LEXINGTON, Ky. (March 12, 2021) – Throughout the year, the NTRA will provide a guide to the best stakes races in North America and beyond. Races are listed in chronological order (all times Eastern). Full previews when available can be found through the link for each race.

A million-dollar purse and Kentucky Derby qualifying points are on the line in the Grade 2 Rebel Stakes at Oaklawn Park as it offers points on a 50-20-10-5 basis to the top four finishers. The Rebel is among five stakes races to be run Saturday at Oaklawn on a card that also features champion Whitmore making his seasonal debut in the $200,000 Hot Springs Stakes.

Swiss Skydiver, the champion 3-year-old filly of 2020 and No. 6 ranked horse on the NTRA Top Thoroughbred Poll, is also set to be in action as she makes her 4-year-old debut live on TVG in Saturday’s Grade 1 Beholder Mile.

The Rebel will be televised live on TVG. It will also be shown on NYRA’s YouTube channel and on the Fox Sports app as part of the America’s Day at the Races” show.

America’s Day at the Races,” presented by Claiborne Farm and America’s Best Racing, will air on FS1 and FS2 Saturday and Sunday showing races from Aqueduct, Oaklawn Park and other tracks. 

In addition to racing from Santa Anita and Oaklawn Park, TVG will feature racing from Gulfstream Park, Aqueduct and more. Fans can tune in on TVG, TVG2 and the Watch TVG app which is available on Amazon Fire, Roku and connected Apple TV devices.

For a full rundown on the contenders in the Rebel Stakes, check out America’s Best Racing’s cheat sheet on the race here.

Saturday, March 13 

3:03 p.m.—$350,000 Grade 2 Azeri Stakes at Oaklawn Park on FS2 and TVG

Shedaresthedevil, winner of 2020 Kentucky Oaks, will make her seasonal debut in the Azeri Stakes, the final major local prep for the Grade 1 Apple Blossom Handicap on April 17. Trained by Brad Cox, Shedaresthedevil will be making her first start since finishing third in her first race against older horses, the Grade 1 Spinster Stakes October 4 at Keeneland. The daughter of Daredevil had won her previous three starts, including the $1.25 million Kentucky Oaks last September 4, where she defeated eventual divisional champion Swiss Skydiver.

Entries: https://www.equibase.com/static/entry/OP031321USA5-EQB.html

5:45 p.m.—$200,000 Hot Springs Stakes at Oaklawn Park on FS2 and TVG

Whitmore, the champion male sprinter of 2020, will be making his seasonal debut in the Hot Springs Stakes where he will attempt to win the six-furlong test for a fifth consecutive year. The 8-year-old gelding used his famed kick to capture the Breeders’ Cup Sprint at Keeneland last November en route to earning the Eclipse Award for divisional honors. Trained by Ron Moquett, Whitmore first won the Hot Springs Stakes in 2017.

Entries: https://www.equibase.com/static/entry/OP031321USA10-EQB.html

6:16 p.m.—$1,000,000 Grade 2 Rebel Stakes at Oaklawn Park on TVG

Hall of Fame trainer Bob Baffert bids for an eighth Rebel victory when he sends out unbeaten Concert Tour and recent maiden graduate Hozier in Saturday’s $1 million race. Concert Tour, who will be making his two-turn debut in the Rebel, broke his maiden January 15 at Santa Anita and won the Grade 2 San Vicente Stakes February 6 at Santa Anita Park. Among Concert Tour’s top rivals in the Rebel are Caddo River, winner of the Smarty Jones Stakes at Oaklawn on January 22, and Keepmeinmind, who captured the Grade 2 Kentucky Jockey Club Stakes last November.

Entries: https://www.equibase.com/static/entry/OP031321USA11-EQB.html

6:46 p.m.—$100,000 Grade 3 San Simeon Stakes at Santa Anita Park on TVG

Bob and Jackie would appear to rate a big chance cutting back in distance for Richard Baltas as he faces sharp recent winner Gregorian Chant, defending champ Cistron and Jolie Olimpica (BRZ), who will be facing males for the first time in North America in Saturday’s San Simeon Stakes. Bob and Jackie has won four out of his 10 lifetime starts and will be sprinting for the first time since his debut at age two in 2018 when he was a close second going 6 ½ furlongs on Santa Anita’s hillside turf course.

Entries: https://www.equibase.com/static/entry/SA031321USA7-EQB.html

7:20 p.m.—$300,000 Grade 1 Beholder Mile at Santa Anita Park on TVG

Swiss Skydiver, the reigning champion 3-year-old filly, is poised to make her 2021 debut as she heads a field of eight older fillies and mares in Saturday’s Beholder Mile. Trained by Kenny McPeek and owned by Peter J. Callahan, Swiss Skydiver, who defeated males in the Preakness Stakes, has been idle since running seventh in the Breeders’ Cup Distaff at Keeneland last November. The daughter of Daredevil was impressive in her lone Santa Anita appearance, going gate to wire while taking the Grade 2 Santa Anita Oaks by four lengths last June 6.

Entries: https://www.equibase.com/static/entry/SA031321USA8-EQB.html