Renegade tabbed as 3-2 favorite in Arkansas Derby

Mar 23, 2026 Kellie Reilly/Brisnet.com

Renegade wins the Sam F. Davis Stakes at Tampa Bay Downs. (Photo by SV Photo)

Fresh off a maiden-breaking victory in the Sam F. Davis S. at Tampa Bay Downs, Renegade bids to confirm his Kentucky Derby (G1) spot in Saturday’s $1.5 million Arkansas Derby (G1). The Oaklawn Park feature furnishes the maximum number of points on a 100-50-25-15-10 basis to the top five finishers.

Renegade’s trainer, Todd Pletcher, gauged the competition by sending Class President to win the local stepping stone, the Rebel (G2). Renegade brings stronger credentials to bear, making him the 3-2 favorite to give Pletcher a sixth Arkansas Derby trophy.

Renegade sparred with early Derby favorite Paladin at Aqueduct last fall, notably when runner-up in the Remsen (G2). Like the Arkansas Derby, the Remsen is a 1 1/8-mile test, and Renegade is the only entrant with experience at the distance. It’s also noteworthy that jockey Irad Ortiz Jr. gave up the mount on Commandment, who runs in Saturday’s Florida Derby (G1) at Gulfstream Park, to stick with Renegade here.

Rebel near-misser Silent Tactic has distinguished himself throughout Oaklawn’s Road to the Kentucky Derby. The Mark Casse pupil was a rallying second in the Smarty Jones S. before his dynamic breakthrough in the Southwest (G3). Silent Tactic appeared poised to prevail in the Rebel as well, until Class President gamely fought back.

Litmus Test was only third as the Rebel favorite, but he can do much better for five-time Arkansas Derby winner Bob Baffert. Unlike the Rebel, where he set the pace from his rail draw, Litmus Test projects a more favorable stalking trip – with the blinkers off – from the outside post. The son of 2016 Kentucky Derby champion Nyquist has shown his class in several preps, including his Los Alamitos Futurity (G2) score and his staying-on fourth in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile (G1).

Blackout Time, fourth in his Rebel comeback, is another eligible to move forward on Saturday. By the hot sire Not This Time, the Kenny McPeek trainee had not raced since finishing second to champion Ted Noffey in the Oct. 4 Breeders’ Futurity (G1). Behind him in third that day was Litmus Test, implying that a fitter Blackout Time could have his measure.

Taptastic takes the plunge into deeper waters after a good-looking debut win, where he showed courage to get through on the rail. The Tapit colt has longshot appeal based on both pedigree and connections. Trainer Steve Asmussen has won the Arkansas Derby four times, including with Hall of Famer Curlin, Taptastic’s maternal grandfather.

Bricklin, most recently third in the Sunland Park Derby, saw his form boosted when Sunland Park Derby winner Pavlovian just missed in the Louisiana Derby (G2). The Nyquist colt boasts a prior win in an Oaklawn allowance.

Redland Rebels exits a fourth in the Tampa Bay Derby (G3) to The Puma. Considering that The Puma was previously third to Renegade in the Sam F. Davis, Redland Rebels needs to find more to hit the board at Oaklawn. Exosome, a recent allowance winner here, was sixth in the Lecomte (G3) at Fair Grounds in his lone stakes attempt.

Last year’s Champagne (G1) conqueror, Napoleon Solo, will scratch in favor of next week’s Wood Memorial (G2), according to Daily Racing Form.

The Arkansas Derby is carded as the 13th of 14 races on Saturday, with a post time of 7:48 p.m. ET, and you can watch and wager at TwinSpires.com.