Chief Wallabee

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. - You better get used to failure and you better get used to losing if you're striving to do something historic or epic. Those are the words of Mike Repole after coming within a neck of winning his first GI Kentucky Derby with Renegade (Into Mischief), the 2-1 morning-line favorite for Saturday's GI Belmont Stakes at Saratoga. "I probably take losing better than I take winning," said Repole, who campaigns the $975,000 Keeneland September graduate in partnership with breeders Robert and Lawana Low. "If you ask me...

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. - By the time 'TDN Rising Star, presented by Hagyard' Chief Wallabee (Constitution) got to the races, Renegade (Into Mischief), the 2-1 morning-line favorite for Saturday's GI Belmont Stakes, already had three starts on his resume. When the Chief won that first career start back on Jan. 10, Hall of Fame trainer Bill Mott thought he had a nice little horse he could have some fun with. Mott was thinking he had a horse that could do some good at a mile, maybe win the GI Woody...

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. - It is time for another showdown at historic Saratoga Race Course. Golden Tempo (Curlin) and Renegade (Into Mischief), the top two finishers in the GI Kentucky Derby are poised for a rematch in the $2-million GI Belmont Stakes Saturday at America's oldest race track, where many titans of the sport have done battle over three centuries. Separated by a neck in the dramatic finish of the Derby, Golden Tempo, a 'TDN Rising Star, presented by Hagyard', and Renegade are in leading positions of an up-for-grabs 3-year-old...

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. - As a most memorable May gives way to June, trainer Cherie DeVaux believes that Golden Tempo (Curlin) is ready for his next challenge, the GI Belmont Stakes Saturday at Saratoga Race Course. Four weeks and three works after his dramatic victory in the GI Kentucky Derby, which secured DeVaux a forever place in racing history, Golden Tempo breezed Saturday and shipped Sunday from central Kentucky to upstate New York for the third and final Belmont Stakes at Saratoga. Just before his victory by a neck at...

The historically unrewarding inside post position--now winless in 41 years--kept Renegade from being favored in the GI Kentucky Derby. But the adverse gate draw and some jostling both after the break and in the final stages didn't keep this hard-charging Into Mischief colt from barreling home with a tenacious late run that, in many years, would have been good enough to win the first leg of the Triple Crown. The connections of Renegade (like 15 other Derby participants) predictably bypassed the May 16 GI Preakness Stakes. After breezing a half-mile...

The trio of 'TDN Rising Star, presented by Hagyard', Emerging Market (Candy Ride {Arg}), Ottinho (Quality Road)and Growth Equity (Nyquist) trained by five-time Eclipse Award-winner Chad Brown and the 'TDN Rising Star, presented by Hagyard', Chief Wallabee (Constitution) for Hall of Fame trainer Bill Mott worked Saturday across Saratoga Race Course and Belmont Park in preparation for the GI Belmont Stakes at the Spa June 6, the NYRA press office said in a Saturday release. The pair of Ottinho and Growth Equity worked in company over the Belmont Park dirt...

No fewer than 116 horses recorded workouts over the Oklahoma training track at Saratoga Saturday morning, including the heaviest hitters from the barn of trainer Bill Mott. Reigning Horse of the Year Sovereignty (Into Mischief) returned to the tab for the first time since his runner-up effort to White Abarrio (Race Day) when making his seasonal debut in the GII Oaklawn Handicap on Apr. 18. The Godolphin homebred was partnered in his work by his regular exercise rider Jimmy Quispe and went an easy half-mile in :50.05 (67/88). "He went...

A group of GI Belmont Stakes contenders are beginning to assemble at Saratoga Race Course. Leading the contingent is GI Arkansas Derby-winner and recent GI Kentucky Derby runner-up Renegade (Into Mischief), who arrived upstate for Hall of Fame trainer Todd Pletcher on Wednesday. The colt returned to training on Thursday, and again on Friday morning for some light exercise in his first on-track appearances since finishing a neck second to Golden Tempo (Curlin) in the "Run for the Roses" at Churchill Downs last Saturday. Renegade is in Saratoga to prepare...

During the 2023 foaling season, Donamire Farm welcomed a group of nine foals. Among that foal crop were four colts sired by Constitution, Beau Liam, Dialed In and Blame. For the first time since their early days growing up in the field together, three of the four colts born that year—now known as Chief Wallabee (Constitution), Crude Velocity (Beau Liam), and Trouble Calling (Dialed In)—will have a 'reunion' Saturday, May 2 under the Twin Spires at Churchill Downs. 'TDN Rising Star, presented by Hagyard' Chief Wallabee, runner-up in the GII...

TDN's Chief Correspondent Bill Finley is joined by Senior Contributing Editor Alan Carasso and Senior Racing Editor Steve Sherack to handicap Saturday's GI Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs. FINLEY: The Puma (Essential Quality) is Mage (Good Magic) 2.0. From the same team that won the GI Kentucky Derby in 2023 with Mage, The Puma is following the exact same pattern. He finished an improved second in the GI Curlin Florida Derby and now looks ready to take another step forward, one that can land him in the winner's circle Saturday...

The field for the GI Kentucky Derby, ranked in "likeliest winner" order followed by program number. On Wednesday #13 Silent Tactic (Tacitus) scratched with a foot bruise, allowing #21 Great White (Volatile) to draw in off the also-eligible list. 1) #6 COMMANDMENT (c, Into Mischief--Sippican Harbor, by Orb) O-Wathnan Racing; B-Lee Pokoik (KY); T-Brad H. Cox. Sales history: $485,000 RNA Wlg '23 FTKNOV; $475,000 RNA Ylg '24 FTSAUG; $500,000 Ylg '24 KEESEP. Lifetime record: GISW, 5-4-0-0, $1,017,339. Last start: WON Mar. 28 GI Florida Derby. Commandment rides a four-race win...

LOUISVILLE, Ky. - Who's been making the best impression during training hours heading into the 152nd Kentucky Derby? Our boots on the ground and Senior Racing Editor Steve Sherack reveals his top five favorite workouts recorded from the field of 20 beneath the Twin Spires. 1) CHIEF WALLABEE April 20, 2026 | 5F | 1:00.00 (2/11) This is the move that everyone is still talking about. Sporting blinkers for the second straight breeze (he'll wear them for the first time in the Derby), 'TDN Rising Star, presented by Hagyard' Chief...