Tarascon Is Early Favorite in $100,000 Rebel Stakes

Tarascon, whose only loss this year was to unbeaten Mister Frisky, is the early favorite for the $100,000 Rebel Stakes on Saturday at Oaklawn Park.

The Rebel, a 1 1/16-mile event, attracted 11 3-year-olds, including nine Triple Crown nominees. The Rebel is one of the final preps for the $500,000 Arkansas Derby on April 21.

Tarascon, purchased earlier this year by John Franks and trained by Jack Van Berg, will carry 122 pounds. The son of Flying Paster was established today as a 2-1 favorite.

The second choice is Individualist I, who left California after being beaten by 17 1/2 lengths by Mister Frisky on March 3. Individualist I, who will carry 119 pounds, is listed at 7-2.

Tarascon ended 1989 with a victory in the San Miguel at Santa Anita, then captured a race for California-breds on Jan. 24. On Feb. 10, Tarascon dropped a one-length decision to Mister Frisky, a potential favorite for the Kentucky Derby.

Tarascon shipped to Oaklawn and won the one-mile Southwest Stakes on March 10 by a widening 12 lengths under Larry Snyder. After that race, Van Berg said he did not think Tarascon would have lost to Mister Frisky if he had laid off the pace. Snyder is again scheduled to ride.

Tarascon has won five of eight starts and has not been worse than third since the first race of his career.