Welcome to Kentucky Derby Prospect Profiles, where we take a look each week at a recent winner on the Road to the Derby schedule of races that offers qualifying points for the 1 ¼-mile Derby May 2, 2026, at Churchill Downs.

We take a closer look this week at Renegade, a 3 ¾-length winner of the $210,000 Sam F. Davis Stakes Feb. 7 at Tampa Bay Downs. He banked 20 points for the win and rose to second on the Road to the Kentucky Derby leaderboard with 25 points total, tied with Southwest Stakes victor Silent Tactic who holds the top spot on the basis of non-restricted stakes earnings.

Racing Résumé: The calendar has changed to 2026 and perhaps so too has the racing luck for Renegade, who had a compelling argument entering his 3-year-old bow as the most accomplished member of the division without a win on his résumé.

Renegade finished first by a head in his second career start Nov. 17 at Aqueduct but was disqualified and placed second behind Paladin in the one-mile maiden special weight race. He next ran a hard-fought second to Paladin in the Grade 2 Remsen Stakes at 1 1/8 miles Dec. 6 at Aqueduct, showing he could handle additional distance and graded-stakes competition, but still shipped south for the winter with zero victories to his credit.

That changed Feb. 6 at Tampa Bay Downs when Renegade rallied explosively – final quarter-mile in :24.30 and final eighth of a mile in :11.97 – for a dominant win in the Sam F. Davis Stakes that stamped him a legitimate 2026 Kentucky Derby candidate.

“He passed me like a monster in the stretch,” said Marcos Meneses, jockey of runner-up Wayne’s Law. “I knew I had horse left, but not like him.”

Renegade charged from eighth of nine to take command with an electric four- to -five-wide rally on the final turn before driving clear in the stretch for a runaway win under Irad Ortiz Jr.

“[Trainer] Todd [Pletcher] has done a great job with this horse and we think he can get better with age and more distance,” co-owner Mike Repole said. “If this is any indication, I am pretty excited.”

Speed Figures: Renegade earned a career-best 92 Beyer Speed Figure and 100 Equibase Speed Figure. The former was a five-point jump from his previous best and a 10-point improvement from the 82 Renegade earned in the Remsen Stakes. He boosted his Equibase Speed Figure seven points from the 93 he earned for the Remsen.

Running Style: Renegade flashed an eye-catching turn of foot in winning the Sam F. Davis. He’s a closer who prefers to rally from off the pace, which can present challenges on the Kentucky Derby trail and in the run for the roses. Renegade will be dependent upon others to set a fair pace and must navigate traffic that often leads to trouble and wide trips, like the one he overcame in the Sam F. Davis.

Pedigree Notes: Renegade is by Into Mischief, the leading sire in North America every year since 2019 whose top runners include 2020 Kentucky Derby winner and Horse of the Year Authentic, 2021 Kentucky Derby winner Mandaloun, and 2025 Horse of the Year Sovereignty.

Renegade was produced by graded stakes winner (at 1 1/8 miles) Spice Is Nice, by two-time Horse of the Year and elite sire Curlin. His grandam (maternal grandmother) is Grade 1 winner Dame Dorothy, by 2006 champion 3-year-old male Bernardini. In short, Renegade’s pedigree pairs elite class with an abundance of stamina.

Derby Potential: What a season debut for Renegade! He looked the part of a potential Kentucky Derby winner in the Tampa Bay Downs stretch and his closing fractions were fantastic for Hall of Fame trainer and two-time Kentucky Derby winner Todd Pletcher. An impeccably bred Into Mischief colt who sold for $975,000 as a yearling, Renegade showed significant improvement since we last saw him two months ago and should be considered one of the best prospects for this year’s Kentucky Derby.