The Remsen – Grade II [KYD]
AQU Race #4 1 1/8m Dirt Graded Stake
Purse $150.000 For Two Year Olds.
1 Afterburner Fractious Jaramillo E
It will be interesting now we get the BC runners starting to reappear as there were plenty of hard luck stories and very little between them at the end so the form could end up getting turned this way and that. Previous to a wide draw and poor result in the BC Juvenile he won the Iroquois and placed second in the Pharaoh so it is clear he has the ability if you ignore the BC. The draw works well for him and as long as a busy few months hasn’t affected him he will be in with a winning chance.
2 Brave Companion Nakamura Stables Mena M
Another that suffered in the BC and will look to bounce back. Previous to that race he won the Breeders Futurity so again there are plenty of reasons to believe that he can win this. I was disappointed by his BC effort but it was a scrappy race and he gets the same draw today with which he won the AP Washington Futurity so the excuses just wont be the same if he loses.
3 Marine One Smokey Stover Sanchez M J
A length behind Brave Companion in the Breeders Futurity he then stepped up last time for a head win in the Nashua coming from well off the pace and getting up late. On form and draw he shouldn’t be turning the tables on Brave Companion but form doesn’t mean much these days and with a decent trip he could very well be another big winner for the emerging star of the season.
4 Familiar Moon Aer Stables Bridgmohan S X
He was only a length back in the Champagne when eighth but then there is never much between them in the juvenile races these days so it is hard to weigh up that run. Previously he ad been two from two and looking like the sort of horse that would represent the stable in yet another TC challenge. This is his second chance and there is no reason why this time he can’t come up trumps.
5 Glorious And Free Estero Farms Van Dyke D
Won his maiden over six furlongs but then failed in the Best Pal so was upped in trip and ran much better in the Iroquois when second. He hasn’t 100% proved he will stay this trip yet to me but he wont have to find much to get involved in the finish.
6 Never Go Raw Team 7 Illusions Zayas E J
His running style recently has suggested he will run about 20 furlongs as he has been finishing like a train from well back in his last two. He came from the clouds to win the FL Sire Stakes – In Reality and again came from the back when beaten just a half length in the Champagne last time out. Both times he had a wide draw and that explains his deep closing because before from better draws he had been content to sit closer to the pace. Today should be perfect for him and i expect him to go very close.
7 Gabilondo Fractious Centeno D E
Eighth beaten a length in the BC Juvenile Turf Sprint is a familiar story with these juvenile races as very little seems to separate the top 100 two year olds these days. This is a big change today going from turf sprinting to dirt routing but that isn’t something you have to worry about in HRP land although it is normally coming down in distance rather than going up. A 1.10 and 4 dirt work suggests he will be just as good on dirt its just whether that is good enough.
8 Abominable Mb Stables Saez G
Not the best in the barn by a long run but is close enough to these to have a squeak. Probably his best run came on the turf when taking the Cup and Saucer but he ran well enough when back on dirt last time to suggest like most the surface wont make a difference. The draw probably means he will go back but with click and change instructions here we will have to wait and see what Mb Stables does in the effort to secure yet another big win.
9 Burnin Red Hooves TwinTowersRacing Lopez P
Suffered the wide draw, go back, run up behind a wall fate that most suffered from in the BC so it is hard to get a line on him especially as he always seems to get a sticky draw. He won the Bashford Manor back in June and has been close enough in his next three to suggest with a bit of race engine luck he could get among it.
11 Between The Hedges Mb Stables Franco M
Won the Saplin from a good draw but has suffered from wider draws in most of his races and really only got it together in his last start. That run was in the Nashua when he powered home to be beaten just a head into fourth. With luck from the wide draw and if anyone can find that luck it is Mb Stables he can be in at the finish.
13 Canuck Kag Racing Bahen S R
Not a bad sort but on works and form has a bit to find with these espcecially from the car park draw.
SUMMARY
As usual there will be a few lengths between most of these at the end so it is hard to pick one with any confidence. I think Brave Companion will go well from the draw today so make him my tentative pick with Never Go Raw as a roughie.
Categories: Grade II, STAKES ARTICLES
