Tampa, FL—-Renegade delivered a powerful closing kick under Irad Ortiz Jr. to win the 46th edition of the $250,000 Sam F. Davis Stakes at Tampa Bay Downs, drawing off by 3¾ lengths and earning 20 qualifying points toward the Kentucky Derby.
Sent off as the 6-5 favorite, Renegade stopped the clock in 1:43.54 for the 1 1/16 miles over a fast main track, securing his first official victory in four starts. The win was especially notable given that the colt entered the race still officially a maiden after being disqualified from a first-place finish last October at Belmont at the Big A.
Conditioned by Todd Pletcher for Repole Stable and bred by Robert and Lawana Low, Renegade is by Into Mischief out of the Curlin mare Spice Is Nice. The $120,000 winner’s share boosted his career earnings to $199,000.
“I was very happy with how he ran,” Pletcher said. “He got shuffled back early and found himself farther off the pace than we would’ve liked, especially on a track that seemed to favor horses near the front. He had to make a wide move, but once he leveled off in the lane, he finished strongly. I thought it was an impressive effort and a great way to start his 3-year-old season.”
For a moment, the race looked ripe for a massive upset. Wayne’s Law, a 48-1 outsider and the only Florida-bred in the nine-horse field, set the pace and still held a clear advantage at the top of the stretch under jockey Marcos Meneses.
“I expected to sit just behind the speed early,” Meneses said. “He was traveling so easily and felt so relaxed that turning for home, I really thought we had it.”
That optimism didn’t last long.
“Renegade came by me like a monster,” Meneses added. “I knew my horse still had something left, but not like that.”
Renegade surged past Wayne’s Law with authority in the stretch, while The Puma, making just his second career start, finished third. Game for It checked in fourth.
Owner Mike Repole acknowledged the challenge of the race but praised both the ride and the horse’s upside.
“It definitely wasn’t an easy spot,” Repole said. “But there was a good pace, and while he was wide, Irad knew he had the best horse. Sometimes being wide is better than getting stuck in traffic. Todd has done a terrific job with him, and we believe he’ll continue to improve as he matures and stretches out. If this race is any indication, there’s a lot to be excited about.”
Ortiz, who enjoyed a four-win day on the card that included a victory in the Suncoast Stakes aboard Zany, kept Renegade near the back of the field early before launching a decisive rally around the far turn.
“With the amount of speed signed on, I thought I might have the chance to make one run from the back,” Ortiz said. “Everything worked out perfectly. I felt very confident turning for home, and when I asked him, he really responded.”
Reached by phone following the race, Pletcher expressed optimism about Renegade’s future and indicated the Sam F. Davis could be just the beginning of a promising sophomore campaign.
