HOT SPRINGS, AR – Gary and Mary West homebred Concert Tour remains unbeaten in 3 career starts after running off with Saturday’s $1 million Rebel Stakes (G2) at Oaklawn Park.
Concert Tour broke from post 7 under Joel Rosario as the 8/5 second choice and outkicked the rail-breaking 6/5 favorite Caddo River for the lead heading into the clubhouse turn, then cleanly cleared over to the rail and forced a now-rank Caddo River to tip out a path.
After opening fractions of :23.42 and :47.53, Concert Tour pulled away from Caddo River in the far turn and straightened for home with a growing advantage while under a hand ride.
Rosario took multiple peeks back before gearing down Concert Tour inside the final 1/16, eventually crossing 4 1/4 lengths clear while completing the 1 1/16-mile fast dirt route in 1:43.18.
“It was a very good race,” Rosario said. “He broke very good and I just let him go on with it. It was impressive for his first time going two turns.”
The winner’s Bob Baffert stablemate Hozier rallied late to take second by 3/4 of a length over Big Lake, while Super Stock necked out a fading Caddo River for fourth.
Keepmeinmind, Get Her Number, and Twilight Blue completed the order of finish.
The Rebel is part of the Road to the 2021 Kentucky Derby prep race season. Concert Tour earned 50 points for the win, with Hozier receiving 20 for second, Big Lake 10 for third, and Super Stock 5 for fourth.
Concert Tour’s win extended the Street Sense colt’s unbeaten mark to 3-for-3 with $756,600 earned.
“That was nice, impressive,” Baffert said. “Joel, you could really tell he was controlling the race. This is a really top horse. I was going to be disappointed if he didn’t do what he did today.”
Concert Tour returned $5.40 to win, $3.80 to place, and $3.40 to show. Hozier brought back $10.80 to place and $6.40 to show. Big Lake paid $6 to show.
