The Remsen (Grade 2)- $300.000 Purse
AQU- For Two Year Olds
One Mile and One Eighth on the Dirt
November 28, 2015

It was a surprise to see Ned Isakoff get disregarded by bettors in the manner in which he was today.  We didn’t put him on top either, but we did have him in our top four and expected him to be a contender.  However, not many others seemed to feel as though this Il Miglio Fabro colt had much of a chance as he was the second longest shot on the board.  Only Nevski had longer odds, so evidently people felt Star of India, the winless in seven starts wonder, had a stronger chance.  Well, after this result, it is unlikely that this colt who only missed BC Juvenile victory by a length will be as disregarded again.  It is just his second win of his career, but he had put together strong showings in the Champagne and even the Juvenile, d8espite the 8th place overall finish.  The winning jockey is J J Castellano, and he has become the regular rider for this colt so certainly he knew that he a great mount for the race.    It’s the first virtual Remsen for his trophy case.  As for the trainer, Jerry Garcia Racing, he also gets his first win in the race but will also know that he has a very good TC candidate in his possession.  He also knows he has a very good sire still in his barn with this and other results from the Big A today.   So, without any further delay, let’s take a look at how this race played out!

1st- 1- Ned Isakoff (18/1)-  Our eventual race winner never had to leave the rail in the early moments.  J J Castellano’s past knowledge of the Jerry Garcia Racing superstar allowed him to have full confidence in assuming a midpack position on the rail for the run around the opening turn.  As the backstretch run began, he was four lengths off the lead.  He would maintain this same distance to the pacesetting Snowmizer over the backstretch, and for most of the run along the turn.  This steady stride allowed him to pass a couple that were not going to be good enough on this day.  Then, on exit of the turn, Castellano told his horse it’s time to go, and Ned Isakoff simply exploded, positioning himself to the right of the reigning BC Juvenile champion and ultimately completing the pass of Carneyman for second with ease.  It looked for a little bit that Snowmizer might still have enough to make it to the wire first, but with a furlong to go, Castellano told his Ned Isakoff he needed even more, and he got his answer.  The wire was coming up, but in the late moments, Ned Isakoff was able to make the move by Snowmizer and pick up the victory!  The time of the race was 1:47.93, and that my friends, will be your new stake record for the Remsen! Congratulations to all the connections!  Ned Isakoff is a two year old colt by the great Il Miglio Fabro and out of Never Laffin, part of the great Die Laffin line.  Plenty of good blood on this one! He was bred in Kentucky as first quarter two year old by Jerry Garcia Racing, the only trainer for which he has ever known.

2nd- 11- Snowmizer (9/2)-  The outside post did not present a problem at all for the Sarah Stables trained entry.  He was aggressively pushed out of the gate by jockey V Espinoza and had the field cleared by a length and a half as they moved into the turn.  There wasn’t really another one who went up there to challenge him early, so Snowmizer was able to run his race once he got to the rail. He was strong at this time, setting the opening half mile in :47.37, and actually began to open up a little bit more as they approached the turn, setting the 3/4 mile time in a quick 1:10.90.  This lead held up, and at the top of the stretch with a furlong and a half to go, he had a three length lead.   But Ned Isakoff was coming, and cutting into that lead very quickly as they got inside the final furlong.  He was in “please hang on” mode at this point, but our eventual winner was too much.  However Snowmizer deserves a lot of credit for holding off Atomic Titty Twister.

3rd- 2- Atomic Titty Twister (4/1)-  The horse we selected to win the event seemed happy to assume a position towards the back of the pack for his trainer, Blushing Meadows.  Not to worry, Atomic Titty Twister prefers this type of racing style, so we could sit back and await the move.  Stayed along the rail a few lengths behind Ned Isakoff and it appeared as though during the turn, that J Alvarado was going to follow that one through.  Then he opted to move him to the outside of Carneyman, a lane over from Ned Isakoff, and Atomic Titty Twister responded with an all out drive like the closer that he is.  The effort that he put forth was impressive, and he was able to get close to the leaders.  Unfortunately for the trainer, the wire came up too soon.

4th- 7- Lucky Santa (7/2)-  The Aer Stables entry was able to keep in touch with the pack in the early moments, though was not terribly interested in pressing the pace, starting 8th of eleven.   Kept this position for the backstretch trip and for most of the turn.  On exit of the turn, however, J S Rocco Jr asked his horse for a run, and Lucky Santa initially responded with an impressive push.  He had to go a bit wide, and made progress, but not as much as Atomic Titty Twister was making with the benefit of being along the inside.   A good performance in the stretch earns a fourth place check for his trainer, one in which we hope he will have for a long time.

5th- 3- Carneyman (10/1)-  Fresh off his win in the BC Juvenile, it was a complete shock to see him go off at these high odds.  However, the Broken Spoke Stables trained entry would only prove his non-believers right.  He started out well, though, content to stalk pace setter Snowmizer around the opening turn and into the backstretch.  He would remain in second over this period, but as they entered the turn, instead of him beginning to catch the leader Snowmizer, the rest of the field was drawing closer to him.  In the stretch, he simply could not match up.   It was not an awful performance though there were simply better horses on the track today.

6th- 8- Phooeys Ideal (8/1)- The BC Juvenile runner up was midpack initially, but J Talamo looked to be a little more assertive then some others and being him a little closer around the first turn, and by the time the backstretch run began, he was third and about three lengths off the lead.  He would hold steady over the course of the backstretch, and into the turn. However, there was never a push from him, and when a some others who had been behind began to make their moves, Phooeys Ideal was flat.  He held his ground, just never advanced.  He misses fifth, fittingly, in a photo with Carneyman.

7th- 6- One City (8/1)-  The best performing finisher for Mb Stables in this race did not have the race this the trainer had wanted. At the start, he would be in the middle of the pack in sixth and right in the heart of traffic.  He would maintain this position for the backstretch run, and as they made their way into the turn, P Lopez looked to be setting up the move he wanted to take.  Unfortunately, One City did not have it in him today to make his riders plan stick.

8th- 9- Star of India (14/1)-  Red Square Stables’ maiden tried to stalk the leaders in the early moments, but T L Dunkelberger opted instead to reign him back in and sit him a few lengths off the lead for the backstretch trip.  Tired to hold steady as they made their way into the turn, and did for a while.  On exit of the turn, they started going by on each side, and Star of India had no response for it.

9th- 4- Speeding Prince (17/1)- The entry from Grimley started the race towards the back of the pack, leading only Nevski as they made the run down the backstretch.  Had to hesitate a little in the turn as Rose Of The Moon began to backup, but there was never a push towards the front.  J Rosario looked to swing him to the outside of One CIty to try and pick up a couple positions in the stretch at least, but was not able to do so.

10th- 10- Nevski (51/1)-  The longest shot on the board from Barcelona Farms could see them all in front of him in the early stages.  He was content to stay at the rear for the duration of the backstretch.  R A Baze looked to try to position him for a run on exit of the turn, but he had nothing underneath him to do so, in any way.

11th- 5- Rose of the Moon (11/1)-  Began the race near the back of the pack for trainer Mb Stables, about six lengths off the pace and potentially in a position on the track where he could run into traffic problems.  As the field approached the final turn, Rose Of The Moon began to lose contact with those that had been ahead of him and eventually faded to this last of them all spot.

Track: Fast
Time: :47¹  1:10⁴  1:35¹  1:47⁴

$2 Mutuel Prices:

$1 Exacta: 1 – 11 Paid 92.70
$1 Trifecta: 1 – 11 – 2 Paid 578.20

Scratched: None

— NS

Categories: Grade II, STAKES ARTICLES