HOT SPRINGS, Ark. – Newgrange will be meeting both familiar and fresh rivals Saturday when he seeks to run his career record to 4 for 4 in the Grade 2, $1 million Rebel at Oaklawn Park. The 1 1/16-mile Kentucky Derby points race has lured the first five finishers from last month’s Southwest Stakes, which Newgrange won, as well as a shipper from New York in Un Ojo and the exciting local runner Chasing Time in a packed field of 11. This year’s running ushers in a new era for the Rebel as it’s being held about three weeks earlier due to a reconfiguration of the local 3-year-old series that concludes with the Arkansas Derby on April 2. Newgrange was a 1 1/2-length winner of the Southwest at 1 1/16 miles Jan. 29. The Beyer Speed Figure of 89 that he earned is the best career number in the Rebel. “I wasn’t sure if we were going to bring him back – we had a couple of other horses in mind – but I just liked the way he bounced out of the race,” said trainer Bob Baffert, who has won the Rebel eight times. “Watching him train he sort of tipped me off. ‘Put me in. I want to be the quarterback this week.’ ” :: KENTUCKY DERBY 2022: Derby Watch, point standings, prep schedule, news, and more Newgrange returned home to Santa Anita after the Southwest and his works following the race included a bullet five furlongs in 58.60 seconds Feb. 19. John Velazquez has the mount from post 2 – a race after he and Newgrange won from the Southwest from the 10 hole. “I think he’s going into this race better than he went into the last race,” Baffert said. “The ship is different. It’s not as easy as before. Sometimes that can take something off your fast ball. Hopefully, he runs well. “Good horses find a way to win. That’s what he does and that’s what I love about him.” Barber Road closed from next to last for second in the Southwest. He will break from post 9 under Reylu Gutierrez. “We’ll let Reylu play it from the break, see if we can put the horse a little closer and be more involved in the race a little earlier,” said trainer John Ortiz. “Last time, he made up a lot of ground, going around horses. He was far behind. If we can be a little bit closer to the action, I think we could see different results.” Barber Road also was second in the Smarty Jones on Jan. 1 at Oaklawn. “His natural ability is really starting to show through,” said Ortiz. “With each start, he’s more mentally mature and acts more professional.” Ben Diesel was third in the Southwest. “He’s trained nice and steady since the race,” said trainer Dallas Stewart. “His appetite is good, which we like to see. He looks great. He’s moving good, had a really good work last Saturday. We’ve got a decent post. Taking all that into consideration, I feel good about the race.” Ben Diesel will break from post 7 under Jon Court. “He’s maturing, he’s developing nicely,” Stewart said. “It’s a timing thing. We’re on the right path right now.” Kavod set the pace in the Southwest and finished fourth. He will break from the rail under Francisco Arrieta. “I guess we’re probably going to be forward, let him run out of there,” said trainer Chris Hartman. Dash Attack, who was fifth in the Rebel one start after winning the Smarty Jones, will break from post 11 under David Cohen. “He’s not an on-the-lead horse,” said trainer Kenny McPeek. “We can tuck him in and he can make a run. We’ll leave that up to David.” :: Get Daily Racing Form Past Performances – the exclusive home of Beyer Speed Figures Dash Attack has turned in consecutive bullet works for the Rebel. “We’ve had a chance to set him down in a couple of real strong breezes,” McPeek said. “I think his fitness will be a lot better. I think he was short the last race. We were dealing with extreme weather.” Chasing Time won his two-turn debut in a Jan. 14 allowance at Oaklawn by 7 1/4 lengths. With Joel Rosario in Saudi Arabia, Tyler Gaffalione has the mount for trainer Steve Asmussen. “When Joel asked him to make his move, he accelerated with kind of an eye-popping move,” said Joe Mishak, director of racing operations for owner MyRacehorse Stable. “It was very exciting to see that gear in the stretch. Even being under wraps, it was really nice to see.” Chasing Time has 3,200 owners through microshares and more than 250 have signed up to be at the Rebel, said Mishak. The Rebel shares an 11-race card with the Grade 3 Honeybee and both races offer respective Kentucky Derby and Oaks points on a scale of 50-20-10-5. First post is 12 p.m. Central.