Blackout Time, Litmus Test highlight Rebel; Explora invades for Honeybee

Last seen finishing second to Ted Noffey in October’s Breeders’ Futurity (G1), Blackout Time will look to burnish his Kentucky Derby credentials when he lines up for Saturday’s $1 million Rebel (G2) at Oaklawn Park. The 1 1/16-mile race offers Kentucky Derby qualifying points on a 50-25-15-10-5 basis to the top five finishers, and Blackout Time has been installed as the 8-5 morning line favorite among 10 entrants.

Litmus Test, who rates as arguably Bob Baffert’s leading Kentucky Derby prospect following his victory in December’s Los Alamitos Futurity (G2), is another major player in his three-year-old opener.

A dark bay son of Not This Time, Blackout Time broke his maiden convincingly the second time out and came back to finish a rallying second in the Breeders’ Futurity at Keeneland to eventual champion two-year-old male Ted Noffey, who is now sidelined. Blackout Time has recorded five workouts in preparation for Kenny McPeek, including a five-furlong bullet drill at Oaklawn, and Brian Hernandez Jr. has the call.

Litmus Test is pegged at 7-2 on the morning line. Third in the Breeders’ Futurity, the Nyquist colt followed with a fourth in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile (G1). Litmus Test concluded his juvenile season with a 1 1/2-length triumph in the Los Alamitos Futurity, and Flavien Prat will be in to ride.

Silent Tactic enters on the upswing for Mark Casse, closing last-to-first to win the Southwest (G3) by 3 1/4 widening lengths on Feb. 8. A maiden winner on synthetics and a close second in the Grey (G3) at Woodbine last fall, Silent Tactic was compromised by a slow pace when finishing second in his first dirt attempt, the Smarty Jones in early January. The son of Tacitus will step up to face tougher in the Rebel and must keep increasing his Brisnet Speed Ratings, registering a 92 for his Southwest win. Leading rider Christian Torres will be up.

Southwest runner-up Soldier N Diplomat, third in the Kentucky Jockey Club (G2) at Churchill Downs two back, was done no favors with the far outside post, but he can’t be dismissed for Steve Asmussen. Jose Ortiz retains the mount.  A sharp debut winner two back, Class President will stretch to two turns for Todd Pletcher after finishing second in the Swale, and John Velazquez will accompany him. Smarty Jones winner Strategic Risk, a disappointing 10th in the Southwest, will try to rebound for Casse.

Bravaro will be scratched in favor of Saturday’s Fountain of Youth (G2) at Gulfstream Park.

Two races earlier on the program, Kentucky Oaks hopefuls will square off in the $750,000 Honeybee (G3) over 1 1/16 miles. Grade 2 winner Explora, runner-up in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies (G1), will ship in for the 105-point qualifier (50-25-15-10-5 scale) and is listed as the early 7-5 favorite among 10 fillies.

The Baffert-trained daughter of Blame has already raced twice this season, winning the Santa Ynez in mid-January and finishing second as the odds-on choice in the Feb. 8 Las Virgenes, and Explora projects to be up close tracking the pace during the opening stages with Prat. 

Taken by the Wind, who is co-owned by Hall of Famer Terry Bradshaw, comes next on the morning line at 5-2 following her game win in the Silverbulletday at Fair Grounds on Jan. 17. The bay filly has won two consecutive stakes for McPeek, taking the Pocahontas (G3) at Churchill Downs last September.

Search Party is another serious contender, reeling off two straight wins for Casse. An eye-catching maiden scorer two back, the improving daughter of Gun Runner overcame a less-than-favorable trip to record a gutsy victory in the Martha Washington at Oaklawn.