Get Her Number Breezes, Could Return in Rebel

Gary Barber's Get Her Number, unraced since winning the American Pharoah Stakes (G1) Sept. 26 at Santa Anita Park, could return in the $1 million Rebel Stakes (G2) at Oaklawn Park March 13, trainer Peter Miller said.

The 3-year-old Dialed In  colt worked six furlongs in 1:13 Feb. 25 at San Luis Rey Downs in Southern California, his seventh breeze since he was sidelined last fall. He won two of three starts last year at 2, with his other efforts being a first-out maiden victory in a turf sprint at Del Mar and a close fourth-place finish in the Del Mar Juvenile Turf Stakes there.

The $300,000 San Felipe Stakes (G2) on March 6 presents a closer option at Santa Anita Park, but the timing of the Rebel allows for a little more training.

"The San Felipe is too quick. I kind of need the extra week," Miller said. "Of course, we have to ship."

The Rebel, at 1 1/16 miles, could also lure Caddo River, Concert Tour, and Keepmeinmind.

Miller said other preps have not been ruled out. The Rebel and Twinspires.com Louisiana Derby (G2) are the only official Road to the Kentucky Derby qualifiers in the middle of next month, and the Louisiana Derby is at 1 3/16 miles, a furlong longer than the trip over which Get Her Number last raced.

"He's not quite where he needs to be," Miller said of his colt's fitness. "We might need the Rebel to get to where we need to be. I'm kind of in no man's land here, but the horse is doing very well."

Another candidate for Miller to ship to Oaklawn for a March 13 race is C Z Rocket, who could run in the Hot Springs, a six-furlong, $200,000 race on the Rebel undercard. A two-time grade 2 winner in 2020, he last finished second in the Breeders' Cup Sprint (G1) for owners Madaket Stables, Barber, and Tom Kagele.

Whitmore, who defeated him in the Breeders' Cup Sprint and was voted champion sprinter of last year, breezed Thursday at Oaklawn, covering four furlongs in :47 2/5. It was his second workout of the winter there and his first since he missed training due to frozen racetracks caused by extreme winter weather in the region. The 8-year-old is a four-time winner of the Hot Springs for trainer Ron Moquett.

Kagele's Shashashakemeup, second in the Palos Verdes Stakes (G3) at Santa Anita Jan. 23, may compete in Santa Anita's next major sprint race, the San Carlos Stakes (G2) at seven furlongs March 6, according to Miller. The Shackleford colt breezed six furlongs Thursday in 1:13 4/5 at Santa Anita.