Hall of Fame trainer Bob Baffert continued his dominance in Oaklawn’s 3-year-old stakes program when Gary and Mary West’s Concert Tour gave the trainer his eighth victory in the $1 million Rebel Stakes (G2) on Saturday. The victory earned him 50 points towards eligibility in the Kentucky Derby (G1) May 1 and he is now ranked fourth among the top 20 possible starters.
Concert Tour took control early and never looked back under jockey Joel Rosario. He toyed with 6-5 favorite Caddo River through early fractions of :23 2/5 and :47 2/5 before shaking clear entering the stretch and drawing clear to win impressively by 4 ¼ lengths over his stablemate Hozier, who closed from nearly last to secure the place spot and 20 points toward Kentucky Derby eligibility. Stablemates Big Lake and Super Stock completed the exacta for trainer Steve Asmussen and earned 10 and five points, respectively. The undefeated Concert Tour completed the 1 1/16 miles in 1:43 over a fast track.
“That was nice, impressive,” Baffert said. “I’m just happy to run 1-2. That’s pretty huge. I’m just glad they showed up. I just told (Joel) Rosario he’s fast. I know Caddo River’s fast. This horse going two turns first out, just play the break and do what you think is right. He’s a very, very fast horse. He looked like he was doing it pretty easily, though. They slowed up a little bit down the backside. Joel, you could really tell he was controlling the race. This is a really top horse. I was going to be disappointed if he didn’t do what he did today.”
Caddo River, Keepmeinmind, Get Her Number and Twilight Blue completed the order of finish.
“It was a very good race,” jockey Joel Rosario said. “He broke very good and I just let him go on with it. It was impressive for his first time going two turns.
Concert Tour, a son of 2007 Kentucky Derby winner Street Sense, is now a perfect three-for-three and has earned $756,600. He returned $5.40, $3.80 and $3.40 as the 3-2 second choice.
More from News:
