Silver Prospector Looks to Rebel After Southwest Win

Silver Prospector turned in a golden performance Feb. 17 at Oaklawn Park, earning a preliminary Beyer Speed Figure of 97 for his one-length victory in the Southwest Stakes (G3).

Hall of Fame trainer Steve Asmussen said Silver Prospector will be pointed for the March 14 Rebel Stakes (G2), the final major local prep for the April 11 Arkansas Derby (G1). The Rebel will offer 85 points to the top four finishers (50-20-10-5) toward starting eligibility for the Kentucky Derby Presented by Woodford Reserve (G1).

The 1 1/16-mile Southwest was redemption for Silver Prospector, who was coming off a non-threatening fourth in the Jan. 24 Smarty Jones Stakes, Oaklawn's first of four qualifying points races for the Kentucky Derby. A son of turf standout Declaration of War, Silver Prospector was already on the Kentucky Derby leaderboard after closing his 2-year-old campaign with a victory in the Nov. 30 Kentucky Jockey Club Stakes (G2) at Churchill Downs for Colorado owners Ed and Susie Orr.

"We certainly aren't there yet," said Ed Orr, whose numerous business interests in Greeley, Colo., include cattle and real estate. "We're going to have to have another good showing somewhere, I think, with the points system to make it. We obviously have hope, but not a fever."

Silver Prospector earned 10 points for his Southwest victory and has 21 overall to rank sixth on the Road to the Kentucky Derby.

Another locally based horse pointing for the 1 1/16-mile Rebel is Smarty Jones runner-up Three Technique for trainer Jeremiah Englehart. The Asmussen-trained Basin is under consideration for the March 7 Gotham Stakes (G3) at Aqueduct Racetrack and the Rebel, the colt's owner, Jackpot Farm, told Oaklawn media Tuesday. Basin, who is based at Fair Grounds Race Course & Slots, hasn't started since winning the Sept. 2 Runhappy Hopeful Stakes (G1) at Saratoga Race Course.

Charging to the Winner's Circle

Ten Strike Racing and Madaket Stables' Warrior's Charge, who won the Feb. 17 Razorback Handicap (G3), is expected to return in Oaklawn's handicap series for older horses. Trainer Brad Cox said the major spring target for the 4-year-old Munnings  colt is the April 18 Oaklawn Handicap (G2).

Warrior's Charge was sidelined by colic following his fourth-place finish in the 2019 Preakness Stakes (G1), and he didn't resurface until a Dec. 18 allowance optional claimer at Fair Grounds. He made his season debut off that frontrunning two-length victory.

Cox said Warrior's Charge came around so quickly late last year that he thought about running the colt in the Jan. 18 Sunshine Millions Classic for Florida-breds at Gulfstream Park. But after conferring with Ten Strike's founding partners, Clay Sanders and Marshall Gramm, it was decided to train up to the Razorback.

"It worked out well because we were, obviously, two months between races," Cox said. "He stepped up and ran well."