By Joe Bianca
When the racing world last saw Zayat Stables' Solomini (Curlin), he was the subject of a good deal of controversy. Crossing the wire first in the GI Los Alamitos Futurity Dec. 9, the $270,000 Keeneland September graduate was disqualified to third after a lengthy inquiry, prompting backlash led by the colt's owners themselves. One week after his stablemate and the chief beneficiary of his Los Al demotion, McKinzie (Street Sense), was taken down in the GII San Felipe S., Solomini will look to avenge that defeat in the GII Rebel S. Saturday at Oaklawn.
A debut winner Sept. 2 at Del Mar, the chestnut was a well-beaten second to San Felipe winner Bolt d'Oro (Medaglia d'Oro) in the GI FrontRunner S. Sept. 30 before filling the same slot in the GI Sentient Jet Breeders' Cup Juvenile. He returns off a four-plus month break with several bullet workouts for Bob Baffert, capping off preparations with a five-furlong move in :59 flat (1/61) Mar. 10 at Santa Anita. Solomini would represent a remarkable seventh Rebel win in nine years for Baffert should he prevail.
Robert Baker and William Mack's 'TDN Rising Star' Sporting Chance (Tiznow) will look to build off of an encouraging sophomore debut in the GIII Southwest S. here Feb. 19. Chasing a fast pace over a sloppy racetrack, the $575,000 KEESEP buy was steadied in the stretch and held on for third in his first start since capturing the GI Hopeful S. Sept. 4 at Saratoga.
Todd Pletcher made the rare interruption to Baffert's Rebel dominance last March when he took the trophy with two-for-two 'Rising Star' Malagacy (Shackleford). He will attempt to replicate that feat Saturday with Robert and Lawana Low's two-for-two 'Rising Star' Magnum Moon (Malibu Moon). Picked up for $380,000 at KEESEP, the bay earned a 95 Beyer for his debut win Jan. 13 at Gulfstream and annexed a two-turn allowance Feb. 15 at Tampa.
Breeze Easy and John C. Oxley's Curlin's Honor (Curlin) will try to stay undefeated in his stakes debut. Bought for an easily sale-topping $1.5 million at last year's Fasig-Tipton Midlantic May sale, the chestnut owns two neck victories from his two starts, scoring last out Feb. 25 in the Fair Grounds slop despite a difficult trip.
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