The Truth Or Else posts five-furlong move for Rebel

The Truth Or Else (Yes It's True) completed major preparations for next

Saturday's $750,000 Rebel S. (G2) with a strong five-furlong workout

Sunday morning at Oaklawn Park under Hall of Fame jockey Calvin Borel.

Breezing with fellow Kenny McPeek trainee Magic of Believing (Badge of

Silver), The Truth Or Else covered the distance in 1:01 2/5

over the fast-rated surface. It was the fourth-fastest of 68 works recorded at the

distance and occurred following the renovation break.

Magic of Believing, a candidate for the $550,000 Spiral

S. (G2) on March 21 at Turfway Park and the $800,000 Sunland Derby (G3) on March 22, was credited

with five furlongs in 1:02 1/5.

The stablemates started together at the five-furlong pole, but

The Truth Or Else -- under no urging -- began to ease away from Magic of Believing

on the outside approaching the wire and finished approximately five lengths in

front.

McPeek called the work "impressive" and said all systems

are go for The Truth Or Else to run in the 1 1/16-mile Rebel, which is

also expected to attract juvenile champions American Pharoah (Pioneerof the Nile)

and Take

Charge Brandi (Giant's Causeway) as well as Grade 1-placed Bold Conquest (Curlin),

stakes debuter Madefromlucky (Lookin at Lucky) and possibly

Poseidon's Way (Stormy Atlantic).

"He does everything right," McPeek said. "Calvin was thrilled. We're all set

for next weekend."

The Truth Or Else is coming off a close runner-up finish in the

Southwest S. (G3), which occurred over a sloppy track at Oaklawn on February 22. The chestnut was beaten three-quarters

of a length by Far Right (Notional) after making an eye-catching five-wide move turning for

home in his three-year-old debut.

"If we can get a little bit cleaner inside trip than we had last time, I

think we'll be fine," McPeek said.

The Rebel highlights a blockbuster 11-race program that

also features the $300,000 Azeri S. (G2) for older fillies and mares, and the

$250,000 Razorback H. (G3) for older horses.

Untapable (Tapit), the champion three-year-old filly of 2014,

is scheduled to make her four-year-old debut in the Azeri and worked five

furlongs in 1:01 Sunday morning at Fair Grounds.

Also scheduled to run in the 1

1/16-mile Azeri are Grade 3 scorers Mufajaah (Tapit), who clocked five furlongs

in 1:02 4/5 at Oaklawn on Sunday; Sugar Shock (Candy Ride), who turned a

half-mile in :49 on the same surface; and Flashy

American (Flashy Bull), who traveled five-eighths in 1:02 over the Arkansas

track.

Grade 3 winner Carve (First Samurai), who worked a half-mile in :49 1/5

Sunday morning at Oaklawn, and classic-placed Ride On Curlin (Curlin), who went

seven furlongs in 1:30 1/5 over the track, are scheduled to run in the 1

1/16-mile Razorback.

Multiple Grade 2 victor Tapiture (Tapit), the 119-pound starting high weight

for the Razorback, was caught in 1:00 4/5 for going five furlongs over Fair Grounds'

fast dirt on Sunday while fellow Razorback hopeful and Grade 3-placed Race Day

(Tapit) posted a bullet half-mile at Palm Beach Downs in :48 1/5.

Post positions for the Rebel, Azeri and Razorback will be

drawn Wednesday morning.

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