Tom Pedulla offers five takeaways from the $1.25 million Rebel Stakes at Oaklawn Park in Hot Springs, Ark., the $20 million Saudi Cup at King Abdulaziz Racecourse in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, and other major developments this weekend.

Rebel Stakes winner Timberlake (Eclipse Sportswire)

QUESTION ANSWERED: There were doubts about Timberlake’s ability to handle distance after he finished fourth in the FanDuel Breeders' Cup Juvenile presented by TAA last November at Santa Anita Park. His 3-year-old debut went a long way toward eliminating those concerns as he rated patiently before pouncing to win the 1 1/16-mile Rebel by two comfortable lengths on Saturday on behalf of WinStar Farm and Siena Farm. Timberlake is by Into Mischief out of the Lookin At Lucky mare Pin Up. Elliott Walden, who heads WinStar Farm, noted that the Brad Cox trainee “ran with a little keenness last year.” Fans saw a more mature version Saturday who now tops with Kentucky Derby leaderboard with 66 points after he easily passed his first two-turn test.

ON A TEAR: Cox’s first Rebel gave him seven victories in the last 15 Kentucky Derby prep races hosted by Oaklawn Park in a torrid stretch that extends back to 2021. He joined Steve Asmussen, Bob Baffert, and D. Wayne Lukas as the only trainers to sweep all four of the preps at the Hot Springs, Ark., track. His tear includes consecutive victories in the Arkansas Derby, those coming with Cyberknife in 2022 and then Angel of Empire last year. Assuming Cox has a starter for the $1.5 million Arkansas Derby on March 30, he would attempt to become the first trainer to win that race for three consecutive years.

BRED FOR SUCCESS: Joey Peacock Jr. could not help but think of his late father, Joe, after Senor Buscador staged a dramatic rally to win the Saudi Cup. Senor Buscador represented the last horse they bred together. Joe made the decision to send their proven mare, Rose’s Desert, to 2003 Horse of the Year Mineshaft. Peacock Jr. said during a question-and-answer session conducted on behalf of America’s Best Racing before Senor Buscador placed second in the Jan. 27 Pegasus World Cup Invitational Stakes Presented by Baccarat, “He liked the stamina that you got coming from Mineshaft. Mineshaft ran the classic distances.” If all goes well, Senor Buscador will chase another huge prize in the $12 million Dubai World Cup on March 30 at Meydan Racecourse.

Junior Alvarado and Senor Buscador (Eclipse Sportswire)

BIG-RACE RIDER: Victories in major races were elusive for Junior Alvarado earlier in his career. Now, he’s developing a reputation as a go-to rider when much is on the line. The native of Venezuela did not earn his first Breeders’ Cup victory until he teamed with Cody’s Wish to capture the Big Ass Fans Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile in 2022. They repeated in that event last autumn, when Alvarado also piloted Just F Y I to victory in the NetJets Juvenile Fillies. Alvarado, 37, also took the 2023 Pegasus World Cup with Art Collector before placing second in this year’s race with Senor Buscador. And now comes the biggest purse of his life, when Senor Buscador banked $10 million for the Saudi Cup. “I don’t have words to describe what I am feeling,” said Alvarado in a post-race on-track interview, understandably overcome by emotion after his latest and greatest success.  

JUST F Y I RETURNS: Champion 2-year-old filly Just F Y I is set to make her highly-anticipated sophomore debut in the $200,000, Grade 2 Davona Dale Stakes Presented by FanDuel TV on Saturday at Gulfstream Park. The daughter of 2018 Triple Crown winner Justify comes off an auspicious juvenile campaign in which she swept all three of her starts, capped by a thrilling neck victory against Jody’s Pride in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies last November at Santa Anita. Hall of Fame trainer Bill Mott said he lost some time with the George Krikorian homebred due to a skin issue but believes he is on a good course with her now. She worked five furlongs in 1:02 1/5, a snappy time for Payson Park, on Saturday. Mott was especially encouraged that, “She finished with lots of energy.”