The Rebel Stakes at Oaklawn Park really changed the look of things for the KD…  First the race was run in a decent figure —  not great but certainly fast enough to consider te winner WILL TAKLE CHARGE as a borderline contender for the first Satruday in May.   He ran faster than Java’s War did in the Tampa Bay Derby — but the circumstances of each horse are very different.  So don’t be too quick to rate one over the other at this time.   So I am including Will Take Charge to my KD Contenders List, but I am dismissing Oxbow, Super Ninety Nine, Delhomme and Den’s Legacy!   Interesting, as it stands right now, the KD will have terrifically “fast early” horses in – especially a horse like Flashback and there are always some other that show up…  Den’s Legacy, Super Ninety Nine and OXBOW all seem to be affected by early speed to the detriment of their last segment of the race.  So I reflect, what chance do they have to get 1 1/4 mile and carry 126 pounds when confronted with a FAST PACE…

That’s were we are at right now…