Renegade favored in field of nine for Arkansas Derby
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HOT SPRINGS, Ark. – Renegade was one of nine horses entered in the Grade 1, $1.5 million Arkansas Derby that runs next Saturday at Oaklawn Park. He will start from post 6 and was installed the 3-2 morning-line favorite following his win in the Sam F. Davis at Tampa Bay Downs.
Entries for the Arkansas Derby were taken on Saturday and the field for the 1 1/8-mile race was drawn in a ceremony broadcast by the FOX Day at the Races program and the simulcast feed from Oaklawn. Entries for the remainder of next Saturday’s card will be taken on Sunday.
Todd Pletcher, who won the Rebel earlier this month with Class President, trains Renegade. He has given the mount to Irad Ortiz Jr.
Silent Tactic, who won the Southwest at Oaklawn, was made the 5-2 second choice on the morning line. Trainer Mark Casse has given the mount to Cristian Torres.
Napoleon Solo, the winner of last year’s Champagne, was supplemented to the Arkansas Derby, but will not run according to owner Al Gold.
The complete drawn field from the rail with riders and morning line odds: Redland Rebels, Keith Asmussen, 15-1; Silent Tactic, Torres, 5-2; Blackout Time, Brian Hernandez Jr., 6-1; Bricklin, Jaime Torres, 20-1; Taptastic, Erik Asmussen, 20-1; Renegade, Ortiz, 3-2; Napoleon Solo, Kendrick Carmouche, 6-1; Exosome, Adam Beschizza, 20-1; and Litmus Test, Francisco Arrieta, 5-1.
Bricklin is cross-entered in the $200,000 Hot Springs Stakes for 3-year-olds at a mile Thursday at Oaklawn.
Litmus Test and Blackout Time both turned in half-mile drills Saturday morning at Oaklawn, where the track was fast on a morning in the 60s. Each horse was timed in 48.40 seconds. Blackout Time went in company first after the renovation break.
The forecast for next Saturday is sunny skies and a high of 74 degrees. The infield s scheduled to be open, according to track executive Chris Ho.
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