Happy Rebel Sunday & National Banana Bread Day! 🍌
Today, we are in Hot Springs, Arkansas, for a 12-race card initially scheduled for yesterday. Due to the frigid & potentially unsafe conditions, the decision was made to move the races to today & those initially scheduled for today will run tomorrow. Yesterday, we saw a thrilling finish to the John Battaglia Stakes in Florence, KY @ Turfway Park as California Burrito with Irving Moncada in the irons held off a hard-charging Baby Max, earning 20 points toward a spot in the starting gate in May in the Derby. Congrats to CA Burriton & all of his connections!
Starting today with the KY Oaks prep G3 Honeybee Stakes in R9, & the KY Derby prep G2 Rebel Stakes in R11, we start to see the top points prize for the winner increase to 50, with just a couple of exceptions. And in less than a month, we'll have our first Win-&-In 100 points winners for the KY Oaks with the Fair Grounds Oaks & KY Derby with the Jeff Ruby Steaks.
If you're thinking - "This is my favorite time of the horse racing calendar year."
We agree!
If you're also thinking - "Hey, isn't the State Bird of Arkansas the Mockingbird?"
Yes, that is correct.
In addition to our two featured Oaks & Derby prep races, today's fantastic card at OP includes three other stakes races, including the 500K Grade 3 Razorback Handicap. Before we get to our picks for today's races, here is some history on today's featured prep races.
The Honeybee Stakes, inaugurated in 1988, is a Grade III thoroughbred horse race held annually at Oaklawn Park in Hot Springs, Arkansas. Run at 1 1/16 miles on dirt, it serves as a key prep race for the Kentucky Oaks, offering qualifying points to top finishers. Named after the industrious nature of the honeybee, the race has grown in prestige over the years, attracting top three-year-old fillies. Notable winners include champions like Eight Belles and Secret Oath, who succeeded in major stakes races. With its increasing purse and reputation as a launching pad for elite fillies, the Honeybee Stakes remains a highlight of the Oaklawn racing season.
The Rebel Stakes was first run in 1961 at Oaklawn Park in Hot Springs, Arkansas, and has since become a crucial stepping stone on the Road to the Kentucky Derby. Named after the independent spirit of Arkansas, the race initially served as a preparatory event for the Arkansas Derby but grew in prestige over the decades. Numerous future stars, including Triple Crown winner American Pharoah and Kentucky Derby champion Smarty Jones, have won. Over time, the race distance has varied slightly, but it is now run at 1 1/16 miles on dirt. With an increasing purse and a strong reputation for producing elite contenders, the Rebel Stakes remains one of the most anticipated pre-Derby races in the country.
Need help pickin' winners? We've got you covered! Our Lundin Line's - (Always Free) top picks and best bets are below in this post. We use them to help narrow the field while putting our tickets together. The first post will be here soon, so don't be late -
It's time to get #InTheMoney! 💰💰💰
Oaklawn Park 🏇🏾 // Sun., Feb. 23rd 2025
First Post @ 12:00(CT) / 10:00 (PT)
R1: 3-6-10-2
R2: 10-2-4-9
R3: 1-4-12-13(AE)-10
R4Ⓢ: 1⭑-4-8-3
R5: 12-2-10-1
R6: 10-6-7-2
R7: 10-6-8-9
R8Ⓢ: 9-11-1-5
🏇R9Ⓢ/OP: 1-9-12-5
R10Ⓢ: 3⭑-1-12-4
🏇R11Ⓢ/DP: 11-9-5-1
R12: 8-9-5-4
⭑Best Bet(s)
R4: Benedetta (#1)
R10: First Mission (#3)
Ⓢtakes Races
R4: 150K Carousel S.
6 Furlongs on Dirt for Fillies & Mares, 4 Yr. Olds & Up
R8: 145K Trivista Overnight S.
1 1/16 Miles on Dirt for Fillies & Mares 4 Yrs. Old & Up
🏇R9: 500K Honeybee S. (G3)/OP
1 1/16 Miles on Dirt for Fillies, 3 Yr. Olds
KY Oaks Prep: Pts. = 50-25-15-10-5
R10: 500K Razorback H. (G3)
1 1/16 Miles on Dirt for 4 Yr. Olds & Up
🏇R11: 1.25 Mil. Rebel S. (G2)/DP
1 1/16 Miles on Dirt for 3 Yr. Olds
KY Derby Prep: Pts. = 50-25-15-10-5
🏇 = Featured Race(s)
Photo from our friends at National Day Calendar
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-TSL
/ As always, please forgive any typos and grammatical errors
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