The Rebel Stakes is a Grade II American Thoroughbred horse race for three-year-old horses held over a distance of one and one-sixteenth miles run on dirt each February at Oaklawn Park Race Track in Hot Springs, Arkansas. As of 2026, it offers a purse of $1,000,000. It is the second leg of Oaklawn's three-year-old stakes program, run after the Southwest Stakes and before the Arkansas Derby; it is also part of the Road to the Kentucky Derby.

History

The race was first run on March 18, 1961, as the Rebel Handicap over a distance of one mile and seventy yards. It was won by Mrs. Vera E. Smith's Bass Clef in 1:42. The victory was Bass Clef's fifth in a row, a run that included the Louisiana Derby. Later in the spring, Bass Clef would finish third to Carry Back in the Kentucky Derby.

The event immediately became a preparatory event for the Arkansas Derby. The 1965 winner Swift Ruler won both races.

In 1984, the conditions of the event were changed from handicap to stakes allowance and the event was renamed the Rebel Stakes. That same year the distance was increased to one and one-sixteenth miles.

In 1990, the event was upgraded to Grade III. It was downgraded to Listed for the 2003 and 2004 runnings. It was upgraded in 2008 to a Grade II by the American Graded Stakes Committee.

Since 2013, the event has been part of the Road to the Kentucky Derby.

In 2019, the event was split into two divisions after Oaklawn president Louis Cella presented a sporting gesture after the San Felipe Stakes was abandoned in California. Road to Kentucky Derby qualification points for the first four finishers were adjusted.

Records Time record:

miles – 1:41.00 Vanlandingham (1984) 1 mile and 70 yards – 1:40.80 Betemight (1967)

Margins: 7 lengths – Etony (1968), Manastash Ridge (1989)

Most wins by an owner: 5 - Loblolly Stable (1980, 1984, 1987, 1992, 1993)

Most wins by a jockey: 5 - Mike E. Smith (1986, 1993, 1999, 2014, 2019)

Most wins by a trainer: 8 - Bob Baffert (2010, 2011, 2012, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2020, 2021)

Rebel Stakes – Arkansas Derby double:

Swift Ruler (1965), Traffic Mark (1969), Promised City (1975), Temperence Hill (1980), Bold Ego (1981), Sunny's Halo (1983), Demons Begone (1987), Pine Bluff (1992), Victory Gallop (1998), Smarty Jones (2004), Lawyer Ron (2006), Curlin (2007), American Pharoah (2015), Omaha Beach (2019)

Winners Year Winner Jockey Trainer Owner Distance Time Purse Grade RefRebel Stakes2026Class PresidentJohn R. VelazquezTodd A. PletcherWinStar Farm, First Go Racing & CHC miles1:43.21$1,000,000II2025Coal BattleJuan P. VargasLonnie BrileyNorman Stables miles1:43.01$1,250,000II 2024Timberlake Cristian A. TorresBrad H. CoxWinStar Farm miles1:44.00$1,250,000II 2023Confidence GameJames GrahamJ. Keith DesormeauxDon't Tell My Wife Stables miles1:44.21$1,000,000II2022Un OjoRamon VazquezRicky Courville Cypress Creek Equine miles1:45.69$1,000,000II2021Concert TourJoel RosarioBob BaffertGary & Mary West miles1:43.18$1,000,000II2020NadalJoel RosarioBob BaffertGeorge Bolton, Arthur Hoyeau, Barry Lipman & Mark Mathiesen miles1:44.97$1,000,000II2019Long Range ToddyJon CourtSteven M. AsmussenWillis Horton Racing miles1:42.49$750,000IIOmaha BeachMike E. SmithRichard E. MandellaFox Hill Farms (Rick Porter)1:42.42$750,0002018Magnum MoonLuis SaezTodd A. PletcherLawana L. & Robert E. Low miles1:42.68$900,000II2017MalagacyJavier CastellanoTodd A. PletcherSumaya U.S. Stable (Oussama Aboughazale) miles1:43.00$900,000II2016CupidMartin GarciaBob BaffertDerrick Smith, Susan Magnier, Michael Tabor miles1:43.84$900,000II2015American PharoahVictor EspinozaBob BaffertZayat Stables miles1:45.78$750,000II2014 Hoppertunity Mike E. SmithBob Baffert Karl Watson, Michael Pegram, Paul Weitman miles1:43.90$600,000II2013Will Take ChargeJon CourtD. Wayne LukasWillis D. Horton miles1:45.18$600,000II2012Secret CircleRafael BejaranoBob Baffert Karl Watson, Michael Pegram, Paul Weitman miles1:44.55$500,000II2011 The FactorMartin GarciaBob BaffertFog City Stable & George Bolton miles1:42.19$300,000II2010Lookin at LuckyGarrett K. GomezBob Baffert Karl Watson, Michael Pegram, Paul Weitman miles1:43.06$300,000II2009Win WillyM. Clifton BerryMcLean RobertsonJer-Mar Stable miles1:44.41$300,000II2008Sierra SunsetChristopher A. EmighJeffrey L. BondePhilip Lebherz, Al Mariani, George Schmitt & Carol Wirth Trust miles1:43.88$300,000II2007CurlinRobby AlbaradoSteven M. Asmussen Padua Stables, Stonestreet Stables, George Bolton & Midnight Cry Stable miles1:44.70$300,000III2006 Lawyer RonJohn McKeeRobert E. HolthusEstate of James T. Hines Jr. miles1:44.09$300,000III2005Greater GoodJohn McKeeRobert E. HolthusLewis G. Lakin miles1:44.92$250,000III2004Smarty JonesStewart ElliottJohn C. ServisSomeday Farm miles1:42.07$200,000 Listed 2003Crowned KingChandra R. RennieBilly C. McKeever Jr.McKeever Racing Stable miles1:44.00$125,000 Listed 2002Windward PassageDonnie MecheSteven M. AsmussenTeam Valor miles1:45.06$100,000III2001Crafty ShawJoe M. JohnsonPeter M. VestalLucky Seven Stable miles1:43.82$100,000III2000Snuck InCash AsmussenSteven M. AsmussenAckerley Brothers Farm miles1:42.99$100,000III1999EtbauerMike E. SmithSteve Wren Kaaren J. & Hays M. Biggs miles1:44.02$125,000III1998Victory GallopEibar CoaW. Elliott WaldenPrestonwood Farm miles1:44.72$125,000III1997Phantom On TourLarry MelanconLynn S. WhitingW. Cal Partee miles1:42.93$125,000III1996IdeCraig PerretPeter M. VestalWillmott Stables miles1:44.10$100,000III1995Mystery StormCraig PerretLarry Robideaux Jr.David Beard miles1:44.41$125,000III1994Judge T CJoe M. JohnsonGary G. HartlageBea & Robert H. Roberts miles1:44.14$125,000III1993§ DalhartMike E. SmithThomas K. BohannanLoblolly Stable miles1:42.31$125,000III1992Pine BluffJerry D. BaileyThomas K. BohannanLoblolly Stable miles1:42.83$125,000III1991QuintanaDavid GuilloryDavid C. Cross Jr.Gary M. Garber miles1:42.70$100,000III1990Nuits St. GeorgesJames Edward BruinDouglas R. PetersonPhotini Jaffe miles1:46.00$100,000III1989Manastash RidgeAntonio Lopez CastanonD. Wayne LukasTayhill Stables miles1:43.00$100,000 1988Sea TrekPatrick A. JohnsonGary G. HartlageDiana Stables miles1:42.60$122,500 1987Demons BegonePat DayPhilip M. HauswaldLoblolly Stable miles1:41.40$147,700 1986Rare BrickMike E. SmithA. J. Foyt IIIPin Oak Stable & A. J. Foyt miles1:43.20$132,600 1985Clever AllemontPat DayLynn S. WhitingW. Cal Partee miles1:44.40$163,500 1984VanlandinghamPat DayLoblolly Stable miles1:41.00$167,900 Rebel Handicap1983Larry SnyderDavid C. Cross Jr.David J. Foster 1:42.20$114,750 1982Bold StyleLarry SnyderJack Van BergLen Mayer1 mile & 70 yards1:44.40$85,700 1981Bold EgoJohn LivelyDennis WerreDouble B Ranch & Joseph Kidd 1 mile & 70 yards1:41.20$59,300 1980Temperence HillDarrell HaireJoseph B. CanteyLoblolly Stable1 mile & 70 yards1:44.40$64,050 1979Lucy's AxeEddie MapleJoseph B. CanteyMrs. Lucy H. Close1 mile & 70 yards1:42.80$59,850 1978Larry SnyderEarl R. JacksonDaybreak Farm1 mile & 70 yards1:42.40$60,250 1977§ United HolmeRobert E. Holthus Wanda Lofton & Dixie Holthus 1 mile & 70 yards1:44.20$61,350 1976ƒ Riverside SamGarth PattersonEarl R. JacksonDaybreak Farm1 mile & 70 yards1:41.60$62,250 1975Promised CityDavid E. WhitedLarry Spraker Big I Farm1 mile & 70 yards1:44.40$50,0001974§ Perfect Aim Geary E. Louviere Harold TinkerW. Cal Partee1 mile & 70 yards1:44.40$50,0001973Game LadAl HerreraDavid R. VanceDan Lasater1 mile & 70 yards1:41.20$30,0001972Our Trade Winds Lonnie Ray Robert E. HolthusRobert Mitchell1 mile & 70 yards1:42.60$25,0001971Compte DeuxDon BrumfieldIke K. Mourar Robert E. Lehmann1 mile & 70 yards1:44.40$25,0001970Admiral's Shield Stanley A. Spencer Harvey L. VanierW. C. Robinson Jr.1 mile & 70 yards1:44.00$20,0001969Traffic Mark Phil I. Grimm Ronnie G. Warren Mr. & Mrs. Robert F. Roberts1 mile & 70 yards1:42.80$15,0001968EtonyJohn PaganoHarry HolcombG. B. Newbill1 mile & 70 yards1:43.80$12,5001967Betemight (CAN)Henry Moreno Douglas M. Davis Jr. George M. Holtsinger & Doug Davis Stables1 mile & 70 yards1:40.80$10,0001966Timely MoveMarty FreedCharlie VinciCantor & Hill1 mile & 70 yards1:42.20$10,0001965Swift Ruler Larry Spraker Gin L. Collins Earl Allen1 mile & 70 yards1:44.20$10,0001964† Spike Nail Ronnie J. Campbell Robert E. HolthusC. O. Viar1 mile & 70 yards1:43.00$10,0001963Devil It Is Robert Gallimore Gino T. Alberico Bar-Al-Mar Stable1 mile & 70 yards1:45.00$10,0001962Treasury NoteWayne ChambersHenry ForrestJ. C. Pollard1 mile & 70 yards1:42.40$10,0001961Bass Clef Ronald Baldwin Anthony W. RupeltMrs. Vera E. Smith1 mile & 70 yards1:42.40$10,000

Notes:

§ Ran as an entry

ƒ Ran as the field entry

† Floral Shop was first past the post but was disqualified for interference and placed second. Spike Nail was declared the winner.

See also Road to the Kentucky Derby List of American and Canadian Graded races

External links Oaklawn Park Media Guide 2021

References