The Remsen (Grade 2) (KYD)- $250.000 Purse
AQU- For Two Year Olds
One Mile and One Eighth on the Dirt
December 7, 2019

The race to the KYD continues with its opening laps here as the 15th running of the Grade 2 Remsen takes place. This is a race for early KYD hopefuls and a chance to earn some points for the big race which is now five months away. It has seen many successful winners in its history, and the most notable such name is Ned Isakoff, the 2015 winner that went on to win the PRK as a three year old. Sport Guide won the race last year, which was held in the mud, but he has not won since. He did run in the KYD, but finished near the back. The best horse from that race is probably Viper Command, who didn’t run well there, and later found his niche back in sprints. The gate is full for this race, so here is the field.

#1- Sars (Aer Stables, ridden by A Beschizza)- Despite being named after an illness, Sars has been healthy on the race track in three races, with two wins in those starts. He most recently won the Grade 3 Nashua a couple days after the top horses in the division, including the trainer’s own Brittle, ran in the BC Juvenile. Worked well here a week after that race too. A win here would certainly send the message that Brittle is not the trainer’s only KYD threat.

#2- High One (Gdp Inc, ridden by J R Velazquez)- In October, High One was the winner in the Grade 1 Champagne, his third win in four starts, and that seemed to make him a strong BC Juvenile threat. He had a flat midpack throughout race, though, and the trainer hopes that will just be an aberration. It often can be, but interestingly he does not see any other BC runner again here.

#3- The Mist (Rampage Stable, ridden by I Ortiz Jr)- Two years ago, this race was won by Mist Maker, so the trainer hopes that will be a good omen. Overall, The Mist has been running competitively but still has just a maiden win to speak of. Finished third in the Nashua last month, and was passing rivals late there, so maybe a little more ground can mean that he can make the length on Sars that he needs too.

#4- Red Divos Alliance (TwinTowersRacing, ridden by D E Centeno)- Makes his debut on the stake scene after breaking his maiden in his last start. That came down at CRC a few weeks ago, where he went wire to wire against three fellow FL-breds to win. It’s not really an effort that wows me, but his last public work, six weeks ago, was good at this distance, and if he has progressed any off of that, then he’ll have a shot.

#5- Groovy (Mb Stables, ridden by L Contreras)- Picked up in private sales from Jive Inc in the middle of October, for $100.000. The former trainer may be regretting that sale, as Groovy has been working exceptionally well since then, and his ready to make his debut here for Mb Stables. He looked good when he was sprinting, but will be looking groovy if he lives up to a strong work from DMR about ten days ago. Out of a former BC Juvenile Fillies Turf winner, She Needsa Brazilian.

#6- Tephra (Mb Stables, ridden by R M Hernandez)- Finished second to High One in the Champagne, but that was not enough to send him to the BC Juvenile. Instead, the trainer opted for the Nashua, and it seemed like it would be a great spot for him. Being made the favorite, he would disappoint many by pulling a no-show, never getting involved in an uninspired sixth place performance. Can he redeem himself on this track this time?

#7- Anoush Command (Serenity Stables, ridden by K J Desormeaux)- The Command Attention colt has won two of his five starts, taking each of the overnights he has run in, but coming up short in his three stake tries. He’s still been competitive, and with a little more luck in a very tight finish in his last start, the Grade 3 Grey Stakes, he could have that stake win, too. Capable of success here, but has no room for error.

#8- Hollywood Hero (Nakamura Stables, ridden by T Gaffalione)- Each of the two Hollywood horses are pretty new with running at this level. Hollywood Hero did try an ungraded stake in his last start, the $50.000 Golden Nugget at GG, and placed fourth. Has not worked publicly since then, and this seems like a big step up. He’s gone long once before, prior to being gelded.

#9- Hollywood Revolution (Langley Farms, ridden by M J Sanchez)- Comes into this race off of breaking his maiden in his last start, which was a turf sprint. Had one good work at DMR at the beginning of the month which suggests he could be a threat, but his two mile works after that are not as promising. Very well might be a reason for that. I’ll pass on the two from Hollywood, have to see it first, for both of them.

#10- Neighborhood Hero (D J C Racing Stables, ridden by M Franco)- It would be a good slogan to say who needs a Hollywood hero when you can have a neighborhood hero? We’ll see which of our heroes outperforms the other here. This hero has won three of four, including the $100.000 Sapling at MTH, the stake that was first ever stake won by Niagra. (There’s a reason I know that without looking it up!) So maybe Neighborhood Hero will respectfully follow that path!

#11- Yankee Doodle Dandy (John Henry, ridden by A A Gallardo)- The patriotic gelding was acquired in mid August from Blushing Meadows for $200.000, a few days after a disappointing race in the SAR Special. So far, he has not really turned it around, failing to hit the board in any of his three starts for John Henry. Pretty soon, he is going to have to step up and show he can run well in a race like this.

#12- Drift Line (Estero Farms, ridden by R Bejarano)- He has made just one career start, winning on debut at CRC in October. That was against three FL-breds on soft turf. No reason he cannot build off of that, but as an outsider, I can’t really see how he has progressed since then as he has not worked publicly since the end of September. I’ll have to pass due to lack of information.

Prediction: 2-1-5-7

— NS

Categories: Grade II, STAKES ARTICLES