Bob Baffert said The Factor had to win the $300,000 Rebel Stakes at Oaklawn Park for him to enter the roan colt in the Kentucky Derby.
Ridden by Martin Garcia, the 3-year-old son of Warfront turned the Rebel into his third consecutive gate-to-wire victory, blazing through 1-1/16 miles in 1 minute, 42.19 seconds, a stress-free 6-1/4 lengths in front. The $1 million Arkansas Derby on April 16 could be his next start, though Baffert brought him east from Santa Anita.
''This was a more demanding track, and I think he probably got the most out of this than any race so far," Baffert said. "Right now, I'd say we would probably come back. He clearly could have gone a mile-and-an-eighth today.''
Co-owner George Bolton was amenable to a return trip.
''We love it here. As long as he comes out of it well, I'm sure we will come back,'' Bolton said.
A vocal crowd of 34,698 watched The Factor, carrying 117 pounds, get off to his usual fast start, completing the first quarter in 22.33. No one in the nine-horse field put up a serious challenge.
Bolton said The Factor was able to keep a little in reserve.
''The good thing about coming here was he wasn't pushed into really fast fractions, and we think he's probably going to be able to keep going because of that,'' Bolton said.
Also owned by Fog City Stable, The Factor returned $4.80 for a win bet. Caleb's Posse was paid $14.20 and $6.80, outsprinting in the stretch Southwest Stakes winner Archarcharch, which paid $4.20.
Sway Away, the other interloper from California, started slow, got banged around in the first turn and finished sixth, showing little in the stretch. The Rebel was Sway Away's first time running two turns.
''Going into the first turn, the four horse (Picko's Pride) didn't want to make the turn and I was in the middle of all that,'' Sway Away jockey Garrett Gomez said. ''I finally got him moving forward and the dirt started hitting him in the face and he didn't like that. He has more ability than he showed.''
Trainer Jeff Bonde said Sway Away may run in the Arkansas Derby.
''He never got a chance to run his best race. We will stay here and see how he comes out,'' Bonde said.
Saratoga Red, making only his second start, was fourth, followed by JW Blue. JP Gusto was seventh, trailed by Picko's Pride and Bluegrass Jam.
Alternation was a late scratch after he reared up and got into trouble in the gate, delaying the start by several minutes.
Baffert said he didn't like the commotion.
''I was concerned because my horse was in the gate when (Sway Away) started acting up. Anytime something like that happens it can get horses near him stirred up,'' Baffert said. ''I'm glad they got (Sway Away) out of there quickly.''
Trainer Donny K. Von Hemel said Sway Away scratched his left foreleg, which will be treated with antibiotics. Otherwise he said the horse didn't seem to be hurt.
Von Hemel also trains Caleb's Posse and said he was pleased with the outcome.
''I was afraid that the winner could get out there and put up a 46 and change on the front end," Von Hemel said. "That's what he did (46.77) and he just proved too tough to catch, but I'm proud as I can be of him.''
Archarcharch trainer Jinks Fires said Alternation's trouble in the gate affected his horse.
''It didn't help him relax. That's the key with this horse,'' Fires said.
But Archarcharch jockey, Jon Court, said the colt overcame the tumult in the gate.
''My horse showed his talent. There are big races and better performances coming,'' Court said.
Baffert won last year's Rebel with Lookin At Lucky, who went on to finish sixth in the Derby before winning the Preakness Stakes.
Oaklawn's total handle for the day was $4,995,859.
Preceding the Rebel, Havre de Grace finished 3-1/4 lengths in front of rival Blind Luck to win the $150,000 Azeri. Havre de Grace, carrying 115 pounds and ridden by Ramon Dominguez, paid $5.20 for a win bet.
