The Remsen – Grade II [KYD]
AQU Race #3 1 1/8m Dirt Graded Stake
Purse $250.000 For Two Year Olds.
1 Test The Waters Mb Stables Saez L 120 —
This is about the time when we see the BC runners get their last run of the season and with this being run for KYD points it is certainly one where they will need to back up their BC efforts. This gelding by Sweet Sweat ran well above expectations in the BC Juvenile Turf after running second in the TC, prior. Like all of the stables two/three-year-olds they are aimed first and foremost at the TC, so we see him swap back to the dirt to try and repeat that effort on the main track. His mile work of 1.37 is in the ballpark and he gets the perfect draw to once again get on the pace, whether he can better his previous dirt efforts remains to be seen.
2 Rare Truth TwinTowersRacing Beschizza A 120 —
1.10 and 4 six furlong works win stakes race and maidens, but the mile works are the real tell and so far, this one hasn’t been as quick as some of these. His form however is pretty good having taken the ELP Juvenile and then running well for a long way in the DMR Futurity at grade one and a decent fourth in the Pharaoh. He certainly ticks the boxes for this giant killing stable and with the perfect draw will not be one you want to take lightly.
3 Ocean Storm Riggins Racing Husbands P 120 —
On the Pharaoh form he has the beating of Rare Truth as he won that big form race in hand by an easy two lengths. He ran from a good draw in the Pharaoh but gate 12 in the BC and paid a familiar price for trying to stay within striking distance ending up 12th but only officially beaten four lengths. I think we can forget that BC run and if you do his big effort in the Pharaoh makes him a real chance from a great draw.
4 Excoriator Jerry Garcia Racing Ferrer J C 120 —
This may just be the fly in the ointment for a few here. A very average debut which we have come to expect was followed up with an impressive maiden win at CD and more recently a 1.10 and 3 work for the six furlongs. Unexposed as he may be at this level that work, and his impressive maiden win suggest this sort of class is well within his scope. The trainer is a wily old dog, and I am pretty sure will have this one ready to do some damage.
5 Free Agent Fractious Franco M 120 —
The trainer is having a great season, which is much deserved and although this son of Con Artist hasn’t fired in his last two, I think he may be better than that. He looked good winning the Saplin with a late run but was a late finishing sixth in the Champagne before a disappointing effort on an off-track last time. His works point him towards a race like this and taking out his wet track effort he would have the form to be a win chance too.
6 Soho Story Allinthegate Smith M E 120 —
Backed up an impressive maiden win at DMR with a bold effort to win an allowance at SAR so he was certainly working towards stakes class when he hit the Champagne last time. Drawn wide he was given the AI equivalent of no chance as he was taken back to last to hunt for the rail and was ten lengths behind by the won’t he found it. I liked the way he hunted them down in the run for home and with an extra furlong could well have been challenging for the win so today’s trip should be right up his alley. He won’t be among the favorites but could turn out to be a good bet.
7 Doc Rivers D J C Racing Stables Lopez P 120 —
On works and exposed form, he has a little to find here but is certainly not out of it and has a chance to move into the big time with a good effort today. He saw out the mile well to win the Sleepy Hollow so the trip will not be a worry and we know he will be finishing hard to them late.
8 Im Sorry So Sorry Martyparty Velazquez J R 120 —
Started off a winning streak at lowly ALB but then went on to take Display Stakes and the Grey Stakes in pretty comprehensive fashion stamping himself as a very useful juvenile. Missing out on the rigors of the BC may be a blessing in the long run and he is a very interesting and possibly under rated runner in this race.
9 Bad Debt Hippyheart Alvarado F T 120 —
He was pretty impressive in both his maiden and subsequent allowance wins and earned a tilt at the grade one Champagne where he was quietly fancied to run a big race. Up on the pace for the whole race he just faltered in the run for home, but his wide gate made it a tough run for him, and I think he acquitted himself pretty well. A live hope in this and possibly the best of the wider draws.
10 Cobra Fractious Davis D 120 —
Sandwiched between his debut win and win in the Golden State Juvenile were two fair efforts in the grade one DMR and Breeders Futurity’s making him a real chance in this despite his tough draw. His works are very strong, but the draw makes it very tough for him early on and he will need some good AI decisions and a bit of race engine luck. If that happens, he could easily win this.
11 Orange Pilled Big Guns Stables Gutierrez Mario 120 —
An on-pace runner I would expect the wide gate speed push to do its job here and put this one in the lead or very close to it. Although three of his five runs have come on turf, he was huge in the breeders Futurity from a similar wide draw when going on speed and ending up third and beaten only half-length. Like all these wide draws the AI and the race engine will have to work for him but if they do here is another wining chance.
12 Damiano TwinTowersRacing Geroux F 120 —
This one has certainly looked at home on the grass in his last two but gets a chance to show his form on the main track today, I would give him a chance on turf, but this is a tough field to try and run on a surface where he has only ever beaten one home before.
SUMMARY
As usual there is a case to be made for every runner here and hindsight will be a wonderful thing. However, we have to try and find a winner so I would favor a little each way bet on Excoriator who I think may be better than his bare form suggests.
Categories: Grade II, STAKES ARTICLES
