Pletcher Preps Top Derby and Oaks Contenders at Tampa

Trainer Todd Pletcher sends out favorites in the Suncoast Stakes and Sam F. Davis Stakes at Tampa Bay Downs on Saturday.

Feb. 6, 2026 at 3:23pm

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Trainer Todd Pletcher will send out two of his top 3-year-old contenders for the Kentucky Derby and Kentucky Oaks at Tampa Bay Downs on Saturday. Zany, the current #1-ranked filly for the Kentucky Oaks, will make her 3-year-old debut in the Suncoast Stakes, while Renegade, a promising colt, will run in the Sam F. Davis Stakes. Pletcher has had success using the Tampa route to prepare horses for the Triple Crown races.

Why it matters

Pletcher is one of the top trainers in horse racing, and his decisions on where to race his top 3-year-old prospects can have a major impact on the Kentucky Derby and Kentucky Oaks pictures. The Suncoast and Sam F. Davis provide important prep races for those marquee events, and Pletcher has used them successfully in the past to launch the campaigns of horses like Nest, who went on to win an Eclipse Award.

The details

Zany, a daughter of American Pharoah, is currently ranked #1 in the TDN's Top 10 poll for the Kentucky Oaks. She won the Grade 2 Demoiselle Stakes at Aqueduct in December by 8 1/2 lengths. Pletcher believes the two-turn Suncoast Stakes is a better fit for her than the one-turn preps at Gulfstream Park. Renegade, an Into Mischief colt, was second in the Grade 2 Remsen Stakes and is looking to earn his first career win in the Sam F. Davis.

  • The Suncoast Stakes and Sam F. Davis Stakes will be run on Saturday, February 11, 2026 at Tampa Bay Downs.
  • Zany last raced in the Grade 2 Demoiselle Stakes on December 6, 2025, winning by 8 1/2 lengths.

The players

Todd Pletcher

A Hall of Fame trainer who is one of the top conditioners in horse racing. He has won the Kentucky Derby twice and the Kentucky Oaks five times.

Zany

A 3-year-old filly by American Pharoah who is currently ranked #1 in the TDN's Top 10 poll for the Kentucky Oaks.

Renegade

A 3-year-old colt by Into Mischief who was second in the Grade 2 Remsen Stakes in his last start.

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What they’re saying

“It's really about the timing and the two-turn aspect of these races. With Zany, she's already won going a mile and an eighth in the Demoiselle. I just didn't feel like it made sense to back her up at Gulfstream, either into the Forward Gal or the Davona Dale, since they are both one-turn races.”

— Todd Pletcher, Trainer (thoroughbreddailynews.com)

“I thought he handled the mile and an eighth really well. If you watched that race, it seemed like the horses that were in post five and inside got pretty good trips, and the horses who broke from the six post out had it pretty rough.”

— Todd Pletcher, Trainer (thoroughbreddailynews.com)

What’s next

Zany and Renegade will look to use their strong performances at Tampa Bay Downs as springboards to the Kentucky Oaks and Kentucky Derby preps in the coming months.

The takeaway

Pletcher's ability to identify the right spots to prepare his top 3-year-old prospects has been a key factor in his success over the years. By targeting the Suncoast and Sam F. Davis at Tampa, he's positioning Zany and Renegade for potential runs at the Kentucky Oaks and Kentucky Derby.