Oaklawn Park Picks: Rebel Stakes Kentucky Derby Prep (03/01/2026)

Chris Adams

Written by: Chris Adams

Published: Fri Feb 27, 2026, 7:00 am ET

Read Time: 8 minutes

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The racing action from Oaklawn Park on Sunday features the Rebel Stakes. @HandicappingT3 has all the Oaklawn Park picks for the entire card!

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Oaklawn Park Full Card Analysis

Oaklawn Park Picks: Rebel Stakes Kentucky Derby Prep (03/01/2026)

Oaklawn Park Picks: Rebel Stakes Kentucky Derby Prep (03/01/2026)

Oaklawn Park Picks – Race 1

Post Time: 12:00 PM CT; Starter Allowance $40k; 1 1/8 M Dirt; Field of 9 runners.

  • #7 BRIGHT SPARK (2-1): Top pick. Looks good based on the 97 speed rating which is among the top in the group. Proven competitor at this configuration.
  • #6 MY NOBLE KNIGHT (3-1): Major Player. Good race flow for this runner. Likely to get forward position.
  • #3 GEWURZTRAMINER (5-2): Major Player. Barn has been sending out runners.
  • #4 UNDERDRESSED (6-1): Contender. Competitive enough in recent efforts. May be getting a weaker field than last out.

Selections: 7 – 6 – 3 – 4

The Plays

Win: #7 at 5-2

Exacta Box: 7,6,3

Oaklawn Park Picks – Race 2

Post Time: 12:31 PM CT; Allowance $125k; 6 F Dirt; Field of 10 runners.

  • #4 SHARP SWINGER (5-2): Top pick. Comes in with solid form. Barn has been solid.
  • #5 NICHOLAI (7-2): Major Player. Can run with these. Demonstrated success under similar conditions.
  • #6 DR. STORM (15-1): Major Player. Has experience at this level. Should sit a good trip.
  • #2 NORTHERN CHILL (5-1): Contender. Could be ready to hit a peak performance. Ran at this level last out.

Selections: 4 – 5 – 6 – 2

The Plays

Win: #4 at 3-1

Exacta Box: 4,5,6

Oaklawn Park Picks – Race 3

Post Time: 1:02 PM CT; Allowance Optional Claiming $126k; 6 F Dirt; Field of 6 runners.

  • #1 BOOTH (6-5): Top pick. Strong early pace figs. Asmussen and Asmussen team up on this one.
  • #6 TEJANO TWIST (2-1): Major Player. Seems to be up against the right competition. Top connections on the circuit with Prat and Hartman.
  • #5 BOOK SMART (5-1): Major Player. Hard to argue with the recent races. Previous success in similar race types.
  • #4 DURANTE (6-1): Contender. Could be griding down the competition late. Recent races are solid.

Selections: 1 – 6 – 5 – 4

The Plays

Win: #1 at 6-5

Exacta: 1/ 6,5

Oaklawn Park Picks – Race 4

Post Time: 1:32 PM CT; Allowance $125k; 6 F Dirt; Field of 9 runners.

  • #9 SENIOR OFFICER (7-5): Top pick. Should still have something in the tank late. Race may setup for this runner.
  • #7 FAUST (12-1): Major Player. Trainer is having a great meet. Speed figures match this group well.
  • #3 ZERO SUGAR (7-2): Major Player. Previous success in similar race types. May be able find the right setup.
  • #1 TRE ITALIANI (6-1): Contender. Trainer's horses have been running. Could be griding down the competition late.

Selections: 9 – 7 – 3 – 1

The Plays

Win: #9 at 8-5

Exacta Box: 9,7,3

Oaklawn Park Picks – Race 5

Post Time: 2:03 PM CT; Pig Trail Overnight Stakes $135k; 1 1/2 M Dirt; Field of 6 runners.

  • #4 CATCHING FREEDOM (6-5): Top pick. Shouldn't have trouble getting the distance. Barn has been solid.
  • #1 OTELLO (15-1): Major Player. Seems to be up against the right competition. May be able to take advantage of the pace.
  • #6 BATTEN DOWN (7-5): Major Player. Has experience at this level. Barn has been sending out runners.
  • #5 SYSTEMIC CHANGE (4-1): Major Player. Race conditions fit this one well. Expect this one to be able to carry the distance.

Selections: 4 – 1 – 6 – 5

The Plays

Win: #4 at 6-5

Exacta Box: 4,6,5

Oaklawn Park Picks – Race 6

Post Time: 2:35 PM CT; Ratings Handicap $60k; 6 F Dirt; Field of 10 runners.

  • #5 THOUGHTTHATCOUNTS (9-2): Top pick. Proven competitor at this configuration. Barn has been solid.
  • #3 EL PRESTIGIO (5-1): Major Player. Running well of late. Should still be running strong in the closing stages.
  • #9 DEVIL'S TOWER (15-1): Major Player. Barn has been sending out runners. Previous success in similar race types.
  • #10 RUN CLASSIC (3-1): Major Player. Race conditions fit this one well.

Selections: 5 – 3 – 9 – 10

The Plays

Win: #5 at 5-1

Exacta Box: 5,3,10

Oaklawn Park Picks – Race 7

Post Time: 3:07 PM CT; Maiden Special Weight $110k; 6 F Dirt; Field of 12 runners.

  • #7 BOSSOFMI (7-2): Top pick. Proven competitor at this configuration. Stamina to outlast the competition.
  • #2 WHITLEY (3-1): Major Player. Potentially cycling to a top performance. Trainer is having a great meet.
  • #3 CATTLE BARON (4-1): Contender. Could jump up in the figures and be dangerous. Previous success in similar race types.
  • #4 MAKESHIFT'S LEGACY (10-1): Fringe Contender. Shouldn't be disadvantaged by the flow of the race. Trainer's horses have been running.

Selections: 7 – 2 – 3 – 4

The Plays

Win: #7 at 4-1

Exacta Box: 7,2

Oaklawn Park Picks – Race 8

Post Time: 3:39 PM CT; Maiden Special Weight $110k; 6 F Dirt; Field of 9 runners.

  • #6 SILVER SYNDICATE (5-2): Prime Win Player. Solid breeding for this spot. Prat and Moquett team up on this one.
  • #8 MARKET RUNNER (5-1): Contender. Well bred for this race. Ortiz puts this one in with a chance.
  • #3 FANCY FAIRLANE (3-1): Contender. Barn has been sending out runners. Previous success in similar race types.
  • #2 MUNNINGS CHALLENGE (2-1): Contender. May be getting a weaker field than last out. Race conditions fit this one well.

Selections: 6 – 8 – 3 – 2

The Plays

Win: #6 at 3-1

Exacta: 6/ 8,3,2

Oaklawn Park Picks – Race 9

Post Time: 4:15 PM CT; Honeybee Stakes $750k; 1 1/16 M Dirt; Field of 10 runners.

Best Bet of the Card

  • #9 EXPLORA (7-5): Best bet of the card. Looks good based on the 98 speed rating which is among the top in the group. Fits well with this group. Bet today's best bet with industry-leading rebates on BetOnline.
  • #10 TAKEN BY THE WIND (5-2): Contender. Should still be running strong in the closing stages. Good race flow for this runner.
  • #6 SEARCH PARTY (9-2): Contender. Torres and Casse team up on this one. Should find today's group a bit softer than the last race.
  • #7 COUNTING STARS (15-1): Contender. Should still have enough if the reserves if there in the final furlong. May be getting a weaker field than last out.

Selections: 9 – 10 – 6 – 7

The Plays

Win: #9 at 1-1

Exacta: 9/ 10,6

Pick 3 (races 9-11): #9 with #11,6,10,4 with #7,6,10

Oaklawn Park Picks – Race 10

Post Time: 4:47 PM CT; Maiden Special Weight $110k; 1 1/16 M Dirt; Field of 11 runners.

Longshot Play of the Day

Longshot Play of the Day

  • #11 DRAGONES (8-1): Longshot play of the day. Ortiz and Asmussen team up on this one. Strong early pace figs. Bet today's live longshot on MyBookie.
  • #6 MR FANCY PANTS (10-1): Major Player. Stamina to be in the mix late. Trainer is having a great meet.
  • #10 BANKSY'S (3-1): Major Player. May be able find the right setup. Barn has been sending out runners.
  • #4 JUST JO JO (12-1): Major Player. Trainer's horses have been running. May be getting a weaker field than last out.

Selections: 11 – 6 – 10 – 4

The Plays

Win: #11 at 4-1

Exacta: 11/ 6,10,4

Oaklawn Park Picks – Race 11

Post Time: 5:23 PM CT; Rebel Stakes $1000k; 1 1/16 M Dirt; Field of 10 runners.

  • #2 LITMUS TEST (7-2): Top pick. Won't have to deal with Ted Noffey in this one and is super live off that performance in the Los Al Futurity. Could this be the next Derby winner on the Arkansas path to the Derby?
  • #6 STRATEGIC RISK (12-1): Major Player. Good race flow for this runner. Trainer is having a great meet.
  • #10 SOLDIER N DIPLOMAT (10-1): Major Player. Likely to maintain its stamina reserves for a strong finish.
  • #1 BRAVARO (8-1): Contender. Ran at this level last out. Potential to get the pace of the race flow.

Selections: 2 – 6 – 10 – 1

The Plays

Win: #2 at 4-1

Exacta: 2/ 6,10,1

Oaklawn Park Picks – Race 12

Post Time: 5:55 PM CT; Maiden Special Weight $110k; 6 F Dirt; Field of 14 runners.

  • #7 LIKE A DIAMOND (8-5): Top pick. Favorable class relief in this spot. Strong early pace figs.
  • #10 BOSSA DAMA (8-1): Major Player. Potentially cycling to a top performance. Looks fast enough off previous efforts.
  • #1 SIGNDSEALDDELIVERD (9-2): Contender. Should step forward from the first start. Should find today's group a bit softer than the last race.
  • #4 SKY HIGH ANGEL (10-1): Fringe Contender. Speed figs are a bit slow, but not completely hopeless against the top of the field. Shouldn't be disadvantaged by the flow of the race.

Selections: 7 – 10 – 1 – 4

The Plays

Win: #7 at 9-5

Exacta: 7/ 10,1

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Chris Adams
Chris Adams

Chris first got introduced to horse racing in 2009 at Canterbury Park (Shakopee, MN). Along with handicapping and betting, Chris has worked as a teller at his local track and participated in ownership partnerships. He now enjoys sharing his passion with his wife and two young daughters who love going out to the track each and every summer.

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