Renegade (Into Mischief), a spectacular, come-from-behind winner for Hall of Fame trainer Todd Pletcher in the GI Arkansas Derby, was tabbed as the 4-1 morning-line favorite despite drawing the rail in a field of 20 set for next Saturday’s GI Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs. Irad Ortiz, Jr. rides.
Renegade, a $975,000 Keeneland September yearling purchase, is campaigned in partnership by
Repole Stable and breeders Robert and Lawana Low. Pletcher has won the Kentucky Derby twice with Super Saver (2010) and Always Dreaming (2017).
The last horse to win the Kentucky Derby from post one was Ferdinand in 1986.
“I wouldn’t trade places with anyone heading into this Kentucky Derby,” Mike Repole posted on X. “I’ll take Todd Pletcher, Irad Ortiz Jr., and the best horse in the race Renegade from the 1 post every time. Is it ideal??? No. But I’ll take the 1 post over 15-20 post all day with Renegade’s closing style and explosive late kick.”
Repole added, “If Renegade is who we think he is, the 1 post won’t matter. No excuses.”
Co-second choices on the morning line at 6-1 are Wathnan Racing’s GI Curlin Florida Derby winner Commandment (Into Mischief) (post six) and Spendthrift Farm’s daylight GI Toyota Blue Grass S. winner and ‘TDN Rising Star, presented by Hagyard’ Further Ado (Gun Runner) (post 18). Both are trained by Brad Cox, who will also saddle GIII Jeff Ruby Steaks winner Fulleffort (Liam’s Map) (post 20) (20-1). Cox won the 2021 Kentucky Derby with Mandaloun following the medication disqualification of Medina Spirit.
“I’m very happy with that post,” Cox said of Further Ado’s outside draw. “I wanted him to draw outside. It looks like there’s some speed to the inside of him there. So, we’ll see. It ultimately will be up to Johnny (Velazquez), but I think it’s a great draw.”
Cox continued, “I do like the six with Commandment. Hopefully, he can break, go forward. It looks like there’s a little speed around him. He can maybe save some ground going into the first turn and maybe even into the second turn.
Fulleffort, I think it just depends on how quick the pace is, how the race develops going into the first turn as to where he’s gonna be able to save some ground or not. That’s probably the one (post position) I’m not as excited about as the other two.”
Seven-time reigning champion general sire Into Mischief joined Bull Lea, Falsetto, Sir Gallahad III (Fr) and Virgil in the record books after Sovereignty became his third Kentucky Derby winner in 2025. In addition to Renegade and Commandment, Into Mischief will also be represented by the Bob Baffert-trained GI Santa Anita Derby runner-up Potente (Into Mischief) (post 14) (20-1).
Seeking a record seventh Kentucky Derby victory, Baffert has also entered GII Los Alamitos Futurity winner Litmus Test (Nyquist) (post four) (30-1).
Adding blinkers, Litmus Test figures to be ridden aggressively by Martin Garcia from his inside draw. The two other likely front-runners GII Twinspires.com Louisiana Derby runner-up Pavlovian (Pavel) (post 16) (30-1) and G2 UAE Derby runner-up Six Speed (Not This Time) (post 17) (50-1) both drew the far outside.
After teaming up for a win in last year’s Kentucky Derby with the aforementioned 2025 Horse of the Year Sovereignty, Hall of Fame trainer Bill Mott and jockey Junior Alvardo will be back with Curlin Florida Derby third-place finisher and ‘Rising Star’ Chief Wallabee (Constitution) (post 12) (8-1). He will race with first-time blinkers and has attracted a lot of attention since posting a flashy five-furlong workout beneath the Twin Spires Apr. 20.
The last trainer/jockey combination to win consecutive Kentucky Derbys was Ron Turcotte and Lucien Laurin, who connected with Riva Ridge (1972) and Secretariat (1973).
Bill Mott’s son Riley will have his first two Kentucky Derby starters with Pin Oak Stud’s GII Wood Memorial S. winner Albus (Yaupon) (post two) (30-1) and Virginia Derby winner Incredibolt (Bolt d’Oro) (post 11) (20-1).
Repole Stable, Pletcher and Ortiz, Jr., the aforementioned team behind Renegade, will also have the GI Kentucky Oaks program favorite. Zany (American Pharoah), the GI Central Bank Ashland S. runner-up, is the 4-1 choice for next Friday’s feature. She drew post two. Percy’s Bar (Upstart), an impressive 2 1/4-length winner of the Ashland, will exit from post 11. The ‘Rising Star’ is listed at 6-1 on the morning line.
Saturday, Churchill Downs, post time: 6:57 p.m. ET
KENTUCKY DERBY-GI, $5,000,000, 3yo, 1 1/4m
1-Renegade (Into Mischief) (4-1)
2-Albus (Yaupon) (30-1)
3-Intrepido (Maximus Mischief) (50-1)
4-Litmus Test (Nyquist) (30-1)
5-Right to Party (Constitution) (30-1)
6-Commandment (Into Mischief) (6-1)
7-Danon Bourbon (Maxfield) (20-1)
8-So Happy (Runhappy) (15-1)
9-The Puma (Essential Quality) (10-1)
10-Wonder Dean (Jpn) (Dee Majesty {Jpn}) (30-1)
11-Incredibolt (Bolt d’Oro) (20-1)
12-Chief Wallabee (Constitution) (8-1)
13-Silent Tactic (Tacitus) (20-1)
14-Potente (Into Mischief) (20-1)
15-Emerging Market (Candy Ride {Arg}) (15-1)
16-Pavlovian (Pavel) (30-1)
17-Six Speed (Not This Time) (50-1)
18-Further Ado (Gun Runner) (6-1)
19-Golden Tempo (Curlin) (30-1)
20-Fulleffort (Liam’s Map) (20-1)
AE: 21-Great White (Volatile); 22-Ocelli (Connect); 23-Robusta (Accelerate); 24-Corona de Oro (Bolt d’Oro)
Friday, Churchill Downs, post time 8:40 p.m. ET
KENTUCKY OAKS-GI, $1,500,000, 3yo, f, 1 1/8m
1-Explora (Blame) (6-1)
2-Zany (American Pharoah) (4-1)
3-Search Party (Gun Runner) (30-1)
4-Counting Stars (Honor A. P.) (8-1)
5-Meaning (Gun Runner) (5-1)
6-My Miss Mo (Uncle Mo) (20-1)
7-Dazzling Dame (Girvin) (30-1)
8-Bottle of Rouge (Vino Rosso) (20-1)
9-Always a Runner (Gun Runner) (10-1)
10-Prom Queen (Quality Road) (8-1)
11-Percy’s Bar (Upstart) (6-1)
12-Bella Ballerina (Street Sense) (10-1)
13-Pashmina (Constitution) (30-1)
14-Brooklyn Blonde (Gun Runner) (30-1)
AE: 15-Lovely Grey (Vekoma), 16-Nycon (Nyquist); 17-Resist (Maclean’s Music)
