Baffert shoots for fourth straight Rebel Stakes

By: SPORTS NETWORK

Hot Springs, AR (Sports Network) - Hall of Fame trainer Bob Baffert has won the last three editions of the $600,000 Rebel Stakes at Oaklawn Park and Saturday will send out Super Ninety Nine, against 10 rivals, in an attempt for a fourth straight win.

Super Ninety Nine, winner of Oaklawn's Southwest Stakes last month, will try to continue Baffert's streak which includes Secret Circle (2012), The Factor (2011) and Lookin at Lucky (2010).

The 3-year-old chestnut colt will start from the far outside post in the 11- horse field with Rafael Bejarano in the saddle. The pair went wire-to-wire in winning last month's Southwest.

Super Ninety Nine, owned by Tanma Corporation, registered his first stakes victory with the Southwest and has won three of five starts for $266,480.

He won his first career start last October at Santa Anita and was second in the Hollywood Prevue on Nov. 22. The colt closed 2012 with a fourth as the 4-5 favorite in an allowance race at Santa Anita on Dec. 28. He opened 2013 at Santa Anita by winning an allowance optional claiming event on Jan. 31.

Baffert is also represented by Den's Legacy, runner-up to Flashback in the Robert B. Lewis Stakes. Owned by Westrock Stables, the colt will be ridden by Robby Albarado from post 6.

A veteran of 10 starts, Den's Legacy was also second in the Sham Stakes in January at Santa Anita. He has banked $321,350 with two wins and five seconds.

Treasury Bill, second in the San Vicente Stakes, will break from post 2 with Joe Talamo again riding. The chestnut colt is owned by Gary and Mary West and trained by Ron Ellis. The Wests will also have Title Contender, trained by Wayne Catalano, in the stakes. The two 3-year-olds will be coupled as an entry.

Treasury Bill finished a length behind Shakin It Up in the San Vicente at Santa Anita on Feb. 17. He has a win, a second and a third in three starts for $69,000.

Title Contender will start from post 9 with rider Luis Quinonez. The colt is coming off a second-place finish in an allowance race last month at Oaklawn. He has earned $47,400 in five starts with a win, a second and a third.

The 1 1/16-mile stakes is a prep for the $1 million Arkansas Derby on April 13 and is worth 50 points for the winner toward a place in the Kentucky Derby.

From the rail out here is the field for the Rebel: Carve, Corey Nakatani; Treasury Bill, Joe Talamo; Texas Bling, Cliff Berry; Delhomme, Garrett Gomez; Hardrock Eleven, Terry Thompson; Den's Legacy, Robby Albarado; Will Take Charge, Jon Court; Stormy Holiday, Derek Bell; Title Contender, Luis Quinonez; Oxbow, Mike Smith and Super Ninety Nine, Rafael Bejarano.

Post-time for the Rebel will be approximately 6:48 p.m. (ET).