Rebel

TRACK BANDIT PREVIEWS

Top Kentucky Derby (G1) contender OLD FASHIONED (Unbridled’s Song) has drawn
the rail for the $300,000 Rebel S. (G2) at Oaklawn Park on Saturday. The Larry
Jones charge has been nothing short of brilliant in his four-race career,
winning all of them by a combined 26 lengths. The gray colt has fired a
bullet in advance of this and is sure to be hammered at the windows, so we’ll
take a shot against him.

SILVER CITY (Unbridled’s Song) was second to Old Fashioned in the Southwest
S. (G3) in his two-turn debut, but we feel that the talented colt has enough
ability to turn the tables. Conditioned by Bret Calhoun, the
stakes-winning speedster is drawn outside of his main rival this time around and
he could conceivably move up in his second route attempt. If the favorite is
off just a little, Silver City could capitalize at a square price.

Old Fashioned would be no surprise in here, but the rail draw is a concern,
as is the fact that this is undoubtedly a prep for the upcoming Arkansas Derby
(G2).

HIS GREATNESS (Honour and Glory) was a game allowance/optional claiming hero most recently and
could be an exotics sleeper in this field. A debut winner at two, the colt ran
creditably in a pair of graded events to conclude his juvenile campaign and
returned with a solid effort. We could expect the bay to be much tighter for
this and he may surprise many with a well-timed ride.

HAMAZING DESTINY (Salt Lake) was absolutely spectacular in his 10 1/2-length
romp at first asking, and the bay has been moved to the barn of D. Wayne Lukas
for his second lifetime start. Since joining Lukas, the colt has been firing
bullets in the mornings and he could be good enough to give these a scare in
just his second start. This is an awfully difficult assignment following a
maiden win, but the Kentucky-bred might be the exception to the rule.

WISE KID (Lemon Drop Kid) has been on our radar screen since his debut, and
the Tim Ritchey trainee has progressed nicely leading up to his stakes bow.
The well-bred chestnut added blinkers last out and ran more professionally,
drawing off late with no signs of tiring. This field might run away from him at
this stage of his career, but the colt is surely one to watch down the road.

CAPTAIN CHEROKEE (Sir Cherokee), a half-brother to two-time Breeders’ Cup
Sprint (G1) star Midnight Lute (Real Quiet), earned his way in here with a
determined allowance tally for Steve Asmussen. The improving dark bay doesn’t
look fast enough to make a case for in here, but he’s never run poorly and
he’s a big exotics player under Luis Quinonez.

POLTERGEIST (Tapit) was outrun in the Southwest, and we simply can’t see him
move forward enough to make an impact this time around. Recent maiden victor
POINTING HOME (Point Given) would need significant improvement to reach the top
four.

Allowance winner WIN WILLY (Monarchos) drew the widest post in here and has
never been longer than six furlongs on the dirt, so we’ll have to see him
challenge these before investing in him.