Litmus Test will make his 3-year-old debut at Oaklawn
At 0h03, on March 1, 2026 • By Robert Yates, Oaklawn Park
An accomplished 2-year-old, Litmus Test is one of 10 horses entered in Sunday’s $1 million Rebel Stakes (G2), a 1 1/16-mile race that is Oaklawn’s third Kentucky Derby qualifying event.
The Rebel headlines a 12-race card that begins at 1:00 p.m. Probable post time for the Rebel, race 11, is 6:23 p.m. The program also features the $750,000 Honeybee Stakes (G3) for 3-year-old fillies at 1 1/16 miles and the inaugural $135,000 Pig Trail Overnight Stakes for older horses at 1 ½ miles.
Litmus Test is trying to give Hall of Fame trainer Bob Baffert his record-extending ninth Rebel victory. Litmus Test was the 5-2 program favorite for the $1 million Southwest Stakes (G3) Feb. 6 at Oaklawn, but he didn’t make the trip from his Southern California base. Baffert then targeted the $200,000 San Felipe Stakes (G2) March 7 at Santa Anita for Litmus Test’s 3-year-old debut before circling back to Oaklawn, where he owns a record 20 victories in its four-race Kentucky Derby prep series.
Baffert nominated four horses to the Rebel, including Southwest third-place finisher Buetane and Grade 1 winner Brant.
“What I do this time of the year is I nominate and then whoever is doing, I know it sounds like a broken record, but whoever is doing well that week is who I run,” Baffert said. “I was going to bring Brant up there, but he wasn’t quite ready for it. Litmus Test, I was going to run him the following week in the San Felipe, but he worked really well. He’s doing really well. If they’re doing really well, if you can find a race for them, run ’em.”
The Rebel will offer 105 total points (50-25-15-10-5, respectively) to the top five finishers toward starting eligibility for the Kentucky Derby.
Rebel entrants from the rail out: Bravaro, Francisco Arrieta to ride, 121 pounds, 8-1 on the morning line; Litmus Test, Flavien Prat, 121, 7-2; Class President, John Velazquez, 119, 10-1; Blackout Time, Brian Hernandez Jr., 119, 8-5; Honey’s to Blame, Emmanuel Esquivel, 124, 20-1; Strategic Risk, Javier Castellano, 124, 12-1; Silent Tactic, Cristian Torres, 124, 9-2; Rancho Santa Fe, Irad Ortiz Jr., 121, 12-1; Time for Music, Keith Asmussen, 119, 30-1; and Soldier N Diplomat, Jose Oritz, 121, 10-1. Bravaro, cross-entered in Saturday’s Fountain of Youth Stakes (G2) at Gulfstream Park, is expected to scratch.
Litmus Test, a son of 2016 Kentucky Derby winner Nyquist, raced five times last year. His stalking tactics netted a 5 ½-furlong debut victory Aug. 16 at Del Mar and a 1 1/16-mile victory in his final start, the Los Alamitos Futurity (G2) Dec. 13 at Los Alamitos.
Between those victories, Litmus Test ran third behind Ted Noffey and Blackout Time in the Breeders’ Futurity (G1) at 1 1/16 miles Oct. 4 at Keeneland and fourth behind Ted Noffey in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile (G1) at 1 1/16 miles Oct. 31 at Del Mar. Ted Noffey, unbeaten in four starts, was an Eclipse Award winner as North America’s champion 2-year-old male.
“I think it’s a good spot,” Baffert said of the Rebel. “It’s tough, but I think he’s a very good horse. So, I’m looking forward to it.”
Litmus Test has seven published workouts this year at Santa Anita in advance of the Rebel, the last a half-mile move in :47.80 Feb. 21.
“I think he’ll be forwardly placed,” Baffert said.
