Von Hemel aims Higher for G3 $900K Rebel

Trainer Donnie K. Von Hemel recently said he is targeting the Grade

2 $900,000 Rebel Stakes on March 17 for Higher Power.

A half-brother to millionaire and

2012 Oaklawn Handicap winner Alternation, Higher Power is unbeaten in two starts around two turns and 2 for 3 overall. Von Hemel said there’s nothing else in the latest condition book for Higher Power, unless he runs for a $62,500 claiming price.

“We probably won’t do that,” Von Hemel said with a laugh.

A son of Medaglia d’Oro, Higher Power won a Jan. 13 allowance/optional claimer at a mile in his 3-yearold debut. He was under consideration for the Grade 3 $500,000 Southwest Stakes on Feb. 19 before missing about a week of training because of a minor illness, Von Hemel said.

Higher Power has breezed several times since he resumed training, including a 5-furlong move in 1:00.80 a week ago. Higher Power worked with stablemate Broken Promise, an older allowance runner.

“I think it was what we were wanting,” said Von Hemel, who also trained Alternation. “We were wanting a good, strong work with him. We know Broken Promise, being a

4-year-old, could kind of keep him to his task. I thought it was a good effort. We got something out of it.”

Like Alternation, Higher Promise races for his breeder, Josephine Abercrombie’s Pin Oak Stable.

Trainer Wayne Catalano said Sunday he is “definitely taking a hard look” at the Grade 2 $350,000 Azeri Stakes for older fillies and mares on March 17 for multiple stakes winner Farrell. After a front-running win in the $125,000 Pippin Stakes Jan. 13, Farrell was last of six on Feb. 17 in the Grade 3 $150,000 Bayakoa Stakes, a 1 1/16-mile race contested over a sloppy track.

“We’re going to look at the next one (Azeri) just because it’s a nonrace the other day,” Catalano said.

The 1 1/16-mile Azeri is the final major local prep for the Grade 1

$700,000 Apple Blossom Handicap on April 13.