Pletcher May Need New Rider for Renegade in Travers

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – There was good news and bad news for Hall of Fame trainer Todd Pletcher on Saturday morning.

The good was that Renegade (Into Mischief) sparkled in his final work before next Saturday's GI, $1.25- million Travers Stakes, covering four furlongs in :48.87 (7/23) on the main track.

Now, the bad: it looks like Pletcher will have to look for a new rider for the colt, who rallied strongly late to win the GII Jim Dandy Stakes in his last race.

Irad Ortiz, Jr., who has ridden Renegade in seven of his eight starts, might not be able to ride in the Travers. He is still bothered by a left foot injury from Aug. 8 and hasn't been active since.

He was slated to return on Saturday and ride Counting Stars (Honor A.P.) in the GI Alabama Stakes, but was scratched from that and his brother, Jose, picked up the mount.

Steve Rushing, the agent for the Ortiz brothers, said the Travers is “definitely in jeopardy,” for Irad.

“He has made a lot of progress,” Rushing said Saturday morning at the Oklahoma Training Track. “But (the Travers) is only a week away. He has made a lot of progress. We are hopeful. That is the best way to put it.”

Rushing said Irad Ortiz was scheduled to see an orthopedic doctor on Saturday.

Pletcher, speaking after Renegade's work, did not sound optimistic that Ortiz would be riding the colt, who is owned by Robert and Lawana Low and Mike Repole's Repole Stable, in the Midsummer Derby.

“I don't anticipate that Irad will riding him; that is what it sounds like to me,” Pletcher said outside his barn after Renegade's work.

Pletcher said there have been no calls made to any other jockey, but he would prefer to have a jockey from the Saratoga colony be the replacement if that is what has to be done.

Ortiz had a masterful ride in the Jim Dandy, bringing Renegade from out of the clouds to snatch victory from what looked like a sure defeat. Renegade rallied from nearly 10 lengths back with a half mile to go to run down Commandment (Into Mischief) by a half-length.

“You would love to have Irad on him,” Pletcher said. “He knows the horse so well and has a lot of confidence in him. It's not something you would ideally like to make a change at this point. These things happen and you have deal with it. Hopefully, get someone who can do the job.”

As far as the work, Pletcher was pleased after watching Renegade and exercise rider Nora McCormack breeze with stablemate Sassmaster (Curlin), another 3-year-old colt. The two horses stepped onto the track just after 7 a.m. and Renegade was on the outside of Sassmaster.

“I was very pleased,” Pletcher said. “I thought he worked great, and I think he is in really good form. From day one, he has shown good energy, his appetite has been great, and he has been training enthusiastically. Seems like he is thriving.”