2026.02.22 Nation’s Top Jockeys Target Oaklawn for Rebel Day

Nation’s Top Jockeys Target Oaklawn for Rebel Day

Contact: Chris Ho Vice President of Marketing

cho@oaklawn.com, 501-623-4411 ext. 4201

Sunday, Feb. 22, 2026

For the first time in what will be the 66th running of the Rebel Stakes (G2), Oaklawn has scheduled the important Kentucky Derby qualifying race on a Sunday (March 1).

Winter forced the postponement of the 2025 Rebel from Saturday to Sunday and Oaklawn management was pleasantly surprised when a near-record handle of more than $21 million was achieved. So, when planning for 2026, the decision was made to intentionally place it on a Sunday.

In terms of attracting the nation’s top jockeys, that decision is already paying off.

“Oaklawn has always been committed to creating the kind of racing environment that attracts the very best competitors in the sport,” said Louis A. Cella, President of Oaklawn Hot Springs. “By positioning Rebel Day to allow these elite riders to compete here, we’re strengthening the national spotlight on Oaklawn while delivering an exceptional experience for our fans. Having so many of the country’s top jockeys on one card speaks to the quality of our racing program and the importance of the Rebel on the road to the Kentucky Derby.”

When entries were taken Saturday for the $1 million race for 3-year-olds, many of the nation’s top jockeys in purse earnings in 2025 accepted mounts not only in the Rebel Stakes, but also in the $750,000 Honeybee (G3). While entries were taken Saturday for the Rebel and Honeybee, entries for the rest of the 12-race card will be taken Monday.

Irad Ortiz, Jr., the top earner of 2025 with $40,498,792 in purses and a five-time Eclipse Award winner as the nation’s most outstanding jockey, will ride Brad Cox trainees Rancho Santa Fe in the Rebel and Sneaky Good in the Honeybee.

Also coming in for Rebel Day riding assignments are Flavien Prat, who won the Eclipse Award for 2024 and 2025 and finished second by 2025 purse earnings – only $28,000 shy of Ortiz; Jose Ortiz, the 2017 Eclipse Award winner whose mounts earned $33.9 million last year; and John R. Velazquez, a two-time Eclipse Award winner and one of the most respected jockeys in the nation for several years.

Prat has been named on Litmus Test in the Rebel and Explora in the Honeybee, both trained by Hall of Famer Bob Baffert, who vies for a reecord ninth Rebel Stakes win. Jose Ortiz will ride Soldier N Diplomat for Hall of Fame trainer Steve Asmussen in the Rebel, and Velazquez is named on Class President in the Rebel for Hall of Famer Todd Pletcher.

Luis Saez, who collected purses of $27.4 million in 2025, is riding daily at Oaklawn for the first time this season.