Nadal lived up to his 4-5 odds and gave Hall of Fame trainer Bob Baffert his seventh Rebel Stakes (G1) victory in 10 years with his front-running win in the $1 million milestone on the road to the Arkansas and Kentucky Derbys.
Ridden by Joel Rosario, Nadal grabbed the lead early and proceeded to duel with fellow California shipper American Theorem through early fractions of :22 4/5 and 46 for the first half mile. As his rival faded, Nadal held a comfortable advantage entering the stretch and had just enough left to hold off longshot Excession for the victory in 1:44 4/5 for 1 1/16 miles over a sloppy track. Basin finished third.
Nadal secured 50 points towards Kentucky Derby eligibility and is now ranked third on the top 20 leaderboard. Excession is ranked 13th with 20 points and Basin is 25th with 10 points.
The Rebel is the last local prep before the $1 million Arkansas Derby April 11. Co-owner George Bolton indicated his colt would likely return for that race. Baffert wanted to get the horse back to California before making a firm decision.
In remaining undefeated in three career starts, Nadal returned $3.80, 4.00 and 3.20. Excession paid 37.00 and 10.60. Basin paid 4.40 to show.
Rebel Stakes quotes:
Winning trainer Bob Baffert, Nadal: “We were hoping for that outcome. We knew he was a good horse, but until they go two turns … and then the way it set up, the speed duel and all. Pretty impressive when they can just keep going like that. Only the really good ones can do that. I was just fortunate that you guys even ran the race, right now with the way things are. Crazy.”
Regarding future plans: “It’s a little early, but we’ll get him back here and we’ll look at all of them (preps). One of them will be there (Arkansas Derby).”
Winning co-owner George Bolton: “It was an amazing effort because he was in the 1 hole and he was told to go to the lead. And when you are told to go to the lead in a mile and a sixteenth race, and he’d never gone around two turns, you are sending the horse into a potential oxygen debt and potential stress. When he liked turned for home and was a length or two ahead, I thought, ‘You know what? He may be special. This may be a special horse and he may have the ability to go fast and then go faster.’ And that’s rare in a horse, to go in a Grade 2, which I considered today a Grade 1 because it’s a million dollar race in front of the Kentucky Derby. He didn’t waver. When the pressure hit, he stood and he took it and he accelerated.”
Jockey Tyler Baze, second on Excession: “He’s a really nice horse. I had the trip I wanted. I loved him last year when I first rode him when he was a maiden. He’s a special animal. I can’t wait until he learns how to run. He’s kind of a big dummy, but I had the exact trip I wanted. I wish I would have had a clear trip, but he ran his heart out.”
Jockey Javier Castellano, Basin: “I liked the way he did it. He earned a good place. It was his first start since the Hopeful and his first time around two turns. It was a good test for him. I was very happy with him. He passed the test.”
