Commandment

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. -- Just about a half hour after the fact, Hall of Fame jockey John Velazquez gave 'TDN Rising Star' presented by Hagyard Golden Tempo (Curlin) his flowers. At the age of 54, Johnny V. seems to get better as he ages and when he sees a performance worthy of some praise, he'll give it. Even if he is on the wrong side of the result. That was the case early Saturday evening at Saratoga Race Course following the 158th running of the GI $2-million Belmont Stakes. Velazquez,...

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. - It was suggested to trainer Brad Cox that Commandment (Into Mischief) was a forgotten horse coming into the 158th running of the $2-million GI Belmont Stakes. "Not with me," Cox said at his office on the Oklahoma Training Track. Then a pause and a smile. "But I know what you mean," he said. "I don't know if he is or not (forgotten). All I know is that he is doing well. I have liked his works since the Derby; I liked how he shipped up here...

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...

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 Belmont Stakes at Saratoga. FINLEY: Picking Renegade (Into Mischief) to win the Belmont is a no-brainer. After he was knocked silly at the start of the GI Kentucky Derby, he overcame the trouble and ran a big race to finish second, beaten only a neck. Did his problems at the start cost him the race? Probably. Todd Pletcher is a master at having his horses ready for...

The field for the GI Belmont Stakes, ranked in "likeliest winner" order (program number after each horse's name). 1) RENEGADE #4 (c, Into Mischief--Spice Is Nice, by Curlin). O-Robert Low, Lawana L. Low, and Repole Stable; B-Robert Low & Lawana Low (KY); T-Todd A. Pletcher. Sales history: $975,000 Ylg '24 KEESEP. Lifetime  record: GISW, 6-2-3-1, $2,031,500. Last start: 2nd May 2 GI Kentucky Derby. Renegade overcame all sorts of trouble when beaten a neck as the 5.65-1 second choice in the GI Kentucky Derby, and the bet here is that...

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...

'TDN Rising Star' presented by Hagyard Golden Tempo (Curlin) was not the only marquee name on the worktab over the last 48 hours, as horses prepping for next week's Belmont Stakes Racing Festival--as well as some household names not heading to upstate New York--turned in breezes at racetracks from coast-to-coast, from Saratoga, Laurel and Fair Hill to Santa Anita. To follow are works in alphabetical order at the various venues with parenthetical mention of intended targets or races to which the horses have been nominated. Saratoga (Oklahoma unless othewise indicated)...

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...

Wathnan Racing's Commandment (Into Mischief), seventh with a less-than-ideal trip in the GI Kentucky Derby, has begun to gear up for the GI Belmont Stakes at Saratoga June 6. The GI Curlin Florida Derby winner breezed four furlongs for trainer Brad Cox in company in :48.80 (29/83) at Churchill Downs Friday, his first move since the Kentucky Derby. "The breeze went well today and he's come out of the Derby in good order," said Case Clay, Wathnan's Racing Manager, USA. "We'll shoot for the Belmont now." Clay continued, "He did...

LOUISVILLE, Ky. - Kentucky Derby 152 goes through Spendthrift Farm. Further Ado (Gun Runner) will carry Spendthrift's famed orange-and-purple silks seeking a second Kentucky Derby victory for the operation off the heels of a daylight win with a field-best 106 Beyer Speed Figure in the GI Toyota Blue Grass S. Spendthrift Farm's flagship sire Into Mischief, meanwhile, will have three chances at a fourth Kentucky Derby victory. He will be very well-represented by 4-1 morning-line favorite and GI Arkansas Derby winner Renegade (Into Mischief), GI Curlin Florida Derby winner Commandment...

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...