Nadal surges up Ky. Derby leaderboard, remains undefeated with Rebel Stakes victory
Nadal bested a pair of game rivals through the opening three-quarters and held on to win Saturday’s Grade 2, $1 million Rebel Stakes on a sloppy track at Oaklawn Park in Arkansas on Saturday. With the win, Nadal remained undefeated in three career starts and earned 50 points toward qualifying for the Kentucky Derby, jumping up to third place on the Road to the Kentucky leaderboard.
No Parole tried to beat rail-riding Nadal to the first turn. When he faded, American Theorem took his turn. Nadal edged ahead off the turn and delivered trainer Bob Baffert a record seventh victory in the Rebel.
“We were hoping for that outcome. We knew he was a good horse, but until they go two turns … and then the way it set up, the speed duel and all. Pretty impressive when they can just keep going like that,” Baffert said. “Only the really good ones can do that.”
The final time for Nadal was 1:44.97 for 1 1/16 miles. It briefly appeared that 80-1 shot Excession would edge out the odds-on favorite. Nadal had just enough left in the tank under Joel Rosario to keep his unbeaten record in tact.
Excession finished second to earn 20 points toward the Kentucky Derby. Farther back, Basin in third (10) and Three Technique in fourth (5) also earned points.
A son of Blame, Nadal didn’t debut until he broke his maiden in a romp at at Santa Anita Park on Jan. 19. He won the San Vicente Stakes at 7 furlongs leading into the Rebel. Nadal’s debut was delayed because of an accident last summer when loading into a trailer. Now he’s mentioned in the same breath as Baffert’s 2018 Triple Crown winner Justify, who also didn’t debut until his 3-year-old season.
Jeff Ruby Steaks
Field Pass knocked off heavily favored Invader to score a victory in the Grade 3, $250,000 Jeff Ruby Steaks over the synthetic track at Turfway Park in Kentucky on Saturday. The general public was barred from attending Saturday’s race card at Turfway because of concerns surrounding the outbreak of the coronavirus.
Field Pass, the 3-year-old son of Lemon Drop Kid ridden by Irad Ortiz Jr., was the 7-2 second choice. He ran 9 furlongs in 1:49.34 to earn his second straight stakes victory. It was the sixth win in the Jeff Ruby for trainer Mike Maker.
Field Pass was never far from the front, sitting off fractions of 23.67, 47.78 and 1:11.72 for the opening quarter miles. Off the turn, he ran down the center of the track to narrowly edge Invader. Pace setter Fancy Liquor finished third.
“He broke sharp coming out of there. He put me in a good spot in third, outside the favorite and I tried to wait,” Ortiz said. “When I asked him, it took some time to get going. It wasn’t easy to catch (Invader), but he got the job done. They went a little slow, my horse wanted to go really bad and I didn’t want to struggle with him, so I let him go.”
Field Pass earned 20 points on the Road to the Kentucky Derby, but Maker indicated a run for the roses might not be in the horse’s future.
Asked what was next for Field Pass, Maker said: “I’m guessing the American Turf on (Kentucky) Derby day.”
The Jeff Ruby victory improved Field Pass’ record to three wins and two places in eight starts and increased his career earnings to more than $320,000.
This story was originally published March 14, 2020 at 8:14 PM.