From Marcos Meneses’ vantage point at Tampa Bay Downs, the 46th running of the $250,000 Sam F. Davis Stakes seemed poised to become one of the most surprising results in racing history. Meneses, riding Wayne’s Law—the lone Florida-bred in the nine-horse lineup—recalled, “I aimed to position myself just behind the leaders early. He was calm and composed, and I felt confident. I really thought we had the race in hand.”
However, Meneses soon became aware of No. 6-5 favorite Renegade, guided by jockey Irad Ortiz Jr., steadily closing in. Meneses described the horse’s late surge as “like a monster passing me in the stretch,” overwhelming the hopes of Meneses, owner Herbert Sternlieb’s Baalbek Corporation, and trainer Amador Melei Sanchez by a decisive 3¾ lengths. Puma finished strongly in third place during only his second career start, while Game For It came in fourth.
Renegade, a horse trained by Todd Pletcher and co-owned by Mike Lepore and stallion breeders Robert and Lawana Rowe, gained 20 Kentucky Derby qualifying points with this victory—the first official win in four attempts for the son of Into Mischief out of the Curlin mare Spice Is Nice. Lepore noted that while the race posed challenges, the horse showed great pace and strength despite running wide on the track. Ortiz had a plan to stay near the back initially and make a powerful move late, which proved successful. Pletcher expressed satisfaction with how well Renegade finished despite some traffic and wide turns, calling the race “the perfect start to his third campaign.”
Renegade’s $120,000 winner’s check lifted his career earnings to $199,000.
In another highlight, the $125,000 six-furlong Pelican Stakes for Older Horses was claimed by 7-year-old Concrete Glory, owned by Big Frank Stable and expertly handled again by Ortiz. Concrete Glory started strong, took the lead early, and fended off challengers to win by two lengths over a stablemate, with Silver Slugger placing third. This marked Concrete Glory’s first stakes victory, boosting his career wins to 18 in 41 starts and raising his earnings to $583,249 with a winning time of 1:09.74. Concrete Glory was originally purchased for just $6,250 and is trained by Saffie A. Joseph Jr., who affectionately described the horse as a barn favorite known for his intelligence and determination.
Ortiz, who has celebrated multiple past wins aboard Concrete Glory—including races at Churchill Downs and Saratoga—highlighted the special bond they share. “He runs great for me, and I think I ride well for him,” Ortiz said. “He likes freedom, so I give him space and let him do his thing. When it counts, he delivers.”
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Fan Take: This thrilling upset and the emergence of Renegade as a serious Kentucky Derby contender inject fresh excitement into the sport, showcasing the unpredictable drama that keeps fans coming back. Meanwhile, Concrete Glory’s rise from a modest purchase to a stakes winner reminds us of the heart and grit at the core of horse racing—a sport where underdogs often become legends.
