Summerfield, FL – Many local horses are preparing for the Kentucky Derby, but perhaps no horse has a bigger local connection to the community than Render Judgement. Render Judgement began training in Summerfield at Kenny McPeek’s Training Center right outside The Villages.
Render Judgement needed help to get into the Kentucky Derby, but the 3-year-old horse is in the field of 20 for the 151st running of the Kentucky Derby. This year trainer Kenny McPeek will look to go back-to-back after winning the Kentucky Oaks last year with Thorpedo Anna and won the 150th Kentucky Derby in 2024 with Mystik Dan who was the winner last year. McPeek is trying to become the first trainer to go back-to-back in the Derby since Bob Baffert did it in 1997 and 1998.
“He’s a nice horse, but he hasn’t run the numbers that justify that he can win the Derby,” McPeek said. “He’s going to have to find a whole other level. But it is a horse race, and a lot can happen.”says McPeek in a recent interview ith FanDuel Racing.
Kenny McPeek bought Silverleaf Hills Training Center in Summerfield back in 2019. The Center was formerly known as Fadua Farm Training Center and includes a six furlong training track, four 24-stall barns, four paddocks, 20 stall/turnout paddocks, six covered round pens, and a five stall quarentine barn. It can be seen right off of Count…