Rebel Stakes Odds: 2025 Picks And Updates With Race Schedule Change To Sunday

Posted by author February 20, 2025 Horse Racing

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American Pharoah (#4 front) won the Rebel Stakes in 2015 over a sloppy Oaklawn Park surface on his … [+] way to Triple Crown glory. (AP Photo/David Quinn)

Associated Press

The 65th running of the Rebel Stakes has been moved from Saturday to Sunday, Feb. 23 at Oaklawn Park due to freezing weather issues. The $1.25 million Grade 2 Championship Series points prep race on the Road to the Kentucky Derby drew a full field of 14 horses. It shapes up to be one of the most competitive races on the Derby Trail. The winner picks up 50 points and secures a spot in the starting gate for the May 3rd Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs.

“We thank all our horsemen and fans for your patience and support as we work to ensure this weekend’s important races can take place,” the track said in a post on X.

Kentucky Derby winners Smarty Jones (2004) and Triple Crown winner American Pharoah (2015) won the Rebel Stakes on their way to winning the Run for the Roses. Smarty Jones became the first undefeated horse to win the Kentucky Derby since Seattle Slew (1977), and he also collected a first-of-its-kind $5 million bonus from Oaklawn Park for winning the Rebel, Arkansas Derby and Kentucky Derby. American Pharoah won 9-of-11 starts including the 2015 Breeders’ Cup Classic in the final start of his career. He also became the first horse to win the Triple Crown since Affirmed (1978) sweeping the Kentucky Derby, Preakness and Belmont Stakes.

The great Curlin also win the Rebel Stakes in 2007. He would also win the Preakness and finish top-3 in the Kentucky Derby and Belmont Stakes on his way to winning the 2007 Breeders’ Cup Classic. Curlin finished his career with 10 graded stakes wins including 7 Grade 1’s while finishing in the money (top-3) in 15-of-16 stars. Curlin is the leading sire of Breeders’ Cup winners.

Rebel Day is usually one of the biggest of the year at Oaklawn Park in Hotsprings ahead of the Arkansas Derby on March 29. But this year Oaklawn Park moved four other stakes races to the day after the Rebel with all stakes races pushed back one day due to freezing weather. Below zero temperatures in Hot Springs through Thursday with high temps of 10-15 degrees projected Saturday and Sunday.

Sunday., March 30

Race 11 at 6:23 p.m. ET – $1.25 million Rebel Stakes (G2 at 1 1/16 miles)

Monday, March 31

Race 4 – $150,000 Carousel Stakes for fillies & mares (6 furlongs)
Race 8-$145,000 Trivista Overnt Stakes, fillies & mares (1 1/16 miles)
Race 9 – $500,000 Honeybee Stakes (G3), 3-yr-old fillies (1 1/16 miles)
Race 10 – $500,000 Razorback Handicap (G3) at 1 1/16 miles

The Razorback Handicap is a featured race for older horses with a full field of 14 runners and no clear favorite. The top contenders include #2 Banishing (7/2), #8 Baddest Good Boy (9/2), #3 First Missouri (4/1), #1 Crupi (6/1) and #5 Skinner (6/1).

Kentucky Oaks Update

The Honeybee Stakes is a Kentucky Oaks points qualifying race with a full field of 13 runners led by the favorite, #1 Muhimma (7/5) with the second betting choice on the far outside, #13 Five G (4/1). Two of the last five winners of the Kentucky Oaks have won the Honeybee.

All those 3-year-old fillies and others ahead on the Kentucky Oaks Trail are chasing the fine filly Good Cheer, who sailed clear to remain undefeated (5-for-5) with another resounding win as the 1/9 heavy favorite last Saturday in the Rachel Alexander Stakes at the Fair Grounds. Few are willing to line up and run against her, and she’s been the post time betting favorite in all five of her career races.

Watch Good Cheer run as she’ll be the favorite and one to beat in the May 2nd Kentucky Oaks on Kentucky Derby weekend at Churchill Downs.

Rebel Stakes Odds, Field and Top Win Contenders

Opening parimutuel odds are subject to change and adjust as more bets come in on the races.

No clear favorite in the 2025 Rebel Stakes, and six horses have opening odds of 8/1 or less.

#3 Sandman (4/1) – Jockey Cristian Torres & trainer Mark Casse
#5 Madaket Road (9/2) – Jockey Irad Ortiz, Jr. & trainer Bob Baffert
#10 Bullard (5/1) – Jockey Umberto Rispoli & trainer Michael McCarthy
#11 Speed King (6/1) – Jockey Rafael Bejarano & trainer Ron Moquett
#9 Smoken Wicked (8/1) – Jockey Tyler Gaffalione & trainer D. Stewart
#13 Tiztastic (8/1) – Jockey Jose Ortiz & trainer Steve Asmussen

Trainer Bob Baffert is shooting for his record 9th win in the Rebel Stakes. But before you lock in and bet on the favorites, know that 43/1 huge longshot Magnitude, trained by Steve Asmussen, won last Saturday’s Risen Star Stakes at the Fair Grounds to kick off the Road to the Kentucky Derby Championship Series prep races.

How To Bet On Horse Racing

You can watch and wager on the Rebel Stakes (6:23 p.m. ET Sunday) through FOX Sports (FS2), FanDuel Racing and FanDuel TV will be live on-site at Oaklawn with exclusive coverage of the Honeybee, Razorback Handicap and Rebel Stakes on the Road to the Kentucky Derby.

Rebel Stakes Picks

Rebel Stakes analysis and picks from the FanDuel Research team along with expert insight and behind-the-scenes coverage by FanDuelTV’s staff of the Rebel Stakes and other key stakes races around the country are available on FanDuel Racing.

I also turned to the experts at Guaranteed Tip Sheet for the Rebel Stakes with picks and analysis provided Friday from their Rebel Stakes wagering guide.

Also this Saturday is the John Battaglia Memorial Stakes at Turfway Park in Kentucky, providing 20 Derby points to the winner. Recall huge longshot Kentucky Derby winner Rich Strike won this race on his way to steeling the 2022 Kentucky Derby at 80/1 parimutual odds. I cashed in a 125/1 fixed odds Derby ticket on Rich Strike at Circa Sports Las Vegas, home of the biggest pro football contests, Circa Million and Circa Survivor.

More Rebel Stakes and Road to the Kentucky Derby Championship Series racing coverage ahead as horse racing fans enjoy the Derby Trail and try to cash in on the biggest watch and wager races.

You can bet on it.