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.

One of Kentucky’s top portal targets has arrived in the Bluegrass State.

According to The Field of 68’s Jeff Goodman, Syracuse transfer forward Donnie Freeman made it to Lexington on Tuesday night. Kentucky was quick to reach out to Freeman once he officially entered the portal last week. That led to a Zoom call between the two sides, and now a visit to UK’s campus.

A 6-foot-9 rising junior, Freeman averaged 16.5 points and 7.2 rebounds in 31.3 minutes per outing last season for Syracuse while shooting 47.4 percent from the field. On3 ranks him 20th overall and the fifth-best power forward to enter the portal so far this offseason. Alabama and UConn are also after the talented forward prospect.

A former five-star recruit and McDonald’s All-American, Freeman spent the last two seasons with the Orange under head coach Adrian Autry. Freeman averaged 13.4 points and 7.9 rebounds in 25.5 minutes per contest on 50.4 percent shooting as a true freshman, logging six double-doubles along the way. But both his college seasons have been marred by foot injuries. He’s played just 37 college games — 14 as a freshman, 23 more as a sophomore.

Kentucky has already hosted a couple of top portal guards since the weekend. Washington’s Zoom Diallo and BYU’s Rob Wright III have both been in Lexington over the last several days, as has five-star high school wing Tyran Stokes. Freeman is the fourth known visitor of the portal season so far. Kentucky is still searching for its first new commitment for the 2026-27 roster.

It’s Transfer Portal SZN on KSR+

If you’ve ever been curious about KSR+, our premium sister site, now is the time to try it out. We’re doubling down our efforts to bring you bonus coverage of the Cats and the intel and analysis you can’t get anywhere else. Subscribe now for an inside look at a pivotal offseason for Mark Pope and Kentucky Basketball and Will Stein’s first year at the helm of Kentucky Football, along with access to KSBoard and House of Blue, the most vibrant message board communities in BBN. Join the club right now for 50% off an annual subscription.