Rebel draws 13, led by Secret Circle and Sabercat// Motor City off trail// Byrne confident with Take Charge Indy

A not-so-quite full field will line up for Saturday’s Rebel (G2) at Oaklawn Saturday.  Southwest (G3) and Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Sprint winner Secret Circle and Delta Jackpot (G3) winner Sabercat undoubtedly lead the field. Aside from those two, there are challengers that must be respected including; Scatman who gave Secret Circle everything he could handle in the Southwest; Adirondack King who ran longer than most in his his 3^rd place finish in the Southwest; Jake Mo who bounced back to form with a 2^nd place finish in the other division of the Southwest; and allowance winners Atigun and Najjaar who both have won at the Rebel distance and probably prefer going even farther.  Preview articles and link to PPs can be found below// Motor City is officially off the Derby Trail.  Trainer Ian Wilkes says the Iroquois (G3) winner is too far behind in preparation. Wilkes’s other charge Neck n’ Neck is possible for the Florida Derby (G1)// Speaking of the Florida Derby, trainer Patrick Byrne is still high on his prospect Take Charge Indy.  He has no regrets with scratching from the Tampa Derby (G2) and thinks the added distance will help// Maiden winner and Zayat Stables owned Paynter will point for the Illinois Derby (G2) as a hopeful stepping stone to the Kentucky Derby// A nice video interview below with Mark Taylor of Taylor Made Farm on Creative Cause…

Rebel (G2)

Preview Articles: Bloodhorse / DRF / Brisnet / TTimes / Oaklawn Barn Notes 3/15

PPs: Click here (look for 3/17 Secret Circle)

Picks: That Handicapping Show (Bloodhorse) / Late mover could win runnin’ Rebel (The Downey Profile)

Articles

Oaklawn trainer Lauer dreams big with Rebel contender Scatman (DRF)

Kentucky Derby hopefuls showing separation (Sports Network)

Motor City off Derby Trail; Neck n’ Neck could stay (The Downey Profile)

Byrne ‘looking forward’ to Florida Derby with Take Charge Indy (Brisnet)

Raconteur, Hakama land in softer spot for Private Terms Stakes (DRF)

Paynter to make next stop in Illinois Derby (Bloodhorse)

Creative Cause interview with Mark Taylor of Talor Made Farm [video] (YouTube)

Works

Majestic Stride OP- 5F- 1.04:60- B- 23/23

Bourbon Courage FG- 4F- 48:20- B- 6/52

Right to Vote PMM- 5F- 1.01:65 B- 1/4

Fed Biz gets 97 Beyer, Wood might be next// Southwest looks crowded// ‘All Others’ remain favorite in KDFW

Fed Biz earned a 97 Beyer speed figure for his much buzzed-about allowance at Santa Anita Thursday.  That number puts him among the top 10 in his class for speed.  Trainer Bob Baffert mentioned the Wood Memorial (G1) could be a target, which would basically give him one shot to get enough earnings for the Kentucky Derby// Todd Pletcher hopes to work Discreet Dancer on Monday and have him ready for the Fountain of Youth (G2)// The potential field for the Southwest could swell to 13//  “All others” remain the favorite in the Kentucky Derby Future Wager pool #1 after day one.  Union Rags was the individual favorite at 8-1 while Algorithms slid to 17-1. All this as of 9pm Friday// Princess Arabella, one of 6 fillies nominated to the Triple Crown, is entered in an allowance Sunday at Santa Anita// more…

Upcoming

Hutcheson Stakes (G2)- race page with PPs, race replays, articles, and picks here

Kentucky Derby Future Wager Pool #1

Live Odds

Articles

KDFW has field as 3-5 favorite (DRF)

KDFW Pool: When nothing means something (A Leg Up Blog)

Taking a shot with two value plays in pool 1 (DRF)

Crystal Ball [Derby future wagering from Ed DeRosa] (TwinSpires Blog)

Summer Sun has nothing on Derby scramble (St. George Daily Spectrum)

Pletcher reveals plans for classic prospects (Brisnet)

Atigun to shoot for Southwest (DRF)

Hollendorfer trio tops El Camino nominees (Bloodhorse)

Princess Arabella looks like short price against four foes (DRF)

Countdown to the Crown Feb 10 (DRF)

Toby Keith on ‘Reckless’ path to Derby (Bloodhorse)

Video:

Derby Watch 2/10 (DRF)

Works

Done Talking- LRL- 6F- 1.13:00- H- 1/1

Shkspeare Shaliyah- BEL- 3F- 36:62- B- 5/14

Stoney Fleece- HOL- 4F- 50:80- H- 28/29

Casual Trick- PMM- 4F- 48:02- B- 1/36

Picks

The Morning Line: Hutcheson Stakes (The Derby Post)

Notes and bits from web and Twitter:

On Fire Baby will be pointed toward the $125,000 Grade 3 Honeybee Stakes @OaklawnRacing on March 10- Brian Zipse via Twitter

Carla Gaines says Midnight Transfer is "doing great". Could be headed for showdown with Fed Biz in San Felipe- TVGResearch via Twitter

4 workouts for Lecomte// 2 Stakes on tap Monday// Beyers from Sat. Stakes// Atigun to Southwest?

Illustration by Marcy Leonard via cardsbymarcy on Twitter

Several articles on the Smarty Jones Stakes at Oaklawn.  Optimizer is the mild favorite followed by the filly On Fire Baby. Trainer Allen Milligan is very confident with both of his entries Jake Mo and King Corral// The Jimmy Winkfield Stakes at Aqueduct will also be held Monday.  Rick Dutrow’s King and Crusader is the favorite and will be running for the second time in 4 days// Beyer speed figures were released today for Saturday’s stakes.  Prospective earned a 75 for the Pascal win while Russian Greek earned a 74 from the California Derby.  Both relatively low when discussing Kentucky Derby potential// Tom Amoss reveals Shared Property won’t be 100% primed for the Lecomte (G3) next week, in favor of saving some spark for bigger events down the trail.  Four Lecomte probables- Hammer’s Terror, Z Dager, Capetown Devil, and El Padrino- worked Sunday. Their times can be seen below// Atigun, 5^th in November’s Kentucky Jockey Club (G2), won a competitive allowance at Oaklawn Sunday.  The Southwest (G3) is the next logical spot// Monday will also bring an answer to the 2-year-old champion question when the annual Eclipse Awards will be held.  Buzz seems to be leaning towards Union Rags, but I still feel Hansen should get the nod…

Results

Oaklawn- Race 7- AOC- Winner: Atigun- chart

Entries

Smarty Jones S.- Oaklawn Park- entries

Jimmy Winkfield S.- Aqueduct- entries

Articles

Oaklawn barn notes 1/15 for Smart Jones S. (Oaklawn Park)

The Morning Line: Smart Jones Stakes (The Derby Post)

On Fire Baby the horse to beat in Smarty Jones Stakes (Graded Stakes Blog)

Amoss looking forward to Lecomte with Shared Property (Brisnet)

Hansen among finalists for Eclipse Awards (Cincinnati Enquirer)

Works:

Unbridled's Note- SA- 5F- 1.03:00- H- 25/25

Hammers Terror- FG- 5F- 1.01:40- B- 4/45

Capetown Devil- FG- 5F- 1.02.80- B- 20/45

Z Dager- FG- 4F- 50.80- B- 43/80

Algorithms- PMM- 5F- 1.02:41- B- 21/35

El Padrino- PMM- 5F- 1.02:02- B- 16/35

Notes and bits from web and Twitter:

Beyers of notable Sat.: Russian Greek 74 (GG-Cal Derby); Prospective 75 (TAM-Pasco S); MDN breaking 3yo's: GP MSW (7f): Eckabroni 84; AQU MSW (6f): Hardened Wildcat 86; AQU NY/MSW (6f): Panthro 74.- Steve Byk via Twitter