Victories Saturday by 3-year-old colt Renegade in the $250,000 Sam F. Davis Stakes and Zany in the $125,000 Suncoast Stakes highlighted an outstanding day of racing at Tampa Bay Downs.

Renegade, who collared longshot leader Wayne’s Law in the stretch and rolled on to victory under jockey Irad Ortiz, Jr., is likely to make his next start on March 28 in the Arkansas Derby, according to both trainer Todd Pletcher and co-owner Mike Repole of Repole Stable. Renegade’s breeders and co-owners, Robert and Lawana Low, are Springfield, Mo., residents known as passionate Oaklawn Park supporters.

Pletcher told racing journalist Lynne Snierson they will keep their options open, but ruled out a return to Oldsmar for the Grade III, $400,000 ESMARK Tampa Bay Derby on March 7.

A crowd of 5,261 turned out for the festivities in cool, sunny weather. Total all-sources wagering handle was $11,484,564.

Somewhat overlooked amid four exciting stakes races were strong undercard performances by a pair of 3-year-old maidens.

Undercard of Festival Preview Day

In the sixth race, first-time starter Emerging Market, a son of Candy Ride out of an Empire Maker mare, rallied stoutly through the stretch to catch the favorite, fellow first-time starter Powershift, by three-quarters of a length. Flavien Prat was aboard the winner for owner Klaravich Stables and trainer Chad Brown.

Emerging Market’s time of 1:39.11 for the mile-and-40-yard distance was .97 seconds off Golden Juan’s track record. Powershift finished 13 ½ lengths ahead of third-place finisher Make My Day.

Three races later, another first-time starter, Kokomotion, rallied from dead-last early to post a resounding 8 ¼-length victory from Ati Girl in a mile-and-sixteenth turf event for maiden 3-year-old fillies. Jevian Toledo was aboard for the romp in the sunshine. Kokomotion is a daughter of Quality Road owned by Icon Racing Stable and trained by Whit Beckman.

Source: Tampa Bay Downs