Kentucky Derby favorite Renegade draws the dreaded rail

Early favorite Renegade was picked to start on the rail for the 152nd Kentucky Derby during the official draw on Saturday at Churchill Downs.

Renegade, the Arkansas Derby winner owned by American billionaire Mike Repole, opened at 4-1 as the 20-horse field became official for the Run for the Roses on Saturday, May 2, in Louisville, Ky.

Hall of Fame trainer Todd Pletcher has raced Renegade just twice as a 3-year-old, but he has come through both times. He came from well back to capture the Sam F. Davis Stakes on Feb. 7 at Tampa Bay Downs, then he pulled away to win the Arkansas Derby by four lengths on March 28 at Oaklawn Park.

Renegade's jockey, Irad Ortiz Jr., has not won a Derby in nine tries, but he has raced to victory in two Belmont Stakes (2016, 2022).

Renegade's assignment to the first gate will have it fighting against history along with the other 19 horses. Ferdinand, the Derby champion in 1986, was the last horse to win from the rail. Seven other horses have won from Gate No. 1, but most were long ago when Derby fields were smaller.

Commandment, which will start from the No. 6 gate, and Further Ado, which will come from the outside at No. 18, both opened at 6-1. They are trained by Brad Cox.

Bob Baffert, the legendary trainer who returned to the Kentucky Derby last May after serving a three-year suspension, has two horses in the field: Potente and Litmus Test

Here's the entire field with their opening odds:

1) Renegade 4-1

2) Albus 30-1

3) Intrepido 50-1

4) Litmus Test 30-1

5) Right To Party 30-1

6) Commandment 6-1

7) Danon Bourbon 20-1

8) So Happy 15-1

9) The Puma 10-1

10) Wonder Dean 30-1

11) Incredibolt 20-1

12) Chief Wallabee 8-1

13) Silent Tactic 20-1

14) Potente 20-1

15) Emerging Market 15-1

16) Pavlovian 30-1

17) Six Speed 50-1

18) Further Ado 6-1

19) Golden Tempo 30-1

20) Fulleffort 20-1

--Field Level Media