Old Fashioned Toppled by 56-1 Long Shot in Rebel Stakes

by Patricia Woo | Mar 16 2009

Despite trainer Larry Jones’ philosophizing after the race that a loss “was bound to catch up with him,” horse racing fans watched in shock as Kentucky Derby favorite Old Fashioned was handed the first defeat of his career by a 56-1 long shot in the $300,000 Gr. 2 Rebel Stakes at Oaklawn Park in Hot Springs, Ark., on Saturday, March 14.

Just like in the $250,000 Gr. 3 Southwest Stakes at Oaklawn Park on Feb. 16, the Rebel Stakes began with two horses – Old Fashioned and Silver City – taking the early lead. Silver City set swift fractions (22.54 seconds for the first quarter and 46.07 at the half-mile) while Old Fashioned, under jockey Ramon Dominguez, sat just off the pace until the final turn where he powered into the lead. But then, from 15 lengths back, long shot Win Willy made his own move and beat Old Fashioned to the wire by 2 ¼ lengths.

After the race, a stunned Larry Jones commented: “Maybe my horse didn’t see him coming… [Win Willy] was out so wide. But the horse looks fine… I don’t think it was any kind of distance limitations. I think we were still probably running too fast on the front end.”

Rounding out the top three was Poltergeist, trained by Donnie K. Von Hemel, who rebounded from a terrible Southwest Stakes race to a show finish.

Old Fashioned will target the Gr. 2 Arkansas Derby on Saturday, April 11 next – likely his final prep race before the Kentucky Derby.

Larry Jones’ other top Kentucky Derby prospect, Friesan Fire, was also in the spotlight on Saturday, March 14 in the $600,000 Gr. 2 Louisiana Derby at Fair Grounds in New Orleans, La. After winning the first two Kentucky Derby prep races at Fair Grounds – the LeComte Stakes on Jan. 10 and the Risen Star Stakes on Feb. 7, Friesan Fire was also facing high expectations. And this A.P. Indy colt exceeded them all with a spectacular 7 ¼-length victory over a group of talented rivals that included LeComte runner-up Patena and Risen Star runner-up Flying Pegasus. But it was neither of these 3-year-olds who proved to be Friesan Fire’s greatest competition – it was Papa Clem, a Gary Stute trainee, who was racing on dirt for the first time. Under jockey Gabriel Saez, Friesan Fire bided his time behind pacesetter Papa Clem until the far turn, where he unleashed his closing kick and pulled away for the win.

“He was awesome, the way he was going so smooth early,” said Saez. “He made me so confident. When I asked him to go he did it so easy. I can’t explain it.”

Over at Santa Anita Park in Arcadia, Calif., the Bob Baffert-trained Pioneerof the Nile rounded out the weekend’s 3-year-old winners.  This 3-year-old did not disappoint in his penultimate Kentucky Derby prep race, the $200,000 Gr. 2 San Felipe Stakes. Despite losing focus in the stretch, Pioneerof the Nile cruised to victory over an overmatched field and solidified his status as one of the top Kentucky Derby contenders. Look for him next in the $750,000 Gr. 1 Santa Anita Derby versus fellow synthetic -track specialist The Pamplemousse on April 4.

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