Trainer Todd Pletcher said he spent part of Sunday morning watching replays of past Kentucky Derbys, perhaps seeking some solace after his favored Renegade drew the No. 1 post position for this year’s Run for the Roses.
Pletcher’s Known Agenda (eighth in 2021) and Mo Donegal (fifth in 2022) both drew the rail in their respective Kentucky Derbys and found some trouble as a result.
“Watching the replays this morning, I thought (the No. 1 post) compromised both of them,” Pletcher said. “I thought Mo Donegal perhaps ran a winning race with a little different trip, but that was partly his fault because he just didn’t jump well the first step. Known Agenda got some pressure from the outside and got shuffled back pretty far.”
Those are just some of Pletcher’s concerns for Renegade, who was made the 4-1 morning-line favorite for Saturday’s Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs.
Renegade, a son of Into Mischief, is 2 for 2 as a 3-year-old and most recently won the Grade 1 Arkansas Derby on March 28 at Oaklawn Park.
But no trainer wants the No. 1 post position in the Kentucky Derby, as it’s been 40 years (Ferdinand in 1986) since a horse won from the rail.
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“It just puts you in a position where you can’t make a mistake,” Pletcher said. “You break a little slow, especially in this race, the field is all looking to come over and get position. Most races, it just takes away some of your options. …
“It’s not ideal, but it’s what we’ve got and we’ll do the best we can with it.”
Asked about Renegade’s post position, Louisville trainer Brad Cox joked, “Better him than us.” Then Cox added, “You can win from there if you have the horse.”
Pletcher would seem to have both the horse and jockey to overcome any disadvantage regarding post position.
Renegade has made strong stretch runs in both of his victories this year, taking the Sam F. Davis at Tampa Bay Downs on Feb. 7 by 3 ¾ lengths and the Arkansas Derby by 4 lengths.
The eye-catching stretch run in the Arkansas Derby is at least one reason Renegade emerged as a favorite in the Kentucky Derby.
“He kind of exploded mid-stretch and really finished,” Pletcher said. “You don’t see too many horses on the dirt show that turn of foot late.”
Irad Ortiz Jr. is still seeking his first Kentucky Derby win but ranks No. 1 among all North American jockeys in victories and earnings this year.
“Irad’s riding in great form right now,” Pletcher said. “We just have to focus on getting out of the gate, breaking well and establishing the position we want. If you watch the Arkansas Derby, Irad rode him very confidently. He has a lot of confidence in the horse.”
Renegade arrived at Churchill Downs early Saturday morning and took to the track for the first time Sunday.
Pletcher chose to keep the horse in Florida instead of bringing him to Churchill Downs for his final breeze. Renegade covered four furlongs in 50.94 seconds on Thursday at Palm Beach Downs.
Pletcher called it a “tough call” not to bring Renegade to Churchill Downs earlier but said he ultimately decided the horse was happiest in Florida.
“We’ve seen in the past you don’t necessarily have to have a breeze over this surface to perform well,” Pletcher said. “Get here, get settled in, do some paddock schooling and gate schooling and that sort of stuff. Beyond that, I don’t see a big edge to breezing over the track.”
Jason Frakes: 502-582-4046; jfrakes@courier-journal.com. Follow on X @KentuckyDerbyCJ.
This article originally appeared on Louisville Courier Journal: For Kentucky Derby favorite Renegade, No. 1 post position ‘not ideal’
Reporting by Jason Frakes, Louisville Courier Journal / Louisville Courier Journal
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