Saturday at Saratoga was a big day for trainer Todd Pletcher, who won five races on the August 1 card capped off by a win by Renegade in the $485,000 Grade 2 Jim Dandy Stakes presented by Mohegan Sun for part-owner Mike Repole.

Renegade, who was the runner up in the Kentucky Derby presented by Woodford Reserve, was sent off as a close second choice on the tote board behind favored Commandment in the 1 1/8-mile stake race for 3-year-olds. His win gave Pletcher his ninth career Jim Dandy victory.

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On the backstretch of the Jim Dandy, which was billed as pace-less, Renegade raced 11 1/2 lengths behind Preakness Stakes third-place finisher Chip Honcho, who led through a comfortable :47.82 opening half-mile. Then, showing the same strong closing kick he displayed while winning the spring's Grade 1 Arkansas Derby and losing by a neck to Golden Tempo in the run for the roses, Renegade gobbled up ground with gusto in the stretch and notched a half-length victory over Commandment.

The result reversed the finish of the Belmont Stakes presented by NYRA Bets, when Commandment finished second and Renegade was third behind the victorious Golden Tempo.

"It's a relief," Repole said. "No one is going to feel sorry for Mike Repole. Losing the Derby the way he did. The Belmont was a disappointment. This is a big win. I felt joy for the first 10 or 15 minutes after the race but now that it's sunk in, it's a relief. The last 20 seconds of this race were special."

The Jim Dandy set up what promises to be a highly anticipated rematch in the Grade 1 DraftKings Travers Stakes between Renegade and Golden Tempo, who Repole would have loved to see in the Jim Dandy field. Instead, the dual classic winner is training up to the 1 1/4-mile "Midsummer Derby" Aug. 29 at the Spa.

"I was upset (Golden Tempo) wasn't here. The best 3-year-old in the country right now is Golden Tempo. How can I say he's not. So, of course, I wanted a shot at him here, but we'll get a shot at the Travers," Repole said.

For Pletcher, Renegade's win allowed him to notch his second five-win day at the Spa, duplicating his feat on Aug. 30, 2004.

Renegade's win also whet Pletcher's appetite for a showdown in the Travers.

Renegade passes Commandment in deep stretch. (Scott Serio/Eclipse Sportswire)

"He's had a really good two months since the Belmont and hopefully we can have another good month until the Travers," Pletcher said.

With just five starters and none of them speed mavens, the pace in the Jim Dandy was a prerace concern. Chip Honcho took the early lead by a length early over Silent Tactic, who was making his first start since March 28 when he was second to Renegade in the Arkansas Derby. Curlin Florida Derby winner Commandment was tracking in third, 1 1/2 lengths behind, and it was a long way back to Renegade and jockey Irad Ortiz Jr..

"I was just concerned that he was so far back," Pletcher said, "but that was part of the strategy that Irad and I talked about."

Renegade was still 9 1/2 lengths behind after six furlongs. Then he kicked into top gear in the stretch. Commandment had forged to the front over a game Silent Tactic at the eighth pole, but Renegade was only about two lengths back at that point.

As Renegade ($4.72 to win) surged in the final furlong, the favored Commandment tried to fend him off but had to settle for second by a half a length in 1:49.08 for the 1 1/8 miles.

"It was a solid run," said Brad Cox, who trains Commandment, a son of Into Mischief. "I'm very happy with the effort. He just came up a little short."

Cox was non-committal about the Travers, saying the shorter Grade 1 Pennsylvania Derby could also be an option.

John Oxley's Silent Tactic, trained by Mark Casse, finished two lengths behind Commandment in third.