A show stopping run by Renegade to take the Arkansas Derby, Coady Photo
Robert Yates
$1,500,000 Arkansas Derby (G1)
Even-money favorite Renegade used an explosive late kick to post an easy victory in the $1.5 million Arkansas Derby (G1) Saturday afternoon at Oaklawn.
Stamping himself a leading Kentucky Derby contender, Renegade rolled home by four emphatic lengths before an estimated crowd of 73,000, largest in Oaklawn history.
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.
Saturday’s total mutuel handle was $23,141,822. The previous record attendance (72,484) was set on Arkansas Derby Day in 2006.
Racing resumes Thursday at 12:45 p.m. (Central).
