Ky. Derby: Pletcher weighs rail, favoritism for Renegade

Key Points:

• Hall of Fame trainer Todd Pletcher will start in the Kentucky Derby from post 1 with his favorite horse, Renegade, marking the first time he has had both the rail post and morning-line favorite status in his 24 Derby appearances.
• Renegade, trained by Pletcher and owned by Mike Repole and partners, won the Grade 1 Arkansas Derby impressively, showcasing a strong closing kick and earning a career-high 98 Beyer Speed Figure.
• The inside post has historically been challenging, with only one winner wearing saddle cloth No. 1 in the past 40 years, and Pletcher’s previous horses in post 1 having mixed results due to difficult breaks and traffic early in the race.
• Despite the risks associated with the rail position and past experiences of Derby horses being scratched late by the state veterinarian, Pletcher and Repole remain optimistic, emphasizing Renegade’s running style and the advantage of saving ground from the inside.
• Pletcher, who holds the record for most Derby starters with 66 horses, expressed cautious confidence as everything has gone according to plan so far, hoping for a smooth race day without any last-minute setbacks.