The Remsen – GII
$250.000 Two Year Olds
1 1/8 Miles Dirt
Aqueduct – December 6, 2025

The virtual skies opened up and gave us a sea of mud for the 2025 Remsen but it was going to take more than some rain to stop Hurts from hitting the wire first and grabbing some all-important Derby qualifying points. Looking like a force of nature himself Hurts stormed home by a rapidly widening three lengths to throw some lightning bolts of fear into those also harboring 2026 Derby dreams. Off tracks will apparently not be an issue for this monster who already stands an imposing 16.0 hands 

Winner: Hurts (Royalty Stables/J.R. Velasquez) Hide And Seek/Agapova (Heretowinthisfight) Employed his favored running style of relaxing early at the back of the pack and allowing early pace setters to get away on the off track. He trailed by as much as seven lengths at one point and you had to wonder if he would be able to overcome that deficit as he was still far back when he began his move with a half mile to go. On the final turn this writer went from “he might get there” to “he has it” at the top of the stretch to watching him devour the leaders in the final furlong. At the end it seemed impossible that his win could have ever been in doubt, that is how authoritative it was. The only hope that might be on offer for his future rivals is that his dam, the 2023 BC Juvenile Fillies winner, was also a precocious two-year-old but she did not carry those winning ways into her sophomore year. As good as she was though she was not as dominating as her son appears to be. 

Second: Self Love (Mb Stables/P. Lopez) Tactical/I Love Me (Centerpiece) Broke well and settled into an ideal stalking spot behind the pacesetter. The leader was stubborn, and it was only with dogged determination that he wore that one down to gain the runner up spot but a bare nose with a last jump lunge. Good effort and more Derby points added to the resume. 

Third: Firing Squad (Twin Towers Racing/F. Geroux) Darkest Night/Small Craft Warning (Paul) With a short run to the first turn he bolted from his outside post and surged to the front early. Opened up a clear lead while stalked the entire way by Self Love. Ran strongly to the end and was barely caught at the wire for second. Great stakes debut in a tough field. 

Fourth: Creepy Echo Party (Martyparty/D.E. Centeno) Kingdoms Echo/Creepy Lady Party (Creepy Palace) Sat at the back of the pack early and kept company with the eventual winner. Moved along with that one when both began their runs and although he could not keep pace with Hurts, he finished well to pick up the last piece of the purse.

Hurts was bred in New York by his owner/trainer Royalty Stables. This was the first win in the Remsen for Royalty. It was the fifth win in this race for jockey J.R. Velasquez and his third in a row. This was Hurts fifth win in seven starts this year and his win brought his lifetime earning to date to just over the $1,000.000 mark.

Categories: Grade II, STAKES ARTICLES