Renegade Gets His Revenge and Challenges Golden Tempo Heading to the Travers
- Turf Diario
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The son of Into Mischief showcased his explosive late kick once again to capture the Jim Dandy Stakes (G2), on a historic day for Todd Pletcher and Mike Repole, who dominated Saratoga with an extraordinary haul
SARATOGA SPRINGS, New York (Special for Turf Diario).— Having left unfinished business behind in the Kentucky Derby (G1) and the Belmont Stakes (G1), Renegade found perfect redemption this Saturday. Delivering a crushing late charge in the closing stages, the representative of Repole Stable, Robert and Lawana Low defeated Commandment (Into Mischief) in the Jim Dandy Stakes (G2), the traditional prelude to the Travers Stakes (G1), to re-establish himself among the top three-year-olds in the United States.
The victory served as the crowning achievement on an unforgettable day for Todd Pletcher, who notched five wins on the card, and for Mike Repole, who celebrated four victories of his own, reasserting their absolute dominance at Saratoga.
With Irad Ortiz Jr. aboard, Renegade executed the exact race plan his trainer had envisioned. He unhurriedly trailed at the rear of the field for most of the journey, trailing the leaders by more than eleven lengths while Chip Honcho(Connect) and Silent Tactic (Tacitus) set the tempo, with Commandment making a decisive early move.
As they straightened into the home lane, the favorite seemed to have matters well in hand after shaking off Silent Tactic. However, launching wide out down the center of the track came Renegade, devouring ground with massive strides before surging past in the final hundred meters to score by half a length, stopping the clock at 1m49s08/100 for the 1,800 meters.
"I was a bit concerned because he was sitting so far back, but that was precisely the strategy," explained Pletcher. "We talked with Irad about letting the horse run his race without trying to change his style. Credit goes to the jockey for having the confidence to wait so long."
The triumph marked a ninth Jim Dandy trophy for the trainer, extending his record in the race even further, coming just a day after he captured the Amsterdam Stakes (G2) with Local Knowledge (Yaupon).
With his 5 Saturday victories, Pletcher tied the modern Saratoga record held jointly with Chad Brown—an achievement all the more striking considering that entering Friday he was mired in a 0-for-44 slump on dirt.
"We saved all the wins for a single day," joked the trainer. "We knew we brought a strong hand, but winning five races at Saratoga is something that simply doesn't happen very often."
For Mike Repole, the victory was particularly sweet.
"The best 3-year-old in the country today is Golden Tempo (Curlin), no doubt about it," stated the owner. "Now we will get another shot at him in the Travers."
Repole still feels the Kentucky Derby could have yielded a different result: "This horse did absolutely everything to win the Derby. He lost by a head after breaking from the worst post and enduring multiple incidents. In the Belmont, he simply didn't run to his capabilities, but in recent weeks he has returned to his former self."
Indeed, the Travers now looms as the ultimate objective to seek revenge against the undefeated colt who bested him at both Churchill Downs and Saratoga.
Pletcher emphasized that Renegade's late explosion was no fluke: "He had already shown it in the Sam F. Davis (L) and the Arkansas Derby (G1). He possesses an uncommon ability to close distance on the dirt. You don't see many horses capable of finishing like that on this type of surface."
Behind the winner, Commandment turned in another solid effort, competing in blinkers for the first time. His trainer, Brad Cox, was satisfied with the performance.
"I really liked how he traveled throughout the race. Flavien told me the blinkers helped him stay focused without overdoing it. A better horse simply ran us down at the end."
The conditioner noted he will evaluate whether to aim directly for the Travers or wait for the Pennsylvania Derby(G1).
A $975,000 purchase at the 2024 Keeneland sales, Renegade boosted his career earnings past $2.5 million, bolstering a resume that already featured the Arkansas Derby (G1) and now adds another major victory just as the calendar enters its defining stretch.
The Travers, set for August 29, promises to deliver another chapter between Golden Tempo and a revitalized Renegade, who proved once again that when given the room to unleash his powerful late kick, he remains one of the most dangerous three-year-olds in training.
