CHC Inc., WinStar and First Go Racing’s Class President (Uncle Mo) put his name on the Kentucky Derby leaderboard with a gutsy victory in the $1-million GII Rebel S. at Oaklawn Saturday.
Overlooked at 8-1 in this first try around two turns, Class President stalked the early pace set by favorite Litmus Test from second through respectable early fractions. Popped the question by Hall of Famer John Velazquez approaching the far turn, the bay ranged up alongside the pacesetter, sticking his nose in front exiting the bend.
With Litmus Test in his rearview in the lane, Class President was joined by Silent Tactic and the pair dueled to the wire. Class President refused to be denied, winning by a determined nose, and earning 50 points towards the Run for the Roses.
“We have been looking forward to getting Class President around two turns and our confidence was rewarded here,” CHC’s Christie DeBernardis said. “He showed so much class and grit, fighting off a more experienced foe. It is exactly what you want to see when you ask a horse to go two turns, especially against this level of company. It is still a long road to the First Saturday in May, but we are certainly excited for Class President’s future.”
A debut winner going a mile at Gulfstream Dec. 27, Class President was scheduled to run in a two-turn allowance on the GIII Holy Bull S. undercard. When that race did not go, Todd Pletcher was forced to re-route his pupil and went to the seven-furlong Swale S. on the same day Jan. 31. Class President ran a valiant second on a speed-biased track, at a distance too short for him, and against one of his age group’s leading sprinters.
Pletcher is leaving all options open for Class President going forward. There are several preps available in the next month or the colt could even train up to the Run for the Roses.
“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.”