HOT SPRINGS, Ark. – Class President likely locked up a spot in the starting gate for the Kentucky Derby on Sunday when he fought for a nose win over Silent Tactic in the Grade 2, $1 million Rebel at Oaklawn Park.
It was another 5 1/4 lengths back in third to favorite Litmus Test.
The Rebel rewarded its winner with 50 points for the Kentucky Derby. The prep was showcased on a 12-race card run under clear skies and temperatures in the 70s. The attendance ontrack was an estimated 29,000, according to Oaklawn.
Class President ($19) was making his two-turn debut after winning a maiden special weight Dec. 27 at Gulfstream Park, then finishing second in that track’s Swale in his most recent start Jan. 31.
In the Rebel, the South Florida shipper broke well under John Velazquez and tracked Litmus Test, who showed the way after breaking from the rail. Litmus Test took the field through an opening quarter in 23.06, a half-mile in 46.62 and six furlongs in 1:11.77 before Class President came away with the lead into the stretch Sunday.
The eventual winner was resolute to the wire as Silent Tactic came at him with the same kind of closing rush he used to win last month’s Southwest at Oaklawn. At one point, Silent Tactic had the advantage, but in the end, Class President battled back and covered the 1 1/16 miles on a fast track in 1:43.21.
“We’ve been looking forward to stretching him out around two turns,” winning trainer Todd Pletcher said. “We kind of had a plan. We were going to go in an allowance race. When that didn’t go, we ended up shortening him up in the Swale and I thought he actually gained a lot of good experience in there, ran a courageous race, sort of against the grain of the racetrack. Obviously, it helped set him up nicely for this.”
Velazquez was impressed by the fight put up by Class President.
“Very nice when you ask for everything they can, and they give it to you,” Velazquez said in an interview conducted by Oaklawn.
The win was the third on the card for Velazquez, who also won a maiden special weight and an overnight stakes.
“Johnny’s remarkable,” Pletcher said. “He’s riding as well as he ever has, and he showed that strong finish today in a very close race. He rode a perfect race, and gave him a great trip. He’s an incredible guy to have the longevity of the career that he’s had.”
Following Silent Tactic and Litmus Test were Blackout Time in fourth and Solider N Diplomat in fifth, with the horses also earning Kentucky Derby points for their finishes. They were awarded on a sliding scale of 25-15-10-5.
Pletcher trains Class President for the partnership of WinStar Farm, First Go Racing, and CHC Inc. He said in the immediate aftermath of the race that the path the horse goes down is to be determined.
“I think we’ll bring him back to Palm Beach Downs and sort of evaluate how everything looks,” Pletcher said. “You know, he runs well fresh, so I think we’ve got plenty of time to sort it out, talk to the ownership group, and we’ll try to make the right decision. But I think he’s got enough seasoning that we can kind of leave everything on the table.”
Those options include training up to the Kentucky Derby, or targeting another prep before May 2.
Class President is a son of Uncle Mo who has now won 2 of 3 starts. He earned $540,000 for his win in the Rebel.
Oaklawn handled $15.8 million from all sources, according to statistics provided by the track. The Rebel has been traditionally run on a Saturday, but winter weather forced it to a Sunday last season and business was so brisk the track decided to schedule it for a Sunday in 2026.
The Rebel was the third Kentucky Derby points race at the meet, with the final offering, the Grade 1, $1.5 million Arkansas Derby, to be run on March 28.
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