Malagacy takes Rebel; Moves into Derby Picture

Ron Correll
Senior columnist
Tracksideview

Malagacy; Oaklawn/Coady Photography

Trainer Todd Pletcher pulled off a Bob Baffert trick by taking a relatively inexperienced colt to the Rebel Stakes in Hot Springs, Ark., and he won. Baffert also sent a colt to the Rebel, American Anthem, but he didn’t do so well.

Pletcher sent Malagacy, a son of Shackleford to the Rebel off a couple of sprint wins and he had no trouble stretching out, covering the mile-and-a-sixteenth distance in 1:43 flat over a track listed as fast. Sonneteer, who is not Triple Crown nominated, was second with Untrapped third and Petrov fourth.

Pletcher said of Malagacy, “He showed today that he can definitely go around two turns and I am very proud of him. He showed good tactical speed yet he rated very kindly, which we thought he would do. We were trying a new distance and he was stepping up in class against some nice, seasoned horses so I was very, very pleased with and proud of his effort.”

When asked what was next, Pletcher said, “The Arkansas Derby would be the logical next step. We’ll bring him home tomorrow to Palm Beach Downs and see how he bounces out of it. The Arkansas Derby timing wise would be good, and getting a mile-and-an-eighth race under his belt would also be beneficial. That would be Plan A, but in this business we all know that sometimes you have to call some audibles. Right now that’s what the thinking is.”

Jimmy Barnes, assistant to Baffert, said he didn’t know what happened to American Anthem. “The horse, he just struggled. He didn’t break as sharp as I thought he would. Had a lot of speed in the race, also. Mikey (jockey Mike Smith) just said he struggled a bit with the track. Regroup and head back to California and keep searching for a Derby horse.”

Smith confirmed what Barnes said, “Slipped really bad leaving there in behind and stayed that way the whole race. Just struggled for whatever reason. I was OK as long as we were all slow. As soon as we had to pick it up, I would give him his head, legs just went everywhere.”

One of three Japanese colts could be in the Kentucky Derby starting gate if the connections choose to come. The three colts in order of preference are Epicharis, Mont Saint, Legame and Adirato. The colts have 50, 40 and 20 points respectively, but I’m not going to add them to any list until a decision is made on coming to the United States.

The next races will be on March 25 with the UAE Derby in Dubai and the Spiral Stakes at Turfway Park in Kentucky. The Sunland Derby will be on March 26 at Sunland Park in New Mexico.

Since we are into March I’m going to start a weekly top 10 picks from my point of view. The full points’ list can be found at the Churchill Downs web site.

Gunnevera 64 points
Tapwrit 54
Malagacy 50
Girvin 50
McCraken 20
Classic Empire 32
Practical Joke 34
Iliad 20
Untrapped 24
One Liner 10

Photos by Oaklawn/Coady Photography