Rebel Stakes On March 1 Major Stepping Stone For Kentucky Derby
Forbes Business
by Danny Brewer, ContributorFebruary 25, 2026
AI-Generated Deep Dive Summary
The Rebel Stakes on March 1 at Oaklawn Park in Hot Springs, Arkansas, is a pivotal event on the path to the Kentucky Derby, offering $1 million in prize money and valuable qualifying points. This Grade II race has long served as a springboard for potential contenders, with notable winners like American Pharoah, who went on to claim the Triple Crown in 2015. The 2026 edition features nine competitive horses vying for top honors, including heavily favored Litmus Test, trained by Bob Baffert and ridden by Flavien Prat, and Class President, a promising runner from Todd Pletcher’s stable. Other key contenders include Blackout Time, HoneyStrategic Risk’s To Blame, Strategic Risk, Silent Tactic, Rancho Santa Fe, and Time For Music. The race not only attracts top talent but also offers significant business opportunities in horse racing, with media exposure, sponsorship potential, and economic impact making it a crucial event for stakeholders in the industry.
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Originally published on Forbes Business on 2/25/2026