Picture: Tommy Land/Eclipse Sportswire
betting favorites Renegade He hit a four-wide burst flip at dwelling on Saturday to earn a dominant Grade 1 victory by 4 lengths and $1.5 million. arkansas derby In entrance of an estimated crowd of 73,000, the most important in Oak Garden historical past.
Irad Ortiz Jr. rode Corridor of Fame coach Todd Pletcher’s successful horse to a report sixth Arkansas Derby victory within the 1 1/8-mile race for eight 3-year-old horses. The highest 5 finishers on this race have been awarded Kentucky Derby qualifying factors of 100-50-25-15-10.
Ridden by Keith Asmussen for coach Patrick Biancone, Redland Rebels (27-1) broke nicely and took management over the wire for the primary time, passing the quarter mile in 23.25 1/2 seconds and 47.80 seconds underneath gentle maintain. Bricklin (44-1), led by Jaime Torres rather than Rodolphe Brissett, pressed from the surface all through.
Renegade (1-1) took the lead however fell again, working in seventh place, 4 1/2 lengths behind the chief, and out of eight horses from the primary quarter to the top of the second half. Ortiz did not rush him, holding his hand and shifting him up the backstretch from the within.
Bricklin took the lead from the Redland Rebels with simply over 1 / 4 of a mile to go, crossing the three-quarter mark in 1 minute, 12.52 seconds. Silent Tactic (7-2), ridden by Cristian Torres rather than Mark Casse, additionally started to advance from the midfield early within the ultimate flip.
Silent Tactic moved up from three spots in entrance and held a slim lead on the entrance, however Renegade was already sprinting away. Ortiz swung him four-wide for dwelling, and the Renegades rushed previous for command close to midstretch. He drifted out into the middle of the course previous the furlong observe, however continued to run strongly by the mile in 1 minute 37.86 seconds, reaching the wire in a ultimate time of 1 minute 49.70 seconds on the quick primary course.
“I hit him as soon as at first of the stretch once I chipped out to let him go to the center of the observe, and it was enjoyable after that,” Ortiz mentioned. “He was working and making an attempt to carry on.”
Silent Tactic was not in rivalry till the ultimate furlong, however completed second with a two-length lead over Taptastic (12-1). Taptastic, ridden by jockey Eric Asmussen and coach Steven Asmussen, went three broad within the second flight and got here late to the present spot in his second profession begin.
“He is an incredible expertise,” Stephen Asmussen mentioned of Taptastic. “He is very younger, mentally and bodily, and being right here had a little bit bit to do with letting him run. He had expression, however he wants extra time to compete towards horses like this.”
Bricklin briefly took the lead, then misplaced energy within the straight line and completed fourth, 1 1/4 lengths behind Taptastic. Blackout Time (9 wins, 2 losses) lacked a severe response when referred to as and completed in fifth place. The Redland Rebels steadily moved again down the lane and completed in sixth place. Litmus Paper (9-2) and Exosome (71-1) accomplished the order.
Renegades paid $4.00, $2.60, and $2.20. Silent Tactic returned $3.20 and $2.60. Taptastic paid $3.80 for the screening.
Silent Tactic is the one horse to compete in all 4 races in Oak Garden’s Kentucky Derby Prep Sequence, successful the Southwest Stakes (G3).
“I misplaced to the most effective horse immediately,” Torres mentioned. “Now, we now have 5 weeks till the primary Saturday in Could.”
Renegade, a son of Curlin’s G3 winner Spice Is Good’s Into Mischief, was bred in Kentucky by Robert and Lawana Legislation. Lepore Stables bought the horse on the 2024 Keeneland September Yearling Sale for $975,000, with Lowe’s retaining half the curiosity.
Pletcher beforehand teamed with Ripoll to win the 2013 Arkansas Derby with Over Analyze and in 2018 with Rose and Magnum Moon.
The victory was Renegade’s second in 5 races, following a 3 3/4-length win within the Sam F. Davis Stakes at Tampa Bay Downs on February seventh. The winner’s prize cash was $832,500, bringing his lifetime earnings to over $1 million.
“We have been actually enthusiastic about the way in which he ran,” Pletcher mentioned. “I used to be actually impressed with how he accomplished the final eight miles dwelling like he all the time does.”
