Renegade faces eight in Sam F. Davis

Runner-up in the Remsen (G2), Renegade will open his three-year-old campaign in Saturday’s $250,000 Sam F. Davis at Tampa Bay Downs. The 1 1/16-mile race offers 42 qualifying points (20-10-6-4-2 scale) as part of the Road to the Kentucky Derby Challenge series, and Renegade is the probable favorite among nine contestants.

The Into Mischief colt has given a fine account of himself against Paladin, outfinishing the well-regarded Kentucky Derby prospect (before a controversial disqualification) in a maiden special weight two starts back and placing second to the same rival in the Remsen. Renegade is one of two Davis runners for two-time Kentucky Derby-winning trainer Todd Pletcher. Irad Ortiz Jr. will be in to ride.

The Hall of Fame trainer will also send out Epic Desire, who is the lone member of the field with a win over the track, breaking his maiden by 2 1/2 lengths at Tampa on Jan. 9. Samy Camacho retains the assignment.

Brad Cox has a contender in Confessional, who will make his first stakes attempt following a runner-up to Nearly in a Jan. 2 allowance at Gulfstream Park. The gray son of Essential Quality will remove blinkers and adds Flavien Prat.

Renegade isn’t the only runner without an official win. The Puma, who overcame a slow break and wide trip to just miss against Chief Wallabee in his Jan. 10 debut at Gulfstream Park, promises to bring speed to the field for Gustavo Delgado and Javier Castellano. Ocelli, a rallying third in a deep maiden over a forward-playing track at Fair Grounds last out, rates as intriguing for Whit Beckman and Joe Ramos.

The field is completed by Dr. Kapur, who will try to rebound after a sixth in the Kentucky Jockey Club (G2) at Churchill Downs; minor stakes winner Wayne’s Law; stakes-placed Max Capacity; and Gulfstream maiden winner Game for It.