Chasing The Derby: Rebel Stakes: crowded with horses, questions, and angles. Elite Alex may bail// A Kentucky Derby Future Pool #2 conspiracy?// The Wood gets a boost...

Summary:

Saturday’s Rebel Stakes will be crowded. 13 total entries with lots of angles and questions. Will The Factor get the distance? Will J P’s Gusto and Sway Away move up from their last efforts? Is Archarcharch for real? Will Elite Alex even run, or wait for the Louisiana Derby// Dick Downey has an interesting email conversation with John Asher at Churchill Downs about Gourmet Dinner and Sweet Ducky still being in the Future Pool last weekend despite rumblings they were off the trail. Tough issue, but I probably have to side with the argument that it comes with the inherent risk of the bet itself// The Blue Grass Stakes seems to get a new entrant each day. Monzon, the winner of the Count Fleet Stakes and well beaten in the Sam F Davis, is the latest pointed there. That race seems to now be a backdoor entry into the Derby if your horse is questionable on dirt// The Wood Memorial just got a sponsor and purse increase to one million. It’s not like Uncle Mo needs the extra earnings, but it could improve Norman Asbjornson’s Derby gate chances if he finishes in the money// more…

Entries:

Rebel Stakes (G2) Oaklawn Park: pp’s, videos, articles here

Private Terms Stakes 3/19 Laurel Park: entries here

Articles:

· The Factor leads Rebel Stakes entries (DRF) (Bloodhorse) (TTimes) (Brisnet) (Courier Journal)

· Elite Alex may skip Rebel, go to Louisiana Derby (Star Telegram)

· Rebel Stakes contender Sway Away, prettier than he looks (DRF)

· The Factor, Sway Away gallop at Oaklawn (Downey Profile)

· Oaklawn shippers arrive (DRF)

· How The Factor got his name (Courier Journal)

· Why weren’t we told department- Gourmet Dinner and Sweet Ducky and the Future Pool (Downey Profile)

· Wood purse upped to 1 million, gets new sponsor (Downey Profile)