Timberlake best in Rebel

Feb 25, 2024 James Scully

WinStar Farm’s Timberlake opened his three-year-old season with a two-length victory in Saturday’s $1.25 million Rebel (G2) at Oaklawn Park, scoring as the 4-5 favorite in the Road to the Kentucky Derby series qualifier. Winner of the Champagne (G1) at Aqueduct last October, Timberlake made his first start since a fourth in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile (G1) at Santa Anita.

Brad Cox trains the bay colt, a son of two-time Kentucky Derby-winning sire Into Mischief, and Cristian Torres picked up the mount. Timberlake completed 1 1/16 miles in 1:44.

The Rebel offered points on a 50-25-15-10-5 scale to the top five finishers, and Timberlake now ranks first on the Kentucky Derby leaderboard with 66 points. He was bred in Kentucky by St. Elias Stables.

Timberlake kicks off his 3-year-old season with a win in the G2 Rebel S. and 50 points towards the @kentuckyderby! 🌹🎵@bradcoxracing trains and @cristiantorr64 had the mount!

🎥 #TwinSpiresReplay pic.twitter.com/Rb4ZlVxOEh

— TwinSpires Racing 🏇 (@TwinSpires) February 24, 2024

Common Defense rallied from just off the pace for second at 27-1, three lengths better than pace-presser Northern Flame at 15-1. Woodcourt and Dimatic came next in fourth and fifth, and pacesetter Carbone, Just Steel, Next Level, Lagynos, Magic Grant, Mena, and Tejon Pass came next under the wire.

Out of a mare by Preakness (G1) winner Lookin at Lucky, Timberlake’s pedigree is built for longer distances. He counts legendary Irish stallion Sadler’s Wells, a renowned source of stamina, as his second maternal broodmare sire.

Timberlake graduated the second time out last summer, winning a Saratoga maiden special weight by 9 1/4 lengths, but experienced a troubled trip finishing second in the Hopeful (G1) as the favorite next out. He rebounded with a convincing win in the Champagne over a sloppy track, and Timberlake has now earned more than $1 million from a 6-3-1-0 career line.