Welcome to Kentucky Derby Prospect Profiles, the place we have a look every week at a latest winner on the Highway to the Derby schedule of races that gives qualifying factors for the 1 ¼-mile Derby Might 2, 2026, at Churchill Downs.
We take a better look this week at Renegade, a 3 ¾-length winner of the $210,000 Sam F. Davis Stakes Feb. 7 at Tampa Bay Downs. He banked 20 factors for the win and rose to second on the Highway to the Kentucky Derby leaderboard with 25 factors complete, tied with Southwest Stakes victor Silent Tactic who holds the highest spot on the idea of non-restricted stakes earnings.
Racing Résumé: The calendar has modified to 2026 and maybe so too has the racing luck for Renegade, who had a compelling argument coming into his 3-year-old bow as probably the most achieved member of the division with out a win on his résumé.
Renegade completed first by a head in his second profession begin Nov. 17 at Aqueduct however was disqualified and positioned second behind Paladin within the one-mile maiden particular weight race. He subsequent ran a hard-fought second to Paladin within the Grade 2 Remsen Stakes at 1 1/8 miles Dec. 6 at Aqueduct, exhibiting he might deal with extra distance and graded-stakes competitors, however nonetheless shipped south for the winter with zero victories to his credit score.
That modified Feb. 6 at Tampa Bay Downs when Renegade rallied explosively – last quarter-mile in :24.30 and last eighth of a mile in :11.97 – for a dominant win within the Sam F. Davis Stakes that stamped him a reputable 2026 Kentucky Derby candidate.
“He handed me like a monster within the stretch,” stated Marcos Meneses, jockey of runner-up Wayne’s Legislation. “I knew I had horse left, however not like him.”
Renegade charged from eighth of 9 to take command with an electrical four- to -five-wide rally on the ultimate flip earlier than driving clear within the stretch for a runaway win underneath Irad Ortiz Jr.
“[Trainer] Todd [Pletcher] has executed an ideal job with this horse and we predict he can get higher with age and extra distance,” co-owner Mike Repole stated. “If that is any indication, I’m fairly excited.”
Pace Figures: Renegade earned a career-best 92 Beyer Pace Determine and 100 Equibase Pace Determine. The previous was a five-point soar from his earlier greatest and a 10-point enchancment from the 82 Renegade earned within the Remsen Stakes. He boosted his Equibase Pace Determine seven factors from the 93 he earned for the Remsen.
Working Model: Renegade flashed an eye catching flip of foot in profitable the Sam F. Davis. He’s a better who prefers to rally from off the tempo, which might current challenges on the Kentucky Derby path and within the run for the roses. Renegade might be dependent upon others to set a good tempo and should navigate visitors that always results in bother and extensive journeys, just like the one he overcame within the Sam F. Davis.
Pedigree Notes: Renegade is by Into Mischief, the main sire in North America yearly since 2019 whose prime runners embrace 2020 Kentucky Derby winner and Horse of the Yr Genuine, 2021 Kentucky Derby winner Mandaloun, and 2025 Horse of the Yr Sovereignty.
Renegade was produced by graded stakes winner (at 1 1/8 miles) Spice Is Good, by two-time Horse of the Yr and elite sire Curlin. His grandam (maternal grandmother) is Grade 1 winner Dame Dorothy, by 2006 champion 3-year-old male Bernardini. In brief, Renegade’s pedigree pairs elite class with an abundance of stamina.
Derby Potential: What a season debut for Renegade! He seemed the a part of a possible Kentucky Derby winner within the Tampa Bay Downs stretch and his closing fractions have been improbable for Corridor of Fame coach and two-time Kentucky Derby winner Todd Pletcher. An impeccably bred Into Mischief colt who offered for $975,000 as a yearling, Renegade confirmed vital enchancment since we final noticed him two months in the past and needs to be thought of probably the greatest prospects for this 12 months’s Kentucky Derby.
