Three Technique, Other Rebel Hopefuls Breeze at Oaklawn
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Photo: Coady Photography
Three Technique (outside) works in company with Wendell Fong Feb. 29 at Oaklawn Park
One of the leading local candidates for the $1 million Rebel Stakes (G2) for 3-year-olds March 14 recorded a sizzling Feb. 29 workout in advance of the 1 1/16-mile race at Oaklawn Park.
Three Technique posted a half-mile bullet in :46 just after the surface renovation break for Jeremiah Englehart, who trains the Mr Speaker colt for two-time Super Bowl-winning coach Bill Parcells’ August Dawn Farm. The work under exercise rider Marquel Lemon was the fourth for Three Technique since his runner-up finish in the Jan. 24 Smarty Jones Stakes at Oaklawn.
Breezing on a fast track with stakes-winning stablemate Wendell Fong, Three Technique covered his first three furlongs in :34 and galloped out five furlongs in :59 1/5. Wendell Fong, on the inside and prepping for the March 7 Hot Sprint Stakes at Oaklawn, also was timed in :46.
“I wanted him to be a little bit sharper,” Englehart said of Three Technique. “It kind of surprised me how well they looked and how sharp they worked. I was really happy with that.”
Kentucky Derby Presented by Woodford Reserve (G1) hopeful Three Technique, favored in all five starts, was beaten 2 3/4 lengths in the one-mile Smarty Jones, the colt’s stakes and two-turn debut. The Smarty Jones was Oaklawn’s first of four Kentucky Derby points races.
Englehart elected to skip the Southwest Stakes (G3) and bring Three Technique up to the Rebel off works, with Saturday’s breeze his major move for the race. There were 119 half-mile works recorded Saturday morning.
“I want to come back next week with something a little lighter,” Englehart said. “I worked him five-eighths last week, and he did it real easy, so I wanted him to get something out of this work this week. Then I can have a nice, normal work next week.”
Englehart said a rider for Three Technique “is up in the air” because Irad Ortiz Jr., a two-time Eclipse Award winner as the country’s outstanding jockey, has committed to a horse for Hall of Fame trainer Bob Baffert for the Rebel. Ortiz has ridden Three Technique in his past two starts. The jockey’s brother, Jose Ortiz, rode Three Technique in his first three starts, but he is sidelined with a broken wrist.
"We’ve got a couple of different options,” Englehart said.
Trainer Jeremiah Englehart is gearing Three Technique up for a run in the Rebel Stakes
In the middle of February, Baffert indicated he was likely to run San Vicente Stakes (G2) winner Nadal in the Rebel, though the Hall of Fame trainer prefers to make last-moment decisions on which horses to enter in specific Derby preps. He likes to nominate several horses and make a final decision after observing their training.
Authentic, Charlatan, Thousand Words, and Three Rings are other quality 3-year-olds trained by Baffert. Authentic and Thousand Words are possibilities for the March 7 San Felipe Stakes (G2) at Santa Anita Park.
Rebel candidates Wells Bayou and Answer In, second and third, respectively, in the Southwest, posted half-mile works Saturday morning for trainer Brad Cox. Wells Bayou went in :49 1/5, and Answer In went in :48 3/5.
Other 3-year-olds expected for the Rebel include Runhappy Hopeful Stakes (G1) winner Basin and unbeaten Louisiana-bred No Parole.
The April 11 Rebel, Oaklawn's final major local prep for the $1 million Arkansas Derby (G1), will offer 85 points (50-20-10-5) to the top four finishers on the Road to the Kentucky Derby.
Other workers Saturday at Oaklawn included graded winners Whitmore (half-mile in :47 4/5) and Mylady Curlin (five furlongs in :59 4/5). Whitmore is aimed at the March 7 Hot Springs Stakes by trainer Ron Moquett, and Cox has Mylady Curlin pointed toward the March 14 Azeri Stakes (G2) at Oaklawn.