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Rebellion opens fire in the Ack Ack James and Marylee Treptow's REBELLION (GB) (Mozart [Ire]) stamped himself as a serious Breeders' Cup Sprint (G1) or Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile prospect with a 1 1/2-length, last-to-first score in Saturday's $100,000 Ack Ack H. (G3) at Hollywood Park on Saturday. The Ack Ack marked the Cushion Track debut for Rebellion, and he would run over a similar surface should he compete this fall in the Breeders' Cup at Santa Anita. Breaking from the outside, Tropic Storm (Stormy Atlantic), the slight favorite over Rebellion, took an early lead while racing wide, getting the first quarter in :22 4/5. Tropic Storm then yielded to Buzzards Bay (Marco Bay) and Bold Chieftain (Chief Seattle), who raced in tandem along the inside through a half-mile in :44 4/5. Meanwhile, Rebellion fell far off the pace, and trailed the field through the half-mile fraction. He commenced a wide rally around the turn and had plenty of run to range up four-wide outside of Tropic Storm, who had regained the lead after six furlongs in 1:08 4/5. Rebellion looked the winner the rest of the way, completing 7 1/2 furlongs in 1:27 3/5. "He broke sharp and I let him settle and get comfortable behind all the speed," winning jockey Rafael Bejarano said. "After the three-eighths, I was very comfortable with my position. At the quarter-pole I went out for room and he was running very strong. I think he'll be even better with more distance." Rebellion returned $6.80, $3.40 and $3 while keying $1 exotics of $10.70 (exacta), $87.60 (trifecta) and $261.70 (9-10-5-6 superfecta). Tropic Storm returned $3.20 and $2.80, and was three-quarters of a length ahead of 10-1 shot Stoneside (Ire) (Marchand de Sable), who paid $6.60. Bold Chieftain was a half-length farther back and was followed by Buzzards Bay, Dixie Meister (Holzmeister), Bestdressed (Lit de Justice), Soul City Slew (Slew City Slew), Mr Napper Tandy (GB) (Bahamian Bounty) and Southern Africa (Cape Town). Barber (Storm Boot) and El Manuel (Chi) (Hussonet) were withdrawn. Rebellion began his career in England, where he compiled an 8-2-1-4 record. He debuted in the United States in December 2006, and has reeled off three stakes victories in eight starts in this country. In addition to the Ack Ack, Rebellion also scored in the Commonwealth S. (G2) at Keeneland last out and in the Steinlen S. over the Belmont turf last fall. He also finished a half-length second last fall in the Phoenix S. (G3) at Keeneland. Trained by Graham Motion, Rebellion now sports a record of 16-7-2-4 with earnings of $467,367. The winner was bred in Great Britain by Darley and purchased for $57,745 at the 2006 Tattersalls July sale. He is the first foal out of Group 2 queen Last Resort (Lahib) and has an unraced two-year-old half-brother by Halling named Hallstatt. This is the same female family as multiple Irish and French highweight College Chapel (Sharpo) and 2004 New Zealand Horse of the Year King's Chapel (King of Kings).
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