Renegade outruns Law in Sam F. Davis breakthrough

Renegade entered Saturday’s $210,000 Sam F. Davis S. as the 6-5 favorite who was arguably unlucky not to have an official win on his resume. After a power-packed rally to circumnavigate the field at Tampa Bay Downs, the Todd Pletcher blueblood scored that overdue victory in the manner of a proper Kentucky Derby (G1) contender.

A homebred for Robert and Lawana Low, who campaign the colt in partnership with Repole Stable, Renegade was last seen placing second in the Remsen (G2) to Paladin. They had crossed swords previously in an Oct. 17 maiden at Aqueduct, where Renegade outdueled Paladin, only to lose the race in the stewards’ room. He was deemed guilty of interfering with Paladin and demoted to second.

With archrival Paladin awaiting next Saturday’s Risen Star (G2) at Fair Grounds, Renegade ranked as the class of the field at Tampa. Even a wide trip from well off the pace couldn’t negate his authority, and his breakout performance gave Pletcher a record-extending eighth win in the Davis.  

Renegade was unhurried early by Irad Ortiz Jr., who turned a stakes triple on the day. Ortiz also won the Suncoast S. with Pletcher’s Zany and the Pelican S. aboard Concrete Glory for Saffie Joseph Jr.

The Davis pace came courtesy of the unheralded Wayne’s Law in splits of :23.80, :48.30, and 1:12.81. Wayne’s Law put away his nearest rivals, turning for home, and tried to spring the 48-1 stunner.

But by that point, Renegade was circling the field with a full head of steam. Looking stronger the further he went down the lane, he swept past Wayne’s Law and widened his margin to 3 3/4 lengths.

Renegade clocked 1 1/16 miles in 1:43.54 and picked up 20 Derby points. The son of leading sire Into Mischief has banked 25 in all. That puts him second on the leaderboard behind only Southwest (G3) hero Silent Tactic, who wins the tiebreak according to non-restricted stakes earnings.

Wayne’s Law was a clear second (10 points) by 2 1/4 lengths, and maiden The Puma was a creditable third (six points). Game for It, who prompted Wayne’s Law early, checked in fourth (four points). Pletcher’s other entrant, Epic Desire, received two points for rounding out the top five. 

Next came Ocelli; Confessional, who appeared to be in a good tracking spot before fading; Dr. Kapur; and the ever-trailing Max Capacity, a 122-1 longshot who wasn’t helped by hitting the gate at the start.

Kentucky-bred Renegade is bred on the same cross as Plutarch, the winner of Saturday’s other Road to the Derby event, the Robert B. Lewis (G3) at Santa Anita. Both are by Into Mischief and out of accomplished Curlin mares.

Renegade’s dam, Grade 3 vixen Spice Is Nice, is herself out of Grade 1 scorer Dame Dorothy. This is the further family of Grade 1 winners Mrs. Lindsay and Unaccounted For, descending from European star Mrs. Penny.

Renegade was offered as a Keeneland September yearling, where Repole Stable landed him for $975,000, but the Lows stayed involved in the promising bay colt. His scorecard stands at 4-1-2-1, $199,000.