Baffert's Concert Tour Takes to the Road: Wins the Rebel (G2) @OP

With a resounding victory in the Grade II Rebel Stakes at Oaklawn Park late this afternoon, it might be safe to say that Bob Baffert legitimately has 4, and possibly 5 entrants for the 2021 Kentucky Derby. Concert Tour #7, a colt out of Street Sense and owned by none other than Gary and Mary West (of Maximum Security fame), with Joel Rosario aboard, went 1:43:18, and was the controlling pace for every inch of the 1 1/16th dirt route.

The Rebel continues to be owned by Baffert, as he normally ships high-quality runners that would be No.1s in many other stables. The colt at odds of 4/5, once the race went off, went straight to the lead. Caddo River #1 (1/1), Brad Cox's favorite attempted to keep pace, by pulling towards the lead as the end of the backstretch approached. Tightly held by jockey Florent Geroux, his mount wanted to "go," but it appeared around turn-2, that Rosario had several other gears.

Into the stretch, Baffert's OP ace went deep, drawing away towards the end, and winning by over 4-lengths. The rest of the field struggled for the minor awards, and it was the HOF conditioner's "other" entry, Hozier #3 (19/1) who was up for second. Steve Asmussen's Big Lake #2 (18/1). and his Super Stock #8 (41/1) rounded out the rest of the Superfecta. Cox's Caddo River #1 emptied out in 5th.

With 50-20-10-5 up for grabs, Concert Tour's #7 convincing frontend win (tied 4th-earning 50pts.), proved that the West's colt deserves to be ranked in the Top Ten Derby Contenders. Now, Baffert will have to continue to juggle his line-up of accomplished runners which already included before today's race... Life Is Good (2nd-60pts.), Medina Spirit (7th-34pts.), and Spielberg (13th-17pts.). Of course, now Hozier #3 joins the group with 20pts., after that place effort in this Grade II.

With less than a month left on the Derby Prep Trail, Baffert's options are limited as far as races that remain. However, if he chooses to leave Concert Tour #7 and Hozier #3 in Hot Springs for the Arkansas Derby (G1), then at this point, either could be the presumptive favorite. Or the other option is to send one of them to Keeneland for the Blue Grass Stakes (G1) to face Cox's Essential Quality. Whatever happens, the 2021 Rebel Stakes is in the books, and it belongs once again to Bob Baffert.