Renegade

Renegade was a $975,000 purchase at the 2024 Keeneland September yearling sale by Mike Repole’s Repole Stables, which owns the Into Mischief colt in partnership with Robert and Lawana Low.

The bay colt finished third Aug. 16, 2025, at Saratoga Race Course in his career debut before a significantly improved effort in his second race. Renegade battled gamely through the stretch to finish first in a one-mile allowance race Oct. 17 at Aqueduct but was disqualified for interference in the stretch after bumping with Paladin and placed second behind that rival.

Todd Pletcher opted to try Renegade against stakes competition in his third start in the 1 1/8-mile Remsen Stakes, a Grade 2 Kentucky Derby qualifying race Dec. 6 at Aqueduct. Renegade challenged for the lead at the top of the stretch but could not out-finish Paladin and settled for second, two lengths behind the winner.

Technically still a maiden at this point, Renegade made his 3-year-old debut at Tampa Bay Downs on Feb. 7, 2026, in the $210,000 Sam F. Davis Stakes and was already accomplished enough to be sent off as the 6-5 favorite in a field of nine horses. Renegade left no doubt as to who the best horse was in the Sam F. Davis, he rallied from off the pace and scored a convincing 3 3/4-length victory, a maiden no more. The Sam F. Davis Stakes was a points race on the Road to the Kentucky Derby presented by Woodford Reserve, and with his victory he earned another 20 qualifying points to his total.

Renegade made his second start of his 3-year-old campaign in the $1.5 million Grade 1 Arkansas Derby going 1 1/8 miles at Oaklawn Park on March 28. Sent off as the even-money favorite in an eight-horse field in the Arkansas Derby, Renegade delivered a big win with a powerful stretch run from last to first to win by four widening lengths. Renegade won 100 Derby qualifying points and advanced to the Kentucky Derby as one of the top point-getters on the Leaderboard and is likely to be one of the favorites in the run for the roses.

Renegade advanced to the Kentucky Derby and drew the rail post position under regular jockey Irad Ortiz, who maintained the mount over other choices he had in the race. Sent off as the 5.65-1 second choice on the tote board in a field of 18, Renegade had early trouble on the inside and settled for much of the race near the rear of the field. He came with a strong closing stretch run from 18th place at the top of the stretch and rallied furiously but ultimately lost a neck photo to Golden Tempo to settle for second.

Grade 3 winner Spice is Nice, by two-time Horse of the Year Curlin, is the dam (mother) of Renegade. Grade 1 winner Dame Dorothy, by Bernardini, is Renegade’s grandam (maternal grandmother).