Rebel Stakes horse race at Oaklawn Park in Hot Springs, Ark.. (AP Photo/David Quinn)
The 64th running of the Rebel Stakes is Saturday at Oaklawn Park. The $1.25 million Grade 2 championship series race on the Road to the Kentucky Derby drew a full field of 13 horses. The winner picks up 50 points and secures a spot in the starting gate for the May 4th Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs.
Rebel Day is one of the biggest of the year at Oaklawn Park in Hotsprings ahead of the Arkansas Derby on March 30. Four stakes races make up the 12 race card.
- Race 8 – $150,000 Carousel Stakes for fillies & mares (6 furlongs)
- Race 9 – $400,000 Honeybee Stakes (Grade 3) for fillies (1 1/16 miles)
- Race 10 – $600,000 Razorback Handicap (G3 at 1 1/16 miles)
- Race 11 at 6:23 p.m. ET – $1.25 million Rebel (G2 at 1 1/16 miles)
Rebel Stakes Odds, Field and Top Win Contenders
Opening parimutuel odds are subject to change and adjust as more bets come in on the races.
With pari-mutuel wagering, the odds are not fixed and rather are determined by the amount bet on each number and horse. The opening odds change on race day as bets are placed, so there is an opportunity to leverage your opinion against the odds.
Understanding parimutuel odds and payouts
Rebel Stakes Betting Odds And Contenders Preview
Bettors looking to cash in on Saturday’s big races and the unrivaled day of racing the first Saturday of May can watch and wager on the biggest races through FanDuel Racing. FanDuel TV will be live on-site covering select stakes races Saturday including the $20 million Saudi Cup plus exclusive coverage of the Road to the Kentucky Derby races providing expert analysis and behind-the-scenes coverage by FanDuelTV’s staff.
More than a dozen stakes races from around the country will be available to live stream through FanDuel racing.
Rebel Stakes Picks
In addition to the Rebel Stakes contenders preview and the content and picks provided by FanDuel Research, I turned to the experts at Guaranteed Tip Sheet (GTS) and their Rebel Stakes wagering guide for more insight on the biggest races Saturday at Oaklawn. Top win contenders are provided, and additional value plays, longshots along with more race details and analysis is available in the wagering guide.
How bet types work and bet horse racing on your phone
Race 11 – Rebel Stakes
- #7 – Timberlake (6/5)
- #13 – Time for Truth (15/1)
- #11 – Just Steel (7/2)
Value Plays and Longshots: #4 Tejon Pass (30/1), #1 Carbone (15/1), #9 Lagynos (20/1).
Timberlake ran the highest last race speed figure, 12 points clear of the next closest reading. He’s been off since the Breeders’ Cup, so regression is possible, but the works geƫting ready are fast. Time for Truth showed plenty of early octane in his first two races, both sprints. This is his first route, but the breeding is there to go the distance. Just Steel has a couple of seconds in a pair at Oaklawn Park. He faded late in both, but a pair of longer bullet workouts in recent weeks combined with growth and strength should have him in striking distance turning for home to make a stronger late run.
Race 10 – Razorback Handicap
- #4 – Ain’t Life Grand (7/2)
- #8 Magic Tap (9/2)
- #7 U.S. Army (15/1)
Value Plays and Longshots: #5 Octane (5/1), #13 Bolzy (15/1), #3 Speed Bias (6/1)
Race 9 – Honeybee Stakes
- #2 Band of Gold (2/1)
- #10 Midshipman’s Dance (12/1)
- #1 Alys Beach (10/1)
Value Plays and Longshots: #6 West Omaha (7/5), Edistrudis (30/1), #7 Lemon Muffin (30/1)
Kentucky Derby Betting And Prep Race Options And Odds
The Rebel Stakes is also a local prep race for the Arkansas Derby on March 30. Last year’s Arkansas Derby winner Angel of Empire went on to finish 3rd in the 2023 Kentucky Derby as the post time favorite.
So the time is near to separate the wheat from the chaff on the Derby Trail, and we’ll know who can win and the 20-horse field for the 2024 Kentucky Derby over the next six weeks. Young horses growing, maturing, learning — this is the time for their jumps and leaps in development and into the Derby conversation.
You can bet on it.
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