Renegade , the Todd Pletcher trainee, is expected to be the morning-line favorite for the 152nd Kentucky Derby (G1), but Churchill Downs morning line oddsmaker Nick Tammaro sees a wide-open race with Commandment  and Further Ado  forming a tightly grouped trio at the top.

“It would be foolish to ignore what’s happening in the market and the public reaction after the Arkansas Derby,” said Tammaro, who will set the Kentucky Derby morning line for the first time following the retirement of Mike Battaglia after 51 years at Churchill Downs. “Renegade has to be the favorite right now, but this isn’t a race where anyone is going to be odds-on or even close.”

Tammaro’s current projection lists Renegade at 9-2, Commandment at 5-1, and Further Ado at 6-1.

Commandment and Further Ado, both trained by Brad Cox, won their last start. Commandment took the Florida Derby (G1) over The Puma  and Chief Wallabee , and Further Ado scored in the Blue Grass Stakes (G1) by 11 lengths. 

“I think Commandment is the most consistent horse in the field, and Further Ado fits right there as well,” Tammaro said. “In a typical race, you could make a case for any of the three on top. That’s what makes this Derby so competitive.”

Despite installing Renegade as the likely favorite, Tammaro acknowledged the colt’s position atop the market is far from clear-cut.

“From a pure handicapping standpoint, you can argue others have stronger credentials,” Tammaro said. “But the Derby isn’t run in a vacuum. You have to account for public perception, buzz and how the money is going to flow.”

Renegade was the 4-1 favorite in the final Kentucky Derby Future Wager that concluded before the running of the Blue Grass, Wood Memorial Stakes (G2) and Santa Anita Derby (G1) on April 4.

Commandment was 7-1, and Further Ado was the seventh choice at 17-1 in that same pool. The latter’s odds likely would have dropped if betting had closed after his dynamic effort in the Blue Grass.

With two weeks remaining, Tammaro emphasized how quickly that picture can change.

“This is the most fluid time of the year,” Tammaro said. “A strong work, a missed work, a good gallop, and even chatter on the backside can move the market. There’s always a ‘buzz horse’ that takes more money than expected.”You’re looking at a race where the favorite could be in that 4-1 to 9-2 range, with several others right behind him. That’s the definition of a competitive Derby.”

Entries and post positions for the Kentucky Derby and Kentucky Oaks (G1) will take place Saturday, April 25, between Races 3-4 on the opening day program from 2:15-2:45 p.m. ET on the Paddock Terrace (weather permitting).

This press release has been edited for content and style by BloodHorse Staff.

Real estate in Greater Cincinnati is booming. Here at The Enquirer, we aim to bring you in-depth real estate coverage about the developments and neighborhood issues you care about the most. Going Up is a series that introduces you to the need-to-know projects around the region.

The basics of the new Publix at Cold Spring Pointe

Address: 5401 Alexandria Pike, Cold Spring, Kentucky.

Building type: Publix will be the anchor store of a 52-acre development called Cold Spring Pointe in Campbell County. The shopping plaza includes a Chick-fil-A, Wawa, Hobby Lobby, and Marshalls. 

Owner/developer: Midland Atlantic Properties.

Size: 48,387 square feet.

Cost: The total cost of Cold Spring Pointe is almost $80 million.

What you need to know: It’s the second of 5 Publix Super Markets coming to Northern Kentucky

The Publix at Cold Spring Pointe was the second one announced in Northern Kentucky and may soon be the second to open its doors.

In 2024, Publix Super Markets announced plans to open five stores across Northern Kentucky at the following locations:

• Near Triple Crown Boulevard and Richwood Road (Boone County), which opened in March 2025.
• At Madison Pike and Harris Pike in Independence (Kenton County).
• In Cold Spring at the southeast corner of Ky. 9/AA Highway and Alexandria Pike (Campbell County).
• At Farmview Commons, which borders Florence and Union, on U.S. Highway 42 (Boone County).
• In the Shoppes at Hebron Pointe at southwest corner of Williams Rd and Worldwide Blvd. (Boone County).

The Publix at Cold Spring Pointe is going up next door to a Publix Liquors, which will sell beer, wine and spirits. It will also include a drive-thru pharmacy.

Publix, a Florida-based company, first made its way into Kentucky in January of 2024 when it opened a 55,701-square-foot store in Louisville. 

Its presence in the area challenges the dominance of supermarket giant Kroger, which has been based in Cincinnati for more than 140 years. 

More grocers, more convenience stores Convenience store wars: Wawa, Sheetz and others are invading UDF’s turf

When will the new Publix open?

An opening date is still unclear. But Publix spokesperson Jared Glover confirmed the store is slated to open this summer.

He added that a hiring event is scheduled from 9 a.m.-5 p.m. on April 24-26 at the Holiday Inn Express & Suites at 8 Hampton Lane in Wilder.

After all signs earlier this week seemed to point at Robert Wright being Kentucky’s answer at point guard, the BBN went ahead acquainted themselves with the high-scoring floor general. Banners were hung on houses in Lexington and, in droves, fans followed Wright and posted about him online. It seemed surefire, in part because everyone outside of the bluegrass seemed to think so.

Until they didn’t and, suddenly, it wasn’t. BYU pages began to come out of the woodwork and claim a Wright return to Provo was imminent. The confidence dropped off completely on Kentucky’s front, and what at first seemed like a naer-certainty turned into a toss-up. Of course, Cats fans reacted in anarchy.

But beyond the panic and potential pain of losing arguably the best guard in the portal, Mark Pope may already have the perfect backup plan in place. If Wright ultimately decides elsewhere, previous visitor Zoom Diallo should slot right in as Kentucky’s obvious preference at point guard.

Pope’s Perfect Backup Plan

Diallo not only visited prior to Wright but, for a time, looked like Kentucky’s preferred option. Until Wright was brought on campus alongside No. 1 recruit Tyran Stokes, Diallo was hanging out with Coach Pope at Keeneland. What’s more, the only other major suitor for the guard, in Arizona, just added two players in their backcourt.

Effectively, it seems, the runway if clear for Kentucky to pay Diallo and bring him on board. Wright’s indecision can only hold Pope and his staff hostage for so long; pivoting to “Plan B” isn’t necessarily a bad thing and, in this case, could even be a better outcome for the Wildcats.

Diallo is a textbook SEC guard who is likely to come at a lower financial rate than Wright, too. As far as I’m concerned, Kentucky may as well pull the trigger now.

Pivoting to Diallo to Prioritize the Roster

If Pope and Kentucky are in a bidding war for Wright, what does it look like if the staff waits a few more days to land him? Especially if the price is further raised, Kentucky could miss out on an array of solid complimentary pieces.

Wright played alongside AJ Dybantsa last season at BYU and, in spite of that ultra-exciting combo, the Cougars were a first-round exit in the NCAA Tournament. Not that Wright wouldn’t be a good addition but, if he puts off a decision much longer, Pope could be better off pursuing Diallo before it’s too late.

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