EXTRA INCENTIVESBet $100, Get $10 | Gulfstream Park | today’s racesSCHEDULE NOTESTurfway, Mahoning Valley, Charles Town, Louisiana Downs | cancelled due to weatherTOURNAMENT TIME$100 Gulfstream Feeder | detailsNOTABLE CARRYOVERSJackpot Pick 6 | $56,806 | Gulfstream | begins Race 4 | 2:26 pm ETPick 6 | $12,390 | Fair Grounds | begins Race 5 | 3:45 pm ETPick 5 | $9,485 | Penn National | begins Race 3 | 6:43 pm ET1/ST BET AI MOST LIKELY GULFSTREAM PARK WINNERGulfstream Park | Race 6 | 3:29 pm ET | #4 Lady Monique (33%)KEY RACESTurf Paradise | Race 7 | 5:59 pm ET | Princess of Palms StakesLONGSHOT RACE ALERT FROM BETMIXGulfstream Park | Race 2 | 1:22 pm ETFair Grounds | Race 1 | 1:45 pm ETDelta Downs | Race 6 | 8:10 pm ETTRAINERS TO WATCHCasey Lambert | Sunland Park | all 5 entrants 4-1 or less morning line oddsDID YOU SEE?Yesterday | Penn National | jockey Julio Hernandez | 4 wins, 1 second from 5 mountsPUT US ON YOUR HANDICAPPING TEAMFrank Carulli & Brian W. Spencer Thursday best bets available in Xpressbet.com member’s section

The 12-race Rebel Stakes (G2) card originally scheduled for Saturday has been pushed back to Sunday due to weather conditions in Hot Springs, but that does not take away from the outstanding wagering opportunities offered from start-to-finish. Amongst them are a late Pick 4 that includes three graded stakes races with another 2 Million 1/ST Rewards Points Hit & Split at Xpressbet and 1/ST BET, as well as another chance at the Triple Crown Prep Money-Back Special. It promises to be a February Sunday Funday to remember.Grade Descriptions: Grade A=Highest degree of confidence; Grade B=Solid Play. Grade C=Least preferred or pass; Grade X=probable winner but likely at odds too short to play.Race 9: Honeybee (G3)Grade: BMain Ticket: 6 Take Charge Milady; 13 Five G; 9 Look ForwardBackups: 1 Muhimma; 11 AnonimaForecast: Brad Cox brought undefeated filly Good Cheer back off the layoff last Saturday in the Rachel Alexandra (G2) and she was dominant beating a soft field in New Orleans. On Sunday, it will be #1 Muhimma who returns off a 2.5-month respite after rattling off three straight wins to kick off her career. She has a much tougher task than her stablemate did last weekend since the Shadwell Stable runner has plenty of talent and speed drawn to her outside in the first leg of this challenging late Pick 4.#13 Five G would be my top choice if not for the draw. The Vekoma filly has done virtually nothing wrong in her last three starts, including a huge effort in her win in the Cash Run at Gulfstream Park on New Years’ Day. If Irad Ortiz Jr. can avoid a wide voyage from the 13-hole, this George Weaver trainee has a huge chance. #6 Take Charge Milady should get a much-better trip. The Kenny McPeek runner encountered traffic issues in her loss to stablemate #11 Anonima on December 20 and has rattled off a pair of impressive victories over this surface since. She should fall into another favorable mid-pack voyage under Julien Leparoux. Anonima also was done no favors at the draw, but at 15-1 is tough to outright toss. #9 Look Forward has serious speed and a lot of talent. If she can avoid getting caught up in an early tussle, she could prove tough to catch late.Race 10: Razorback (G3)Grade: B-Main Ticket: 5 SkinnerBackups: 3 First Mission; 1 Crupi; 4 Alexander Helios; 8 Baddest Good BoyForecast: #5 Skinner was the all rage going into his first start for the Cherie DeVaux barn last month at Fair Grounds, but underwhelmed over the slop in the Louisiana (G3). His only other try over an off track was modest as well, so I am willing to forgive the dull run and come back with him in this 1 1/16-mile stake for 4YO+. The son of Curlin retains Jose Ortiz and should get an honest pace to chase.I will back him up with several including #3 First Mission who makes his first start since the Whitney (G1) for Brad Cox, #4 Alexander Helios who has hit the board in all three starts over this surface for the red-hot Saffie Joseph Jr. barn, #1 Crupi who gets some class relief after being outrun in the Pegasus World Cup (G1), and undefeated #8 Baddest Good Boy, who gets a major class test for Norm Casse.Race 11: Rebel (G2)Grade: B-Main Ticket: 10 Bullard; 1 Coal Battle (pictured)Backups: 3 Sandman; 4 HypnusForecast: #3 Sandman was made the lukewarm 4-1-morning line favorite in this year’s Rebel after breaking poorly, yet still coming with a strong late run to finish second to #11 Speed King in the Southwest (G3) last month. The Tapit colt has done little wrong other than his gate issue last month since arriving in Hot Springs for Mark Casse, but is likely to get a bit over bet off of the trouble last out.Southern California invaders #5 Madaket Road and #10 Bullard also are likely to take plenty of public support. I much prefer Bullard. The Gun Runner colt has yet to try two-turns and draws towards the outside, but his talent is obvious. He was on the wrong part of the track in his third-place finish to Barnes in the San Vicente (G2). If he takes to the added ground like I expect, they could be running for second place. That said, Umberto Rispoli has his work cut out for him from the 10-hole. I will also include #1 Coal Battle on all tickets. The Coal Front colt has been a great story for veteran conditioner Lonnie Briley. He can certainly finish, but the key will be avoiding traffic issues along the rail. #4 Hypnus showed some ability in his maiden breaker over the off track in Louisiana. This is a big ask in his second start, but he should be the right price to include as a backup.In terms of the Money Back Special, I will take advantage with Bullard assuming the 5-1-morning line holds. If not, I will move to Coal Battle.Race 12:Grade: C+Main Ticket: 9 Tizmarkus; 2 Mayor; 3 Cutting Class; 12 Miracle MarkBackups: NoneForecast: #8 Two Dollar Eddie is the deserving 3-1-morning line favorite in the finale after three consecutive runner-up efforts for trainer Greg Compton. The Good Samaritan gelding ran well last time to finish second, but has had far too many chances to endorse as the top choice. I like #9 Tizmarkus most despite being turned away by Two Dollar Eddie on debut. The 4YO colt took a lot of public support going off at 5-2 in a 12-horse field and held his own. A step forward gets the job done in here. I will also include first-time starter #2 Mayor, second-time starter #3 Cutting Class, and #12 Miracle Mark who gets blinkers for the initial time.

Mother Nature could influence Laurel Park’s popular Late Pick 4 this Friday, Feb. 21. The windy forecast could produce sub-freezing temperatures – and perhaps a speed-favoring track -- for the 50-cent wager. The Late Pick 4 will close out the Jackpot Pick 6 that features a $1,797 carryover pool.LRL 6th race (2:29 p.m. EST) -- FIRST PEARL steps up off the claim after she finished a distant second to the favorite for a $20,000 tag at one mile. But she ran against a strong track bias on a muddy track that produced five wire-to-wire winners and two other up-close types who combined for 64 lengths of winning margins. GREEN EYED MONSTER, by 2018 Pimlico Special (G-3) winner Irish War Cry, rallied for second in a comeback sprint behind a speedy repeat winner. Her trainer, John Robb, is 7-41 the last two years with stretch-out sprinters. GAGA’S HAMSOME, hard-ridden from off the pace in a 6F sprint at Aqueduct, couldn’t reach the 5-2 winner but got up for second. She stretches out and adds Lasix for trainer Claudio Gonzalez, who is 8-40 the last three years with new acquisitions.LRL 7th race (2:59 p.m. EST) -- MOR MOR MOR found more on the front end to romp twice in her last three starts, the first in a fast heat at Laurel Park and the latest in a pace-controlling spot on a speed favoring track. She will be an underlay in the wagering, so add two others to the Pick 4 ticket. GRACEFUL ROSE ‘kicked on belatedly’ while 4-wide in a double ‘key’ long sprint at Aqueduct. She rallied for third behind a next-out allowance repeater the last time she ran 6F at Laurel. DWELLING LEGACY goes from one top barn to another off an eight-month layoff. But she breezed a 5F bullet in her final workout for today’s race and wears blinkers for the first time. DISSOLUTE, heavily bet throughout her career, won a 6F allowance two starts back at Penn National, but the race produced 0-for-6 follow-up performances with an average 50 Beyer.LRL 8th race (3:27 p.m. EST) -- SECRET ZIPPER draws the rail and seeks his fourth consecutive front-end victory at this distance. MAGIC MICHAEL, winless in four starts since a Grade 3 placing going 1-1/2 miles, is a multiple stakes-placed router at Laurel, earning one-third of his $613k bankroll at today’s distance. But good recent form and proven long-distance form abounds in today’s feature race, so go five deep in Leg C.LRL 9th race (3:58 p.m. EST) -- RASCALLION is the one to beat after she dueled from the first turn to mid-stretch before the favorite passed by to win in a longer route race. THIRD TUESDAY chased the winning favorite and was passed by the second favorite in an improved third-place showing. Her trainer is 8-42 second-off-the-claim in the last two years but 0-8 on the sprint-to-route angle. STORM CREED, bumped on both sides at the start, was asked for run on the final turn and forced 7-wide in the stretch while finishing 4 lengths behind Rascallion.Suggested 50-Cent TicketLRL 6th Race: 1, 6, 8LRL 7th Race: 1, 2, 4LRL 8th Race: 1, 2, 5, 6, 7LRL 9th Race: 2, 6Cost: $45

The Lead:Winter weather has pushed back racing this week at Oaklawn and Saturday's originally scheduled Rebel Stakes Day card instead will be offered Sunday. That includes its supporting features, of which the $500,000 Grade 3 Razorback Handicap goes as Race 10. The Razorback will be part of a 2 Million 1/ST Rewards Points Hit & Split over the late pick 4 sequence, which includes the Grade 3 Honeybee in the Race 9 kickoff as well as the Grade 2 Rebel in Race 11.​Field Depth:CRUPI is a Grade 2 winner and Grade 1-placed. FIRST MISSION and RED ROUTE ONE also are Grade 2 winners. SKINNER has won at the Grade 3 level and is Grade 1-placed. CREATIVE MINISTER was third in the 2022 Grade 1 Preakness, while COOKE CREEK is Grade 2-placed. This is a very strong field for a Grade 3 and those on the class rise have a huge hurdle. CRUPI and FIRST MISSION have held the strongest company lines overall.​​Pace:How hard Flavien Prat sends BANISHING from post 2 tells the pace tale. FIRST MISSION likely sends from post 3 with speedy ALEXANDER HELIOS breaking next door. COOKE CREEK the only other interested party in the early mix. Deep closers will be up against the projected race shape, especially at just 1-1/16 miles in distance, unless .Our Eyes:Here are my horse-by-horse notes.#1-CRUPI: Shortest trip for this classy closer since breaking his maiden at Monmouth in July '23. Dylan Davis takes over the controls for the first time on this Todd Pletcher trainee, and this tandem wins 35% with a massive $2.20 ROI for every $1 bet since the start of 2024. First OP attempt, but sire Curlin won the Rebel and Arkansas Derby there. Late threat, but pace set-up works against him.#2-BANISHING: Red-hot gelding is a head shy from 5 straight wins and has been a different performer since coming to David Jacobson's barn. Flavien Prat takes the call for this class test, and he's perfectly drawn to make them work to get past him. Ghostzapper colt won at this trip twice previously when with Brendan Walsh.#3-FIRST MISSION: First start since August for last year's local Essex winner. Brad Cox got off to a horrific start at the meet but has won 35% locally since late January and this one is working bullets at Fair Grounds for the return. Should be forward throughout.#4-ALEXANDER HELIOS: Gulfstream allowance winner makes a return trip to Oaklawn, having gone 3: 1-0-2 here in allowance company in 2024. Saffie Joseph Jr. trainee has been consistent and his runner-up to Hit Show in a Churchill allowance last May was against a horse of similar quality to these. Second-off-the-layoff always a form cycle of note.#5-SKINNER: California export didn't move forward off the barn change to Cherie DeVaux when third in Fair Grounds' Louisiana Stakes. Didn't take a step back either, just continues to be a solid, late-running sort. Sire Curlin won the Rebel and Arkansas Derby locally, so he might perk up over this track for the first time. FG leading jockey Jose Ortiz rides him back on the road trip.#6-FULL SCREEN: Moved too soon into fast pace of the Tinsel Stakes in January over 9 furlongs and flattened out late. Meets tougher here may be destined for another flat finish vs. this quality of competition.#7-DIMATIC: Last year's Zia Park Derby winner takes on elder stakes horses for the first time and needs a career-best to be competitive. Trainer Steve Asmussen has gotten mixed reviews out of his one in prior Oaklawn starts.#8-BADDEST GOOD BOY: Least-experienced Razorback entrant is 2-for-2, winning a maiden and allowance already at the Oaklawn meet. Got very favorable pace set-ups in both, however, and will be challenged to continue his winning ways vs. much tougher foes.#9-HENRO: Late-running sprinter did win the Iowa Derby over this trip last July, but didn't come with any late flair in the slow-paced Fifth Season Stakes here January 25. Feast of famine 6: 3-0-0 record over this track for Chris Hartman.#10-COOKE CREEK: Mike Maker trainee found his groove between May-September last year, but went off form since and has been inconsistent throughout his career. Irad Ortiz Jr. rides and this one typically doesn't get involved at any point if he's not in the race from the outset. You'll know a quarter-mile into the Razorback.#11-TONKA WARRIOR: Longshot closer lacks any early speed and looks to snap a 6t-race losing streak while meeting the toughest field of his career. Couple decent tries at the meet, but faces tougher Sunday.#12-RED ROUTE ONE (pictured): Deep closer has been inconsistent over the years, but never has excelled at 1-1/16 miles (8: 0-3-2). Won the 9F New Orleans Classic and Cornhusker last year in a lucrative campaign, but the race has to melt down at this distance to come back to him.#13-CREATIVE MINISTER: The 2022 Preakness third-place finisher is still eligible for N2X allowance after 22 starts. He runs the same race in terms of impact and speed figures nearly every trip. Wide draw means he'll likely drop back farther than usual to avoid ground loss.#14-SEIZE THE NIGHT: Sidelined after the Essex last March, he's run 3 times back in his form cycle with a Tinsel Stakes win sandwiched between a pair of no-threat performances. Difficult to recommend vs. these from 14-hole.Most Certain Exotics Contender:BANISHING is in raging form, gets Prat, drawn perfectly and proven over the track and distance.Best Longshot Exotics Contender:COOKE CREEK could stick around if he's into the mix early, though wildly inconsistent, his best makes him a factor.Sending it in ($100 bankroll):$80 win BANISHING. $10 daily double part-wheel BANISHING to MADAKET ROAD and TIZTASTIC in the Race 11 Rebel ($20).

Fourteen international runners entered the world’s richest horserace, the $20 million Saudi Cup, at today’s post-position draw in Riyadh. Headliners include 2024 Kentucky Derby and Breeders’ Cup Classic-placed Forever Young from Japan and the Hong Kong-based superstar Romantic Warrior. The Saudi Cup is part of a 9-race card at King Abdulaziz Racecourse that gets underway at 7 am ET. Horseplayers at 1/ST BET and Xpressbet can watch and wager on all the action.Romantic Warrior, who will break from stall 9, has earned a Thoroughbred racing world-record total exceeding $23 million US – all on turf – and is a Group 1 winner in Hong Kong, Australia, Japan and Dubai. The 7-year-old looks to cement his historical status by tackling dirt for the first time. Turf stars Mishriff (2021) and Panthalassa (2023) have previously won the Saudi Cup to set the turf-to-dirt precedent.Forever Young won the Saudi Derby over this track a year ago (pictured) prior to winning the UAE Derby in Dubai and nearly annexing the Kentucky Derby when coming up just 2 noses short despite a bumpy run through the stretch. The Yoshito Yahagi trainee bounced back from his Breeders’ Cup Classic third at Del Mar with a Dec. 29 win in the Group 1 Tokyo Daishoten at Oi Racecourse in his most recent start. He will break from the far outside 14 stall, but this 1-1/8 miles race is around 1 turn and has a long run before the only bend.America’s only direct representative is Rattle N Roll (post position 7), the 6-year-old Kenny McPeek trainee who followed up November’s Grade 1 Clark Handicap win at Churchill Downs with a Group 3 local prep victory in Riyadh on January 25. America won the ’24 Saudi Cup on the heels of Senor Buscador.US fans will also recognize former Bob Baffert trainee Defunded (post position 11), the 2023 Hollywood Gold Cup winner and Pegasus World Cup runner-up who finished seventh in last year’s Saudi Cup after being sold to local interests. The 8-year-old Ushba Tesoro is no stranger to American followers after competing in the past two Breeders’ Cup Classics from his home base in Japan. He’s best known for winning the 2023 Dubai World Cup. Ushba Tesoro leaves from the rail Saturday.The Saudi Cup Day undercard includes:-- The Riyadh Sprint, featuring Breeders’ Cup Sprint winner Straight No Chaser, Santa Anita-based for Dan Blacker;-- The Saudi Derby, which includes Aqueduct’s Jerome Stakes winner Cyclone State for trainer Chad Summers;-- The 1351 Turf Sprint, where South Florida-based Howard Wolowitz represents trainer Jose D’Angelo.$20 Million Saudi Cup | King Abdulaziz Racecourse | 1-1/8 miles on dirt1-Al Musmak (PP 10) | Muhammad Aldaham2-Defunded (PP 11) | Antonio Fresu3-El Kodigo (PP 13) | Gustavo Calvente4-Faceur Cheval (PP 12) | Mickael Barzalona5-Forever Young (PP 14) | Ryusei Sakai6-Intense For Me (PP 2) | Camilio Ospina7-Ramjet (PP 9) | Kosei Miura8-Rattle N Roll (PP 7) | Joel Rosario9-Romantic Warrior (PP 3) | James McDonald10-Ushba Tesoro (PP 1) | Akira Sugawara11-Wait to Excel (PP 8) | Adel Alfouraidi12-Walk of Stars (PP 6) | Tadhg O’Shea13-Wilson Tesoro (PP 4) | Yuga Kawada14-Wooton’sun (PP 5) | Ricardo Ferreira15-Scotland Yard (alternate) | Luis MoralesSaudi Cup Day Racing ScheduleRace 1 | 7:00 am ET | $1.5M Jockey Club Local HandicapRace 2 | 7:40 am ET | $2M Arabian ClassicRace 3 | 8:20 am ET | $1.5 Saudi DerbyRace 4 | 9:00 am ET | $2M Riyadh Dirt SprintRace 5 | 9:40 am ET | $500K Saudi International HandicapRace 6 | 10:25 am ET | $2M Neom Turf CupRace 7 | 11:10 am ET | $2M 1351 Turf SprintRace 8 | 11:50 am ET | $2.5M Red Sea Turf HandicapRace 9 | 12:40 pm ET | $20M Saudi CupSaudi Cup Day Wagering NotesWin-Place: Takeout 17.5%, $1 minimumExacta: Takeout 19.5%, $1 minimumTrifecta: Takeout 25%, $.20 minimumSuperfecta: Takeout 25%, $.10 minimum-- all racesPick 6 (final 6 races): Takeout 25%, $.50-cent minimumPick 3 (races 4-6 and 7-9): Takeout 25%, $.50-cent minimumDaily Double (races 5-6 and 8-9): Takeout 25%, $1 minimum

Veteran Gulfstream Park handicapper Ron Nicoletti anchors the 20th annual Xpressbet Beat the Host Handicapping contest this Saturday for the eighth and final week of the regular season. Horseplayers taking on Nicoletti have one more shot at qualifying for the Beat the Host Championship Round and winning their share of $67,500 in weekly and seasonal prizes. Last week’s host, Jeremy Plonk, managed a single winner from the 10 contest races and provided little barrier to the competition.Among the contestants during Week 7, John Fallon paced the field with $205.50 in mutuel earnings and collected the $1,000 weekly top prize. Runner-up William Voith ($200.00 mutuel total) earned an additional $750 in prize money, while Lawrence Wise ($195.00 mutuel total) finished third and added another $250.Wise made a huge move on the seasonal leaderboard to $604, just $12.50 behind long-time season leader Glenn Gulden ($616.50). Two other players are within $100 for the top heading into the final week.So far, 462 players have qualified for the Beat the Host Championship by winning a weekly head-to-head against the hosts.Beat the Host encompasses 10 races each contest Saturday, split between the final 5 Gulfstream Park races and first 5 from Santa Anita. Contestants place $5 win bets on the Xpressbet platform for each of the 10 Beat the Host races, earning their parimutuel winnings as well as rising up the leaderboard and potentially topping the experts.Register here.Beat the host’s total once to qualify for the March 8 BTH Championship (maximum 1 seat per qualifier). Weekly prizes include $1,000 to the contestant with the highest accumulated dollar total, as well as $750 to second and $250 to third. The BTH Championship will pit all weekly winning players against one another in pursuit of seats in the lucrative Pegasus World Cup Betting Challenge, Xpressbet Santa Anita Derby Challenge and Xpressbet Florida Derby Challenge tournaments.A sweep the host bonus ($6,500) and season leaderboard champion (Pegasus World Cup Betting Challenge, 1/ST Ultimate Betting Challenge seats) also are in prize play. With one week to play, just 4 players remain eligible in the sweep the host bonus chase (1 fell by the wayside during Week 7).The host lineup for the season:Jan. 4—Pete Aiello (Gulfstream Park)Jan. 11--Millie Ball (Santa Anita & XBTV)Jan. 18-- Tom Quigley (Santa Anita)Jan. 25--Jeff Siegel (1/ST BET & XBTV)Feb. 1--Brian Nadeau (Gulfstream Park)Feb. 8--Frank Mirahmadi (Santa Anita)Feb. 1--Jeremy Plonk (1/ST BET)Feb 22--Ron Nicoletti (Gulfstream Park)Registration is open: sign up today and play Saturday.

EXTRA INCENTIVES10X 1/ST Rewards Points | Tampa Bay Downs | all wagers todaySCHEDULE NOTESTurfway Park | cancelled due to weatherTOURNAMENT TIME$100 Gulfstream Feeder | detailsNOTABLE CARRYOVERSJackpot Pick 5 | $186,361 | Parx | begins Race 1 | 12:05 pm ETSuper Hi 5 | $10,251 | Gulfstream Park | Race 9 | 5:06 pm ET1/ST BET AI MOST LIKELY GULFSTREAM PARK WINNERGulfstream Park | Race 1 | 12:50 pm ET | #7 Ben’s Hero (30%)KEY RACESTurf Paradise | Race 7 | 6:03 pm ET | Luke Kruytbosch StakesLONGSHOT RACE ALERT FROM BETMIXGulfstream | Race 2 | 1:22 pm ETTampa Bay Downs | Race 5 | 2:45 pm ETTampa Bay Downs | Race 7 | 3:45 pm ETTRAINERS TO WATCHRohan Crichton | Gulfstream Park | all 4 entrants 4-1 or less morning line oddsDID YOU SEE?Yesterday | Turf Paradise | favorites won 3 of 7 races (40% over last 30 days)PUT US ON YOUR HANDICAPPING TEAMFrank Carulli & Brian W. Spencer Wednesday best bets available in Xpressbet.com member’s section

The most lucrative stop on the Kentucky Derby trail so far in 2025 takes place Sunday in Oaklawn’s $1.25 million Grade 2 Rebel Stakes, the race pushed back a day due to an impending winter storm. The 1-1/16 miles test in the final local tune-up for the Grade 1 Arkansas Derby and boasts a capacity field of 14. Among those are the Smarty Jones winner and the Southwest 1-2-3 finishers already having starred in the series.Horseplayers at 1/ST BET and Xpressbet can enjoy up to a $10 money-back special on win bets in the Rebel Stakes Stakes – as well as Turfway’s John Battaglia Memorial Stakes – if their selection finishes second or third.Let’s Meet the Contenders for the Race 11 Rebel on a card that features four additional stakes:#1-COAL BATTLE: Rides a 3-stakes winning streak after victories in the Jean Lafitte at Delta, the Springboard Mile at Remington Park and the Smarty Jones on Jan. 4 at Oaklawn (pictured). The Smarty Jones winner looks to become the first to add the Rebel since Will Take Charge in 2013. Sire Coal Front won Oaklawn’s 2019 Razorback in his only local performance. Most successful horse for 72-year-old trainer Lonnie Briley.#2-ADMIRAL DENNIS: Trainer Brad Cox won this race last year with Timberlake and looks for this Constitution colt’s first stakes win. He’s won 2 of 4 starts, favored in all 4, and his fourth-place finish in the Gun Runner at Fair Grounds in December was flattered last Saturday when that race’s alumni Magnitude and Built returned to finish first and third, respectively, in the Risen Star Stakes.#3-SANDMAN: Became an instant buzz horse with a troubled, runner-up finish in the Grade 3 Southwest over this track Jan. 25. He’ll look for a cleaner start under jockey Cristian Torres, who seeks to pilot back-to-back Rebel winners (Timberlake ’24). Torres leads the Oaklawn standings by a dozen victories coming into the racing week. This $1.2 million Tapit colt has won 2 of 6 for Mark Casse while 3: 0-1-1 so far in stakes.#4-HYPNUS: Easily the least experienced Rebel entrant, this Jan. 18 Fair Grounds debut winner caught the eye in his lone start with a strong rally. Well-bred Into Mischief-Dream Tree colt goes for last year’s Kentucky Derby-winning trainer Kenny McPeek. He won the roses a year ago with Mystik Dan, who started in each leg of the Arkansas Derby series except the Rebel.#5-MADAKET ROAD: Trainer Bob Baffert owns a Rebel record 8 victories all-time, most recently Concert Tour in 2021. He continues to separate his Santa Anita-based prospects; Getaway Car traveled to win last weekend’s Sunland Park Derby. This $650,000 son of Quality Road debuted second to Rebel return rival Bullard at Del Mar, but since added a Santa Anita maiden sprint win and an even third to Champion 2-Year-Old and stablemate Citizen Bull in the 2-turn Robert B. Lewis Memorial. Baffert and Irad Ortiz Jr. rarely pair but did team up to win the 2020 Pegasus World Cup and Whitney.#6-PUBLISHER: A week after the dazzling Risen Star victory by Magnitude put him squarely in the Derby picture, trainer Steve Asmussen looks to build his supporting cast. The 4-time Rebel winner would be a longshot with this Southwest Stakes sixth-place finisher, who was 53-1 that day. Did have a troubled trip and lures stakes maven Flavien Prat to the saddle, but the son of 2015 Triple Crown winner American Pharoah remains a maiden through 5 starts.#7-DREAMINBLUE: Son of sprinter Street Bross exits a local maiden breaker over 6 furlongs and makes a class and distance rise. Trainer Randy Morse loses regular rider Cristian Torres to Sandman on Saturday, turning to Franciso Arrieta. Damsire Curlin won the 2007 Rebel in his stakes unleashing.#8-INNOVATOR: 89-year-old trainer D. Wayne Lukas has had a couple of narrow defeats on the Kentucky Derby trail so far in 2025, including Sunday’s runner-up by Caldera in the Sunland Park Derby and this colt’s front-running third in the Lecomte at Fair Grounds. Innovator has hit the board in 6 of his last 7, but is 3: 0-1-1 in stakes. Lukas has saddled Rebel winners in 1989 (Manastash Ridge) and 2013 (Will Take Charge). He turns to 17-year-old apprentice jockey Tyler Bacon.#9-SMOKEN WICKED: Louisiana-bred has won 3 straight, including Fair Grounds’ Futurity and Juvenile for the state-bred sprinters. Dallas Stewart charge has won 4 of 8, all starts around 1 turn to date, and figures to be part of the pace under Tyler Gaffalione. Son of stakes-winning sprinter Bobby’s Wicked One lands Tyler Gaffalione in the saddle.#10-BULLARD: Trainer Michael McCarthy has Los Alamitos Futurity winner Journalism set for next week’s San Felipe, so Santa Anita-based Bullard hits the road this week. The $675,000 son of Gun Runner won Del Mar’s Bob Hope over 7 furlongs before a flat third in the San Vicente at Santa Anita behind Kentucky Derby Future Wager individual favorite Barnes. This will be his first trip around 2 turns and first outside of California as regular rider Umberto Rispoli guides.#11-SPEED KING: Southwest Stakes winner is a half-length from perfection in 3 starts, the only loss when runner-up to Rebel rival Coal Battle in the Springboard Mile at Remington Park. Led all the way in the Southwest from the far outer draw (9) and will be wide again under Rafael Bejarano. The last Southwest winner to add the Rebel was Secret Circle in 2012. Ron Moquett trains the colt by Volatile.#12-BRERETON’S BAYTOWN: Turfway-based runner for Paul McEntee is cross-entered in the John Battaglia Memorial Stakes at his home track on Saturday. He has won road trips to Charles Town and Laurel against weaker, most recently over $40,000 claimers. Both wins were on wet tracks.#13-TIZTASTIC: Trainer Steve Asmussen owns 4 Rebel victories, the most recent with Long Range Toddy in 2019, and looks to add to last week’s Risen Star score by Magnitude. This son of Belmont winner Tiz the Law won a pair of turf tilts at Kentucky Downs 10 days apart last summer but is 4: 0-1-2 on dirt. Jose Ortiz, leading rider at the concurrent Fair Grounds meeting, reunites. Tiztastic was running well late in the Southwest Stakes and rematches with Speed King and Sandman.#14-HOT GUNNER: Longshot was sixth at 64-1 in the Smarty Jones Stakes to Coal Battle in January, but since returned to pick up a Sam Houston allowance victory. He’s 2-for-2 with Lasix but 0-6 without it, which will be the case on Saturday. $1,200 bargain buy is sired by Preakness winner Exaggerator. Scott Young trains and Harry Hernandez rides.