Renegade Dominates Sam F. Davis; Pletcher, Ortiz Score Impressive Win

Renegade seized the Sam F. Davis Stakes at Tampa Bay Downs with a powerful late run, closing from eighth of nine to win by 3 3/4 lengths in 1:43.54 under Irad Ortiz Jr. The bay 3-year-old colt, favorite at 11/10, returned $4.40 to win and registered a final sixteenth split of :05.97 as he reeled in early leader Wayne’s Law and pulled clear in the stretch.

The victory marked the first career win for the Into Mischief colt out of Spice Is Nice, bred by Robert and Lawana Low in Kentucky and raced in Repole Stable colors in partnership with the Lows. Purchased for $975,000 by West Bloodstock on behalf of Repole Stable from the Taylor Made consignment at the 2024 Keeneland September Yearling Sale, Renegade now has career earnings of $199,000 after his breakthrough at 1 1/16 miles.

Trainer Todd Pletcher extended his own Tampa Bay legacy with a record eighth Sam F. Davis victory. Ortiz notched his third win in the race, adding to previous Sam F. Davis scores aboard Ocean Knight in 2015 and Classic Causeway in 2022. The race, run Feb. 7, 2026, figures on the Kentucky Derby prep trail and will elevate Renegade into conversations about the Classics following a convincing late rally.

Renegade’s path to the winner’s circle was shaped by a campaign that included a distant third in his Aug. 16 debut at Saratoga, an Oct. 17 maiden at Aqueduct in which he crossed first but was disqualified and placed second for interference, and a runner-up finish in the Dec. 6 GII Remsen Stakes when he was beaten two lengths by Paladin. Entering the Sam F. Davis as a high-profile, three-start maiden, he produced the kind of closing kick that handicappers covet in Derby trail prospects.

The Sam F. Davis field included Pletcher’s other entry Epic Desire, Brad Cox’s Confessional on the rail, and pace players such as Game For It and Wayne’s Law, the latter setting the early fractions before finishing second. Post positions published before the race listed Confessional (1), Epic Desire (2), The Puma (3), Game For It (4), Ocelli (5), Renegade (6), Wayne’s Law (7), Max Capacity (8), and Dr. Kapur (9).

Some reports listed the Sam F. Davis purse at $210,000 while the track release described it as $250,000. Regardless of the discrepancy, the race remains an important Derby prep; historically, no Sam F. Davis alum has won the Kentucky Derby, with Bluegrass Cat’s runner-up finish in 2006 the best result. Co-owner Mike Repole captured the moment succinctly: "This is one of the best maiden wins I've ever had in my life."

For connections, Renegade’s decisive late run answers questions about tactical speed and stamina at route distances, and places the colt squarely on the Derby radar as Pletcher continues to rack up stakes wins at Tampa Bay Downs. Next steps will be watched closely by trainers and bettors tracking the early points and pedigrees for the Classics.