Well known to churn out longshot winners of Triple Crown preps, Keith Desormeaux repeated the dose Saturday, as CONFIDENCE GAME (c, 3, Candy Ride {Arg}–Eblouissante, by Bernardini) raced to the front in upper stretch and held off a final-furlong flourish from Red Route One (Gun Runner) to cause an 18-1 upset in Saturday’s GII Rebel S. at a rain-soaked Oaklawn Park. The dark bay, whose dam was a ‘TDN Rising Star’ half-sister to the legendary Zenyatta (Street Cry {Ire}), settled in about fifth position early on as those ahead of him went a very strong gallop through the sloppy conditions. Asked to improve about 3 1/2 furlongs from home, the $25,000 Keeneland September purchase rolled up outside of the well-bet Giant Mischief (Into Mischief), swept to the front four away from the fence with three-sixteenths of a mile to race and finished up on his incorrect lead, but was always holding Red Route One down to the line. Reincarnate (Good Magic), front-running winner of the GIII Sham S. in January, was forced to come from behind Saturday and got home nicely–despite being hampered by Bourbon Bash (City of Light) at the furlong grounds and completed the trifecta. Sales history: $25,000 Ylg ’21 KEESEP. O-Don’t Tell My Wife Stable; B-Summer Wind Equine (KY); T-J Keith Desormeaux.
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