Rebel J

AMERICAN

GRADED STAKES PREVIEWS

Reigning juvenile champ LOOKIN AT LUCKY (Smart Strike) will make his

much-anticipated sophomore debut in Saturday's $300,000 Rebel S. (G2) at Oaklawn

Park. Trained by Bob Baffert, the brilliant, multiple Grade 1 winner has never

run on dirt nor with blinkers, and he could be ripe in his sophomore bow, but

we'll still back the classy colt. There is enough pace in this race to suggest

that the bay can get a nice trip from midpack before being asked for his best by

Garrett Gomez.

UH OH BANGO (Top Hit) had a superb juvenile season which concluded with a

tough defeat in the lucrative Delta Jackpot S. (G3). The Kory Owens trainee was

second in the Iroquois S. (G3) prior to that and has proven to us that he

belongs in a field like this. We're both intrigued and surprised that the colt

did not take the western route to the Kentucky Derby (G1), but that could be viewed

as a big positive. We think the unheralded sophomore hits the board in this one

under regular pilot Glenn Corbett.

Hopeful S. (G1) winner DUBLIN (Afleet Alex) turned in a fine performance in

the Southwest S. (G3) over this oval despite being troubled on a few occasions.

The talented sophomore finished his juvenile campaign in poor fashion, but he

might have turned the corner in the interim and seems like a logical win

candidate in here. The chestnut has fired bullets in both of his works since the

Southwest, but

we're still treading lightly on this one until he proves more consistent.

CARDIFF GIANT (Yankee Gentleman) is in fine form and deserves mention as a

longshot play for Jorge Periban. The gritty chestnut has chased Conveyance

(Indian Charlie) in his last pair and will be glad not to see that one, but the

bad news is that he has to top another one from the Baffert barn. The

overachiever is a top-three candidate from the rail.

Grade 1 hero NOBLE'S PROMISE (Cuvee), like our top pick, will also be making

his sophomore debut while auditioning on the dirt. The Ken McPeek trainee has

tracked top company while never being worse than third in his career and has

reportedly trained well to ready for this difficult assignment. We have a hunch

that the colt won't like the main strip, but we have nothing to back that up

with and would suggest this one's inclusion in everything. Robby Albarado has

the call.

PLEASANT STORM (Pleasant Tap) was unplaced in the Southwest after running

three big ones to begin his career for trainer Joe Petalino. The dark bay colt

earned a 102 BRIS Late Pace number last out and should enjoy the extra sixteenth

in this 1 1/16-mile test, but the competition is much stiffer and we'll toss him from win

consideration.

The speedy ROYAL EXPRESS (Royal Academy) should be the target for the rest of

this field turning for home, and we'd be surprised if the likely longshot were

to hold on in here.