Repole Stable and Robert and Lawana Low's Renegade (Into Mischief) returned to the worktab at Saratoga Thursday morning for the first time since being outfinished by 'TDN Rising Star' Golden Tempo (Curlin) in the May 2 GI Kentucky Derby, going a half-mile in :49.80 (8/22) in the company of Repole's Powershift (Constitution). Both are possibilities for the $2-million GI Belmont Stakes at Saratoga on June 6.
Renegade, a flashy winner of the GI Arkansas Derby ahead of his effort at odds of 11-2 beneath the Twin Spires, worked to the outside of Powershift, who was an impressive maiden winner in the Derby day opener.
“I thought it was very good work for Renegade,” trainer Todd Pletcher said of the $975,000 Keeneland September yearling, bred by the Lows from their 'TDN Rising Star' Spice Is Nice (Curlin). “He's a steady work horse and he recovered really quickly and didn't seem to be fatigued at all from it, so I'm happy with it. Powershift is a good work horse, and they've been [work] companions quite a bit. They make good mates, and I thought they both went well.”
A $500,000 KEESEP acquisition, Powershift was runner-up to 'Rising Star' Emerging Market (Candy Ride {Arg}) on Tampa debut Feb. 7 and was sixth at odds of 7-2 to The Puma (Essential Quality) in the Mar. 7 GIII Tampa Bay Derby.
“I've got to talk to Mike [Repole], but we are considering the Belmont,” Pletcher said. “We've always thought a lot of him and I think they complement each other's racing styles. It's in play.”
The Pletcher barn is also set to be represented in the GI Hill 'n' Dale Metropolitan Mile Handicap by Centennial Farms' Antiquarian (Preservationist), recent winner of the GIII Westchester Stakes at Aqueduct, and by Be You (Curlin) in the GIII True North Stakes. The latter, a latest fifth in the Knicks Go Overnight Stakes on Derby Day, went a half-mile in :49.25 (7/12) over the Oklahoma training track on Wednesday morning.
G1 Arkansas Derby winner RENEGADE breezed this morning outside last-out maiden winner POWERSHIFT in 49 and 4/5. HOF trainer Todd Pletcher said “we've always thought a lot of Powershift” and that the colt is now also possible for the @BelmontStakes. More later in @TheNYRA notes. pic.twitter.com/2yKi7ivHlR
— Mary Eddy🏇🏼 (@singmysongbird) May 21, 2026
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