Dubyuhnell Outduels Arctic Arrogance in Sloppy Remsen

In partnership with e Five Racing, Stonestreet Farm had an elite juvenile in 2017 with the Chad Brown-trained Good Magic, that year's champion 2-year-old male and Sentient Jet Breeders' Cup Juvenile (G1) winner. Now Stonestreet owns one of his best sons, Dubyuhnell, with West Paces Racing. On Dec. 3 at Aqueduct Racetrack, the juvenile from the first-crop of the Hill 'n' Dale Farms' stallion showed off his talents, scoring a determined half-length victory over Arctic Arrogance in a sloppy renewal of the $250,000 Remsen Stakes (G2). The victory pushed the colt's record to 2-for-3 and stamped him as a potential player for next year's Kentucky Derby Presented by Woodford Reserve (G1) at Churchill Downs, a race in which his sire was second to Triple Crown winner Justify in 2018. With Saturday's victory, Dubyuhnell picked up 10 qualifying points with the Remsen part of the Road to the Kentucky Derby series. The second through fifth horses earned points on a 4-3-2-1 basis. The winner also reaffirmed his affinity for wet tracks. His victory Saturday was his second consecutive victory over a sloppy surface after posting a second-out maiden triumph over a wet surface at Aqueduct Oct. 2. Though the margin was close on Saturday—Dubyuhnell only pulled away in the final sixteenth of a mile from a brave runner-up—he seemed to win with something left, hitting the wire with his ears pricked. "He was drawing off," trainer Danny Gargan said. "I think we were pretty lucky he does want to get the distance. We just have to stay sound and stay lucky and keep picking the right races. Maybe we'll be somewhere in May." Arctic Arrogance, winner of the Sleepy Hollow Stakes against New York-breds, set the pace in the Remsen with splits of :24.31 and :48.13 while Dubyuhnell raced in close pursuit. Favored Tuskegee Airmen, who entered the race 2-for-2 after a win in the Rocky Run Stakes at Delaware Park, settled in third along the rail after three-quarters in 1:12.23. But Tuskegee Airmen could never pick up the leaders, and the two frontrunners drew clear down the lane in a two-horse battle. Dubyuhnell hit the wire just in front, having completed the distance in 1:50.88. Following Arctic Arrogance, it was another 11 1/4 lengths back to Tuskegee Airmen in third, with Quick to Accuse fourth, and Midnight Trouble fifth. Ortiz was pleased with his mount's forward position. "I was able to lay next to (Arctic Arrogance) every step of the way. I was very happy," the rider said. "On the backside, we hit the second turn, and I knew it would be me or him." Gargan said Dubyuhnell will head to Florida but could return to the Aqueduct in the winter or spring for Kentucky Derby preps such as the Wither Stakes (G3) or Wood Memorial Presented by Resorts World Casino (G2). Dubyuhnell is the fourth graded stakes winner sired by Good Magic, joining Blazing Sevens, Vegas Magic, and Curly Jack. Bred in Kentucky by Stonestreet, the colt is out of the multiple graded stakes-winning sprinter Wild Gams (Forest Wildcat). He is Wild Gams' third stakes winner from nine foals, with the others being Cazadero and Mt. Brave. All nine of the dam's foals have raced, and eight are winners. Dubyuhnell was a $400,000 purchase by Oracle Bloodstock, as agent, from Eaton Sales' consignment to the 2021 Keeneland September Yearling Sale. He now has earnings of $196,050. The colt capped a sweep of the 2-year-old stakes at Aqueduct by Stonestreet-bred horses. Julia Shining, a full sister to recently retired champion Malathaat, won the Demoiselle Stakes (G2) earlier on the card.