Expert Pick of the Week: The 2022 Rebel Stakes

Feb 24, 2022 John Mucciolo/TwinSpires.com

A big field of 11 three-year-olds will vie in Saturday’s lucrative $1 million Rebel S. (G2) at Oaklawn Park. The 1 1/16-mile event serves as a scoring race on the Road to the Kentucky Derby, with the first four finishers earning qualifying points on a 50-20-10-5 basis.

MyRaceHorse Stable’s Chasing Time will make his stakes debut on Saturday for conditioner Steve Asmussen coming off of a fine, 7 3/4-length allowance romp while making his first route appearance last time out. The son of Not This Time seemingly exited his sharp tally in good order while posting a trio of morning drills on the oval in advance of this test, and the $250,000 yearling purchase seems poised for another big performance against this cast. He is the Expert Pick of the Week.

Chasing Time has often run well in his handful of career efforts to date, and he broke through with a sharp maiden victory beneath the Twin Spires in his third outing. The dark bay has gate presence combined with a nice turn of foot, and I expect the top pick to enjoy a fine stalking trip a few lengths off the early tempo prior to putting in his winning run down the lane. Tyler Gaffalione picks up the mount atop the improving Kentucky-bred.

Newgrange is 3-for-3 in his career for conditioner Bob Baffert and looked the part late in his Southwest S. (G3) triumph at Oaklawn most recently. By Violence, the dark bay colt posted a swift five-furlong bullet in his latest morning move, and he will be forwardly placed from the break. Regular pilot John Velazquez comes in for the ride.

Smarty Jones S. victor Dash Attack ran just evenly in the Southwest in his latest venture, but the Kenny McPeek pupil was 2-for-2 on the surface prior to that showing, and he is a candidate to improve at a fair price.

The D. Wayne Lukas-trained Ethereal Road was visually impressive in breaking his maiden on the Southwest undercard, and with a move forward, the Quality Road colt will be a danger late at a big price. Luis Contreras will be in the stirrups.

A trifecta with #8 Chasing Time on top of #2 Newgrange, #10 Ethereal Road, and #11 Dash Attack in the Rebel S. is the Best Bet of the Week.