If it's the GII Rebel S., you know that the Bob Baffert brigade is bound to pull into Hot Springs, Arkansas, with a big chance. Having won the local prep for the GI Arkansas Derby six times in the last seven years, including with eventual Triple Crown winner American Pharoah (Pioneerof the Nile) in 2015, the Hall of Famer is represented this time around by WinStar Farm and China Horse Club's American Anthem (Bodemeister). Mike Smith, who guided the Baffert-trained Hoppertunity (Any Given Saturday) to victory in the 2014 renewal, will be back aboard American Anthem, a $180,000 Keeneland September yearling turned $435,000 OBS March juvenile who graduated at first asking over 6 1/2 furlongs at Del Mar in December before just failing in the one-mile GIII Sham S. Jan. 7. Produced by a half-sister to champion Banshee Breeze (Unbridled), he should get better with distance, a scary thought for the 10 others that will enter the gate Saturday.
American Anthem is one of two California shippers for the Rebel and is joined three doors down by Jerry and Ann Moss's Royal Mo (Uncle Mo). The bay colt was runner-up in a pair of tries around one turn to begin his career and is unblemished in two starts at a route of ground, including a dominating 3 1/2-length success in the GIII Robert B. Lewis S. at Santa Anita Feb. 4. American Pharoah's rider Victor Espinoza retains the call.
The locals are led by Petrov (Flatter), runner-up to 'TDN Rising Star' Uncontested (Tiz Wonderful) in the Jan. 16 Smarty Jones S. and again in the GIII Southwest S. The flashiest new shooter is 'TDN Rising Star' Malagacy (Shackleford), winner of two sprint races by a combined 22 lengths and stretching out for the first time.
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