BY BROCK SHERIDAN
Florida-bred Rebel With a Cause saved ground while tracking My Boy Star around the turn then ducked inside at the top of the stretch to make a winning move in the $104,000 My Frenchman Stakes at Monmouth Park Saturday. Racing against five other 3-year-olds sprinting five-and-a-half furlongs on the turf, Rebel With a Cause won an added-money test for the first time while also giving trainer Lauren Robson and breeders Diane and David John Osterholt of Ocala their first stakes wins.
“You’re always onto the next one. But I am going to try to enjoy this,” Robson said. “It’s really a big milestone for me. It’s huge, to ship and for everything to go right it makes it special.”
The victory also earns breeders Diane and David John Osterholt of Ocala, Florida a $4,000 Export Incentive check paid by the Florida Thoroughbred Breeders’ and Owners’ Association.
“It’s great to see a horse win on TV that you had in your backyard,” Diane Osterholt said. “You raise these babies and pray the person who buys them gets them to a place where they can perform. So, we feel so good about this.”
Ridden from post two by Jose Ferrer, Rebel With a Cause raced in third on the rail early, about two lengths off Florida-bred My Boy Star with even-money favorite Cairo Surprise in second on the outside. Cairo Surprise went two-wide to take on My Boy Star at the top of the stretch as Rebel With a Cause lacked room behind those two after a half mile in :45.68 on the firm turf.
Ferrer shifted Rebel With a Cause to an opening on the inside in mid-stretch where he kicked clear to win by a length-and-a-quarter in 1:03.90. Big Destroyer made a late run to get second, a neck ahead of Cairo Surprise in third. Azizam (GB), My Boy Star and Capanaparo finished in that order. Beach Beamer and Chasing Freedom were scratched.
“I had a great trip,” Ferrer said. “I was behind [My Boy Star and Cairo Surprise] and I was able to hold the rail. It worked out perfect for me. Turning for home when he switched leads he just took off running. The horse in front of me drifted a little bit so I ducked to the rail and it opened up for me.”
Rebel With a Cause paid $11.40 to win.
Rebel With a Cause has won two of his last three and three of five in his career.
He had repeated trouble in his first race and only start as a 2-year-old, finishing ninth in a restricted maiden special weight going six-and-a-half furlongs at Keeneland in October.
Robson and owner Tristar Farm then gelded the bay son Leinster before bringing him back in February to win a $50,000 optional claiming maiden by three-and-a-half lengths going five furlongs on the turf at Gulfstream Park.
“He was a handful.” David Osterholt said of Rebel With a Cause as youngster on their Ocala farm. “He was really tough to handle. At feeding time, I can call all my other horses but him, he wouldn’t let you touch him. He’d kick you or something like that. I think that is why they gelded him, because he was a handful. He was all stud.”
Rebel With a Cause then won a first level allowance race by three lengths sprinting five furlongs on the synthetic at Gulfstream on March 5. In one start since, he was fourth behind winner Outfield in the $222,000 William Walker (Listed) going five-and-a-half furlongs on the turf at Churchill Downs on May 9.
A two-time graduate of Ocala Breeders’ Sales, Rebel With a Cause sold for $10,000 to Gayle Woods out of the Bobby Jones consignment at the 2024 Winter Mixed Sale. He did not meet his reserve at the 2025 OBS March Sale.
Rebel With a Cause earned $60,000 for winning the My Frenchman to push his lifetime earnings to $131,012.
Bred in Florida, Rebel With a Cause is out of the Mizzen Mast mare Glenwood Pines, who was purchased by David Osterholt for $6,000 in foal to Gift Box at the 2022 OBS Winter Mixed Sale. At the same sale, Osterholt purchased Jeekers, by Forest Wildcat, in foal to Curlin’s Honor for $3,500.
“We retired from business in St. Louis and had just moved to Ocala,” David Osterholt said. “We’ve had riding horses for about 30 years, but I went to the auction and decided I wanted to raise some racehorses. So, I bought two pregnant mares and that’s how we got into the business. I saw Glenwood Pines and I liked her, so I bought her. Then I saw Jeekers and liked her even better and bought her.”
“And that’s how we went from two riding horses to six horses,” Diane Osterholt said.
Glenwood Pines has produced eight foals with three starters and two winners. Rebel With a Cause is her only stakes winner. She has an unnamed yearling full brother to Rebel With a Cause, also bred in Florida by the Osterholts. She was bred to Doppelganger in 2026.
Out of the stakes-winning Langfuhr mare Cayuga’s Waters, Glenwood Pines is a half-sister to Grade 2-winner Glorious View, stakes-winner Cascadilla Falls and Grade 3-placed Highball.
Return to Wire to Wire
