The Rebel Stakes is Saturday at Oaklawn Park. To say that winning this Derby prep race is a harbinger of greatness would be an understatement.
While the accumulated thoroughbred talent in this race goes back to its inception, here’s a look at three of the best in the 21st century.
SMARTY JONES (2004) For their 100th anniversary in 2004, Oaklawn Park decided to spice up their road to the Derby. They announced that if a horse swept the Rebel Stakes, the Arkansas Derby, and the Kentucky Derby they would win a $5 million bonus.
That offer proved very enticing for Pennsylvania-bred SMARTY JONES. He won his first three starts, racing at Philadelphia Park (now known as Parx) and Aqueduct, by a combined 27 ¾ lengths. Although East-Coast based, his connections decided to send their prized colt to Oaklawn to prepare for a Derby run.
In his first Oaklawn start, SMARTY JONES won the Southwest Stakes by three-quarters of a length. Despite his unblemished record, he did not get much respect at the windows on Rebel Stakes Day. He was the 7-2 third choice in the betting pools. He proved the bettors wrong that day pulling away in the stretch for a 3 ¼-length victory.
Following a dominant win in the Arkansas Derby, SMARTY JONES went to Louisville as the Derby favorite, with a shot to become the first undefeated Derby winner since SEATTLE SLEW in 1977. On a sloppy track, he wore down pacesetting LION HEART for a 2 ¾-length victory, clinching the $5 million bonus.
SMARTY JONES then won the Preakness in dominant fashion, setting himself up to become the first Triple Crown winner in 26 years. A crowd of more than 120,000 showed up to Belmont Park for the Belmont Stakes to cheer on the popular Pennsylvania-bred. He lost to late-running longshot winner BIRDSTONE in one of the most memorable Triple Crown races of this century.
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CURLIN (2007) CURLIN was on the national racing radar from the moment he made his debut. He won his first start at Gulfstream in February 2007 by 12 ¾ lengths, going seven furlongs in 1:22.25.
In his second start, CURLIN went off as the second betting choice in the Rebel Stakes. Against a tougher field and stretching out around two turns for the first time, he was just as impressive. He made a big, four-wide sweep on the turn and powered away in stretch for a dominant 5 ¼-length win. At that point CURLIN became one of the Kentucky Derby favorites.
In his final tune-up for the first Saturday in May, CURLIN won the Arkansas Derby by 10 ¼ lengths. Despite not racing at age 2 and with only three starts under his belt, CURLIN was the 5-1 second choice in the Kentucky Derby. He ran 3rd behind the winner- STREET SENSE but avenged that defeat with a win in the Preakness. CURLIN lost a thrilling Belmont Stakes to the filly RAGS TO RICHES, but later that year he won the Jockey Club Gold Cup and the Breeders’ Cup Classic to clinch the Horse of the Year title.
As a 4-year-old in 2008, CURLIN added another Horse of the Year title to his résumé, notching four Grade or Group 1 wins. He also became the first American-based horse to pass $10 million in career earnings.
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AMERICAN PHAROAH (2015) Despite not racing in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile, AMERICAN PHAROAH was voted champion 2-year-old male of 2014 based on two Grade 1 wins in California. He made his 3-year-old debut in the Rebel Stakes, where he was made the overwhelming 2-5 favorite in the field of seven.
He recovered quickly from a bad break and went immediately to the front. By the time he reached the opening quarter, he was 1 ½ lengths in front and setting very moderate fractions. None of his rivals had much hope of catching him and he opened up more and more with every stride. On a very sloppy track, he crossed the finish line 6 ¼ lengths clear of the others, stopping the clock in 1:45.78.
The Rebel proved to be the launching pad for an awe-inspiring campaign. That summer, AMERICAN PHAROAH swept his way through the Triple Crown, becoming the first horse to win the Kentucky Derby, the Preakness, and the Belmont Stakes since AFFIRMED in 1978. As an exclamation point, he completed his year with a dominant Breeders’ Cup Classic win.
Will this year’s edition of the Rebel Stakes herald another victor that goes on to greatness? Only time will tell.
