Secret Circle bursts to win the Rebel

Secret Circle battled for a three-quarter-length victory Saturday, turning back a challenge from Optimizer in the $500,000 Rebel Stakes at Oaklawn Park and giving Bob Baffert his third consecutive victory in the Grade 2 race.

Secret Circle finished the 1-1/16 miles in 1 minute, 44.5 seconds and returned $4 on a $2 in bet as the even-money favorite.

Co-owner Karl Watson said it remains to be seen where the horse will run again. The Rebel is a prep for the $1 million Grade 1, Arkansas Derby on April 14 and a key stop on the Kentucky Derby trail.

Watson said he felt confident after Baffert sent him a text message earlier in the week saying Secret Circle was ''breathing fire.''

''He's not one to overpromise,'' Watson said of Baffert, who didn't make the trip to Arkansas for the race.

Secret Circle, who won a division of the $150,000 Southwest Stakes at Oaklawn last month, fended off D. Wayne Lukas-trained Optimizer and Scatman, who was the second finisher in the Southwest.

Secret Circle carried 122 pounds, giving up between 3 pounds and 7 pounds to the field.

The winner's share of the purse was $300,000, with $100,000 for second and $50,000 for third.

In addition to Watson, Secret Circle is owned by Michael E. Pegram and Paul Weitman.

Baffert bought the horse about a year ago for the trio at Ocala, Fla., Watson said.

Secret Circle was four back at the far turn but pushed forward and took over the race at the mile mark. Optimizer, with Jon Court riding, drove six wide into the stretch and eventually moved inside for the finish. Scatman, trained by Michael E. Lauer and ridden by Luis Quinonez, couldn't stay with the winners.

Baffert won last year's Rebel with The Factor and the 2010 edition with Lookin At Lucky.

With the infield open, a crowd of 31,882 watched the Rebel on a warm, mostly sunny afternoon in the Ouachita Mountains. The on-track handle was $2.216,392 and total handle was $6,832,020.

Jake Mo, trained by Allen Milligan and ridden by Cliff Berry finished fourth and Cyber Secret, owned by Oaklawn owner Charles Cella, was fifth.

Watson, who said he and his fellow owners have about 30 horses, said it was difficult to compare the Rebel with other races.

''The most exciting, the most stressful is the one you're in,'' Watson said.

Also running were Najjar, Adriondack, Sabercat, Pee H Dee, Reckless Jerry, Atigun and Unbridled's Note.

Ring It Up was a scratch.