Oaklawn leading trainer Steve Asmussen will send out a trio of starters in the Grade 2, $900,000 Rebel, a points race for the Kentucky Derby on Saturday. Below are some comments from him on the horses, which are based at Oaklawn. 

Title Ready was a first-level allowance winner last out, showing speed en route to a three and a half length score over the well-regarded Transgress.

"I thought it was very promising," Asmussen said. "He put Transgress away and looked good to the wire. He's training solidly and with his pedigree he could develop into anybody." 

Title Ready is a son of More Than Ready and his dam, Title Seeker, is a half-sister to the Grade 1 winners My Flag ($1.5M), Miner's Mark ($967K) and Traditionally ($495K). (Title Ready's second dam is champion Personal Ensign.) 

Title Ready will break from the rail under Jose Ortiz. It will be the first time the horse has started from the fence and in his recent works in company he was situated along the rail here at Oaklawn.  

Combatant will get good support off his runner-up finish in the Grade 3, $500,000 Southwest last month at Oaklawn. He will break from post 10 under his regular rider Ricardo Santana, Jr. 

"He drew his typical 10-hole," said Asmussen. "It's hard to say how much of a difference that makes." 

Combatant ran on a wet track for the first time in the Southwest. 

"We're hoping we'll get a nice fast track for him," Asmussen said Wednesday. "Hopefully we'll have a nice day and see where this puts us in the 3-year-old picture." 

Zing Zang was fifth in the Southwest, one start after running fourth in the Grade 3 Lecomte at Fair Grounds. The horse is a closer and will be ridden by Corey Lanerie. 

"We're hoping for a fair racetrack, a chance for him to make a run," Asmussen said Wednesday. "I'm a little concerned about the lack of pace in the race and what that will do for us. And I still think a mile and a sixteenth is too short for him to be at his best."

Zing Zang is a son of Tapit.