Suddenbreakingnews Storyline in Rebel
Suddenbreakingnews fresh off a come from behind win in the G3 Southwest Stakes looks to make it two in a row in today’s G2 $900,000 Rebel at Oaklawn.
In the Southwest Suddenbreakingnews, a 3YO son of Mineshaft, was last with a little more than a half-mile to go but closed in a hurry to win going away in a final time of 1:45.14 for the 1 1/16 mile distance. It was the first graded win and third career win from six outings with earnings of $443,032 for owner Samuel Henderson and trainer Donnie Von Hemel. It should be noted that Suddenbreakingnews broke his maiden at Remington Park on the grass in his first ever start but was disqualified and placed second for interference in the stretch.
Suddenbreakingnews Speed Fig Leads Rebel
The final running time in the Southwest was good enough to earn a 93 Beyer speed figure which puts him atop the field in the Rebel.
Whitmore who was second in the Southwest returns to try and turn the table and will have a new rider in Irad Ortiz, Jr. In the Southwest Whitmore was ridden by Mike Smith who stays home to ride Penwith in the 1 1/8 Santa Margarita at Santa Anita. Whitmore has two career wins at 6f including a win here in a $62K OCNW2 lifetime in which he wore blinkers for the first time and had to overcome a troubled start. His run in the Southwest was not without trouble as he had to steady at the 1/2 mile pole and bobbled while racing five wide.
It wouldn’t be a Rebel without a runner from the barn of Bob Baffert who has won the Rebel five of the last six times including the 2015 running with American Pharoah. Baffert sends out the lightly raced Cupid who has one win in three starts for owners Tabor, Magnier, and Derr. He will race for the first time since breaking his maiden going two turns for the first time in his last start at Santa Anita.
Selections: 12 – 1A -10
