Triple Crown Trail: Renegade sharp in Arkansas Derby

Secures Kentucky Derby spot with dominant score

Irad Ortiz Jr. rode Renegade for Hall of Fame trainer Todd Pletcher, who won the Arkansas Derby for a record sixth time. A son of super sire Into Mischief, Renegade is owned by prominent New Yorker Mike Repole and Robert and Lawana Low of Springfield, Mo.

Pletcher teamed with Repole to win the 2013 Arkansas Derby (Overanalyze) and with the Lows in 2018 (Magnum Moon).

Renegade was last of eight after a half-mile in :47.80, but he began to advance toward the leaders on the second turn. Renegade moved to contention with a four-wide burst turning for home and roared to the front passing the eighth pole while racing in the middle of the track. Carrying equal top weight of 124 pounds, Renegade’s winning time was a sharp 1:49.70.

Silent Tactic, who held a half-length lead in midstretch, finished second, two lengths ahead of Taptastic, who was making just his second career start. It was another 1 ¼ lengths farther back to fourth-place finisher Bricklin, who was followed, in order, by Blackout Time, Redland Rebels, Litmus Test and Exosome. Napoleon Solo was scratched.

Renegade paid $4, $2.60 and $2.20. Silent Tactic paid $3.20 and $2.60. Taptastic paid $3.80. Silent Tactic was the only horse to compete in all four legs of Oaklawn’s Kentucky Derby prep series, winning the $1 million Southwest Stakes (G3) Feb. 6, and finishing

Renegade collected 100 Kentucky Derby qualifying points for the victory, his second in five lifetime starts. He was exiting a 3 ¾-length victory in the Sam F. Davis Stakes Feb. 7 at Tampa Bay Downs. Renegade ($1,031,500) surpassed $1 million in career earnings with the victory.

The Lows bred Renegade and secured half interest in the colt after Repole purchased him for $975,000 at the 2024 Keeneland September Yearling Sale. Renegade, who was bred in Kentucky, is the first foal out of Spice Is Nice, a Grade 3 winner for the Lows and Pletcher.

FLORIDA DERBY

Wathnan Racing’s Commandment overcame a tepid early pace to stamp himself as the early favorite for this year’s Kentucky Derby (G1) with a late-rallying drive to eke out a narrow victory in the 75th running of the $1 million Curlin Florida Derby (G1) presented by Hill ‘n’ Dale Farms at Xalapa Saturday at Gulfstream Park.

The Brad Cox-trained son of 2014 Curlin Florida Derby winner Constitution, who was coming off a victory by a neck in the Feb. 28 Coolmore Fountain of Youth (G2) at Gulfstream, prevailed by just a nose over The Puma in the tradition-rich 1 1/8-mile stakes for 3-year-olds. Chief Wallabee was another half-length farther back in third.

KENTUCKY DERBY POINTS TOP 10

RANK	HORSE	OWNER	TRAINER	POINTS
1	Commandment	Wathnan Racing	Brad Cox	150
2	Renegade	Robert & Lawana L. Row & Repole Stable (Mike Repole)	Todd A. Pletcher	125
3	Fulleffort	St. Elias Stable and Starlight Racing	Brad Cox	110
4	The Puma	OGMA Investments LLC, JR Ranch and High Step Racing LLC	Gustavo Delgado	106
5	Emerging Market	Klaravich Stables Inc.	Chad Brown	100
6	Silent Tactic	John C. Oxley	Mark E. Casse	100
7	Pavlovian	Reddam Racing, LLC	Doug O’Neill	70
8	Incredibolt	Pin Oak Stud LLC	Riley Mott	60
9	Golden Tempo	Phipps Stable (Daisy Phipps Pulito) & St. Elias Stable (Vincent Viola)	Cherie DeVaux	60
10	Class President	WinStar Farm LLC, First Go Racing and CHC, Inc.	Todd A. Pletcher	50
	Iron Honor	St. Elias Stable, Lawrence, William H. and Glassman Racing	Chad Brown	50
	Potente	Speedway Stables LLC	Bob Baffert	50
	Stark Contrast	Amerman Racing, LLC	Michael McCarthy	50
	Chief Wallabee	Michael Ball and Katherine Ball	Bill Mott	50

KENTUCKY DERBY POINTS RACES REPLAYS

(Click on each line to see the replay)

• Smarty Jones S. – Strategic Risk
• Jerome S. – My World
• Lecomte S. – Golden Tempo
• Southwest S. – Silent Tactic
• Holy Bull S. – Nearly
• Robert B. Lewis S. – Plutarch
• Withers S. – Talk to Me Jimmy
• Sam F. Davis S. – Renegade
• UAE 2000 Guineas – Six Speed
• Risen Star S. – Paladin
• John Battaglia Memorial S. – Great White
• Sunland Derby – Pavlovian
• Rebel S. – Class President
• Fountain of Youth S. – Commandment
• Gotham S. – Iron Honor
• San Felipe S. – Potente
• Tampa Bay Derby – The Puma
• Louisiana Derby – Emerging Market
• Jeff Ruby Steaks – Fulleffort
• UAE Derby – Wonder Dean
• Florida Derby – Commandment
• Arkansas Derby – Renegade

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