A rare chance to be tested around two turns at a 1 1/8-mile distance awaits a large field of 12 2-year-olds in the Dec. 6 Remsen Stakes (G2) at Aqueduct Racetrack. The grade 2 stakes has produced some top horses in recent years, highlighted by the 2023 edition when the winner, Dornoch , eventually took the Belmont Stakes (G1) and the runner-up, Sierra Leone , won the 2024 Longines Breeders' Cup Classic (G1) and was named the champion 3-year-old male. There also will be 2026 Kentucky Derby (G1) qualifying points on the line, with the top-five finishers getting 10-5-3-2-1 points.
1. Day One Starter (15-1 morning-line odds): Looked good winning his second start in a 6 1/2-furlong sprint. Was a fading, distant third in the Nashua Stakes last time out, but can be a factor if he can duplicate his maiden win.
JOCKEY: Junior Alvarado; TRAINER: Shug McGaughey
2. Paladin (3-1): Won his debut via disqualification. But the time was fast and there was a five-length gap back to the third horse. Should be a key contender here.
JOCKEY: Flavien Prat; TRAINER: Chad Brown
3. I Did I Did (12-1): Was a competitive fourth in the Street Sense Stakes (G3), but tired in the final furlong. The added distance here may work against him.
JOCKEY: Joel Rosario; TRAINER: Mike Maker
4. Grittiness (20-1): Had a tough trip when second most recently to a stablemate in a maiden race at one mile. As a son of Curlin , he should enjoy the two turns but will need to register better speed figures to be a win candidate.
JOCKEY: Jaime Rodriguez; TRAINER: Todd Pletcher
5. Chambersville (30-1): Has only raced on turf with one win in three tries. Pedigree does not scream dirt, so we'll pass.
JOCKEY: Christopher Elliott; TRAINER: Ken McPeek
6. Courting (9-2): Beat stablemate Grittiness with an improved effort in his second start. He cost $5 million at auction, so you know there are high hopes for him. He cannot be ignored in this field.
JOCKEY: John Velazquez; TRAINER: Todd Pletcher
7. Igniter (6-1): Has been well-rested since a maiden win at one mile in late September. Continued improvement could put him in the mix here.
JOCKEY: Manny Franco; TRAINER: Rick Dutrow
8. Concarneau (50-1): Shows one good effort and two bad ones in three career starts. Others are more appealing.
JOCKEY: Mychel Sanchez; TRAINER: Marya Montoya
9. Renegade (5-1): Finished in front of Paladin but was disqualified for bumping that rival. Took a step forward with added distance and, as a son of Into Mischief out of the Curlin mare Spice is Nice, the two turns should not be a problem.
JOCKEY: Irad Ortiz Jr.; TRAINER: Todd Pletcher
10. Balboa (12-1): Started his career with Bob Baffert in California, but after two disappointing graded stakes tries he was sent east to trainer Brittany Russell. Was an easy winner of a Laurel sprint stakes in his first race for his new trainer but faces a much bigger challenge here.
JOCKEY: Ricardo Santana Jr.; TRAINER: Brittany Russell
11. Talkin (5-1): Was pointed for this race rather than the Breeders' Cup Juvenile (G1) after finishing second in the Champagne Stakes (G1) on Oct. 4. He seems fit and ready for the challenge here, though the post position is a concern in such a big field of young horses.
JOCKEY: Kendrick Carmouche; TRAINER: Danny Gargan
12. Probably Dreaming (15-1): Winning would not be a daydream off a record of three wins and a second in four career starts. Was second in the Nashua Stakes and would be a more attractive prospect with a better post position.
JOCKEY: Carlos Lopez; TRAINER: Gary Capuano
THE PICK: Paladin
LIVE LONGSHOT: Probably Dreaming
SUPERFECTA: 2-11-6-9
