Seven Length Maiden Winner for Justify

Bred by Peter E. Blum, Rebellious Stage (3c Justify x Spark, by Speightstown) showed why he was a $450,000 yearling purchase with a seven-length debut win in a Pimlico Maiden Special Weight on Saturday.

Rebellious Stage kept the pressure on the pacesetter for much of the six-furlong dirt race and upped that pressure around the turn. By the time they hit the stretch, he’d worn down his rival and sped on by to all but end the race. Kept to his task from there, Rebellious Stage won by seven lengths with the third placed runner 11 ¼ lengths behind.

Owned by Spendthrift Farm, Steve Landers, Martin Schwartz, Michael Dubb, Ten Strike Racing, Jim Titletown Racing, Kueber Racing, Big Easy Racing, Winners Win, and Michael Caruso, the colt is trained by Brittany Russell.

Rebellious Stage was purchased by BSW/Crow Colts Group from the Bridie Harrison consignment at the Keeneland September Yearling Sale.

Out of the stakes placed Spark, Rebellious Stage is a half-brother to Uncle Mo’s eight-time winner Energizer. Spark herself is a half-sister to stakes winner and Grade III placed Supreme, who is the dam of Grade I winner Silver State. The colt’s granddam is a full sister to Grade I Kentucky Derby and Grade I Florida Derby winner Monarchos. The extended family also includes champion sire Dynaformer.

Justify is the sire of 44 Northern Hemisphere-foaled winners with his 10 graded stakes performers the best of any second crop sire. That group includes seven stakes winners and 14 stakes performers, led by Grade I placed, Kentucky Derby runner Verifying.