Petrov, Silver Dust and Uncontested breeze for Rebel

A trio of Rebel Stakes (G2) hopefuls took to Oaklawn Park’s fast main track on Friday to put in works ahead of the $900,000 contest on March 18.

After the track opened Friday morning, Petrov breezed four furlongs in :49 under Greta Kuntzweiler. Trainer and co-owner Ron Moquett confirmed the gray son of Flatter will go to the Rebel instead of training up to the $1 million Arkansas Derby (G1) on April 15.

“The way I looked at is if this race had been a normal type of race, it would be a no-brainer,” Moquett said. “But, you really have to consider the amount of effort these horses are going to have to give. This is a real, real tough race.”

Petrov has already competed in the first two legs of Oaklawn’s series of stakes for three-year-olds, finishing second in both the Smarty Jones Stakes and Southwest Stakes (G3). Jose Ortiz was aboard for both those starts and has the return call for the Rebel, according to Moquett.

Uncontested also put in his move right after the track opened Friday morning. The dark bay son of Tiz Wonderful clocked a bullet, best-of-38 five furlongs in :58.80 under regular rider Channing Hill.

Clockers caught Uncontested galloping out six furlongs in 1:10.60 and seven furlongs in 1:23.80.

“The time speaks for itself,” Hill said. “He went good.”

Uncontested captured the Smarty Jones on January 16 by 5 1/4 lengths, and led the way early in the Southwest before fading to a well-beaten sixth on the wire in that latter February 20 contest. He was favored on both occasions.

The Wayne Catalano charge is “highly probable” for the Rebel “off of that breeze,” according to co-owner Harry Rosenblum.

“The way he came back, he wasn’t winded at all,” Rosenblum said. “Channing said the way he came back to the barn is exactly the way he pulled up – not winded at all.”

Following the renovation break on Friday, Silver Dust took a spin around Oaklawn in company, breezing six furlongs in 1:14.60.

“Doing good,” trainer Randy Morse said of the Tapit colt before the work.

Corey Lanerie has been aboard Silver Dust for his past pair of starts, including a well-beaten fourth while making his stakes debut in the Southwest, and retains the mount for the Rebel.

Lookin at Lee breezed five-eighths on Thursday at Oaklawn in 1:01 ahead of an expected start in the Rebel. The Steve Asmussen-trained bay rallied for third in the Southwest last out while making his sophomore debut off a fourth-placing in last November’s Breeders’ Cup Juvenile (G1).

Untrapped, second in both the Lecomte Stakes (G3) and Risen Star Stakes (G2) at Fair Grounds this season, just arrived at Oaklawn for Asmussen ahead of the Rebel.