The top contender for this year’s Kentucky Derby faces an uphill battle after being assigned the challenging inside rail position during Saturday’s official post position draw at Churchill Downs.
Renegade, who captured the Arkansas Derby and is owned by American billionaire Mike Repole, enters as the betting favorite at 4-1 odds for the 152nd Run for the Roses scheduled for Saturday, May 2, in Louisville, Kentucky.
Under the guidance of Hall of Fame trainer Todd Pletcher, the three-year-old colt has delivered impressive performances in his two starts this season. Renegade staged a dramatic come-from-behind victory in the Sam F. Davis Stakes at Tampa Bay Downs on February 7, then dominated the field with a commanding four-length triumph in the Arkansas Derby at Oaklawn Park on March 28.
Jockey Irad Ortiz Jr. will guide Renegade in his quest for Derby glory, though the veteran rider is still seeking his first Kentucky Derby victory after nine previous attempts. However, Ortiz Jr. has found success in the Triple Crown series, capturing two Belmont Stakes titles in 2016 and 2022.
The rail assignment places Renegade in a historically difficult position, as no horse has won the Derby from the first gate since Ferdinand accomplished the feat in 1986. While eight horses total have won from Gate No. 1, most of those victories occurred when Derby fields were considerably smaller.
Sharing co-second choice status at 6-1 odds are Commandment, who will break from the sixth gate, and Further Ado, starting from the outside 18th position. Both horses are trained by Brad Cox.
Legendary trainer Bob Baffert, who returned to Derby competition last May following a three-year suspension, will saddle two contenders: Potente and Litmus Test.
The complete 20-horse field with opening odds includes: Renegade (4-1), Albus (30-1), Intrepido (50-1), Litmus Test (30-1), Right To Party (30-1), Commandment (6-1), Danon Bourbon (20-1), So Happy (15-1), The Puma (10-1), Wonder Dean (30-1), Incredibolt (20-1), Chief Wallabee (8-1), Silent Tactic (20-1), Potente (20-1), Emerging Market (15-1), Pavlovian (30-1), Six Speed (50-1), Further Ado (6-1), Golden Tempo (30-1), and Fulleffort (20-1).
