine?
J P's Gusto tries to take down The Factor in crowded Rebel Stakes.
The Factor ships in from California to take on a dozen rivals in a wide-open edition of the $300,000 Rebel Stakes (gr. II) at Oaklawn Park.
Thursday, March 17, 2011
Jason and James handicap the Rebel Stakes at Oaklawn.
Rebel Is Proving Ground. Plus, a special guest interview with Mike Repole. Presented by Taylor Made Stallions.
Trainer Joe Petalino says J P's Gusto had been doing things too easily in his training leading up to the $300,000 Rebel Stakes (gr. II) at Oaklawn Park, so he demanded more from a five-furlong drill March 13.
Sunday, March 13, 2011
Caleb's Posse, winner of the Smarty Jones Stakes in January, breezed five furlongs March 12 at Oaklawn Park for regular jockey Eddie Razo Jr. in his final tune-up ahead the upcoming $300,000 Rebel Stakes (gr. II).
Saturday, March 12, 2011
San Vicente winner The Factor worked a mile in 1:38 2/5 for the March 19 Rebel Stakes
Saturday, March 12, 2011
The Factor will make his next start in the Rebel Stakes at Oaklawn Park March 19
Sunday, March 06, 2011
With just under two weeks until the $300,000 Rebel Stakes (gr. II), several leading contenders based at Oaklawn Park posted workouts March 6.
Sunday, March 06, 2011
Gem Stables' grad I winner J P's Gusto posted a good-looking breeze on a windy morning at Oaklawn Park March 5 as he prepares for the $300,000 Rebel Stakes (gr. II) March 19.
Saturday, March 05, 2011
Two days after a rough running of the Southwest Stakes (gr. III) at Oaklawn Park on Presidents' Day, connections for the top four finishers are making tentative plans to join the next dance in the Rebel Stakes (gr. II).
Wednesday, February 23, 2011
Favored Lookin at Lucky, trying blinkers and dirt for the first time in his 2010 debut, won the $300,000 Rebel Stakes (gr. II) at Oaklawn Park when his late bid produced a neck victory over the stubborn Noble's Promise.
Saturday, March 13, 2010The pace scenario in the grade II Rebel is neatly arranged. From seven entries, we have one with early speed, one that lags back, and five that can be expected to press or stalk. The stalker that finishes best should win.
Friday, March 12, 2010
Trainer Bob Baffert brings out his big gun, 2009 juvenile champion Lookin At Lucky, in the $300,000 Rebel Stakes (gr. II) at Oaklawn Park March 13. Now he just wants to be sure the son of Smart Strike is ready to fire.
Thursday, March 11, 2010
Jason, Tom, and Les Instone of twinspires.com preview the Tampa Bay Derby (gr. III) and the San Felipe Stakes (gr. II).
Last year's champion juvenile male, Lookin At Lucky, is on schedule for his first start of the year, the March 13 Rebel Stakes (gr. II) at Oaklawn Park, after a workout at Santa Anita March 8.
Monday, March 08, 2010
Trainer Bob Baffert has Lookin At Lucky penciled in for the Rebel Stakes (gr. II) at Oaklawn Park March 13 for the colt's 3-year-old debut. But he left the door slightly ajar for the San Felipe Stakes (gr. II) the same day.
Sunday, March 07, 2010Purses may be down across the country, but stakes purses at Oaklawn Park will be higher in 2010 than they were in 2009 according to report on Arkansas Sports 360.com.
Wednesday, August 26, 2009
Win Willy, fourth-place finisher in the Arkansas Derby, was declared out of the Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (gr. I) by trainer Mac Robertson the morning of April 29, hours before entries were to be taken.
Wednesday, April 29, 2009
Win Willy, a 56-1 shot, handed Old Fashioned the first loss of his career when he outfought the heavy favorite in the final eighth of a mile to win the $300,000 Rebel Stakes (gr. II) at Oaklawn Park March 14.
Saturday, March 14, 2009There's a reasonable chance of a wet track at Oaklawn Park on Saturday, and that might help out several entries in the Grade II Rebel Stakes.
Friday, March 13, 2009
Already regarded by many as the best 3-year-olds in the land, Fox Hills Farms' Old Fashioned will look to solidify himself as the Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (gr. I) favorite when he takes on eight rivals in the $300,000 Rebel Stakes (gr. II) March 14 at Oaklawn Park.
Thursday, March 12, 2009On Monday, Steve Asmussen sent two colts out to breeze on the track, one at Oaklawn Park, and one at Fair Grounds. But both are entered in the Grade II Rebel Stakes.
Friday, March 14, 2008
Denis of Cork, the undefeated winner of the Southwest Stakes (gr. III) who was expected to vie for favoritism in Saturday's Rebel Stakes (gr. III), will not run in the race, and instead will await either the April 5 Wood Memorial (gr. I) or Illinois Derby (gr. II) the same day.
Tuesday, March 11, 2008
Live racing in the heart of Hot Springs, Ark., kicks off Jan. 18 as the 56-day Thoroughbred meet gets under way at Oaklawn Park. The historic facility first hosted racing in 1905.
Tuesday, January 15, 2008
Curlin, the leading candidate for 2007 Horse of the Year, arrived at Fair Grounds Nov. 27 following a van ride from Churchill Downs, but his racing future is still undecided.
Friday, November 30, 2007In spite of unsatisfactory weather conditions throughout much of the winter-spring, business at Oaklawn Park stayed strong on track through the 2007 live racing season. While attendance and daily average slipped, on-track wagering remained strong.
Tuesday, April 24, 2007Not even a change to green silks on St. Patrick's Day for Any Given Saturday could deny 2-year-old champ Street Sense a hard-earned victory in the Tampa Bay Derby (gr. III). Also on Saturday, rapidly emerging stars Cobalt Blue and Curlin burst on the Derby scene with impressive scores in their two-turn debuts.
Tuesday, March 20, 2007Curlin, coming off a dazzling maiden debut victory by nearly 13 lengths six weeks ago, was equally impressive Saturday, leaving his field behind while capturing the $300,000 Rebel Stakes (gr. II) for 3-year-olds at Oaklawn Park in his first start for trainer Steve Asmussen.
Saturday, March 17, 2007The Derby trail hits four fronts this weekend, with all eyes on Tampa Bay Downs, Oaklawn Park, Santa Anita, and Sunland Park. Although the races in general are more about potential stars than proven stars, that certainly doesn't apply to the Tampa Bay Derby (gr. III) which features the match-up of the year, so far.
Friday, March 16, 2007In this Rebel Stakes, will the two horses with big numbers and few races prevail? Or will the more veteran starters teach them a thing or two? Our money goes on Bob Holthus and Officer Rocket in a race set up for late runners.
Friday, March 16, 2007Teuflesberg and Officer Rocket, the first two finishers in the Southwest Stakes last month, return to Oaklawn Park Saturday for the $300,000 Rebel Stakes (gr. III) for 3-year-olds where they will meet spectacular maiden winners Curlin and Flying First Class.
Wednesday, March 14, 2007"Citgo Racing to the Kentucky Derby" will once again air on ABC and the ESPN networks beginning Saturday, March 17, the National Thoroughbred Racing Association announced Feb. 15. The series will conclude with a Triple Crown special airing from Louisville's Churchill Downs two days prior to the Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (gr. I).
Thursday, February 15, 2007The doubters are thinning out as the seasoned Triple Crown contender Lawyer Ron turned in an impressive victory in Saturday's $300,000 Rebel (gr. III) for 3-year-olds before 32,983 at Oaklawn Park, recording his fifth consecutive win.
Saturday, March 18, 2006The Kentucky Derby picture may start looking somewhat muddled at some point, but so far this year, the Road to the Derby has been pretty clear-cut. Favorites won the San Rafael (gr. II), Holy Bull (gr. III), Sham (gr. III), San Vicente (gr. II), Whirlaway, Sam F. Davis, Southwest, Santa Catalina (gr. II), and the California Derby. The gravitational pull is so hard, a disqualification placed the favorite first in the Fountain of Youth (gr. II). The issue this weekend is whether we view the trend as our friend in the Rebel Stakes (gr. III). We'll take the contrarian view, if things develop as we think they will.
Friday, March 17, 2006Lawyer Ron looks to run his winning streak to five as the likely choice in a 10-horse field for the Rebel Stakes (gr. III) Saturday at Oaklawn Park in Hot Springs, Ark. Private Vow, who won four of six races last year, makes his long-awaited 3-year-old debut.
Thursday, March 16, 2006"Citgo Racing to the Kentucky Derby," an eight-show series on ABC and ESPN providing comprehensive coverage of key Triple Crown prep races, kicks off Saturday on ESPN with coverage of four races coast-to-coast.
Wednesday, March 15, 2006As trainer Tim Ritchey watched aboard the stable pony Tuesday morning, Afleet Alex signaled that he is ready for Saturday's $1-million Arkansas Derby (gr. II), zipping through a fast half-mile workout at Oaklawn Park.
Tuesday, April 12, 2005Afleet Alex, who finished last as the 3-5 favorite in Saturday's Rebel (gr. III), was scoped following the race and found to be suffering from a lung infection. Trainer Tim Ritchey said the colt is still being pointed for the April 16 Arkansas Derby (gr. II).
Sunday, March 20, 2005Lewis Lakin's Greater Good rallied from well off the pace to collar runaway pacesetter Rockport Harbor for a half-length victory in the $250,000 Rebel (gr. III) at Oaklawn Park.
Saturday, March 19, 2005
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