The New York roads to the 2025 Kentucky Derby and Kentucky Oaks open again Saturday at Aqueduct with points-qualifying preps in the $250,000 Remsen Stakes (G2) and the $250,000 Demoiselle Stakes (G2).
It’s the second and final round of New York preps until next year – the Jerome Stakes for 3-year-old males is Jan. 4, the Busanda Stakes for 3-year-old fillies is Jan. 18.
Yes, these potential 3-year-old stars are still juveniles, but the Remsen and Demoiselle, each at 1 1/8 miles, should give trainers a better idea whether they have a horse capable of progressing in distance and handling two turns. The Derby is 1 ¼ miles; the Oaks is 1 1/8 miles.
The Remsen and Demoiselle award the top five finishers with Derby/Oaks qualifying points of 10-5-3-2-1.
The Remsen drew a field of seven. Chad Brown-trained Keewaydin, a 1¾-length maiden winner at 7 furlongs on Oct. 12, is the 6-5 morning-line favorite. Brown also sends out Aviator Gui at 6-1
“The distance this early in his career is going to be a little bit of a question mark, but I do like how he is training and galloping out,” Brown said of Keewaydin, who leaves from post 5 under Dylan Davis. “Big jump from seven to a mile and an eighth, but with the way he’s training… I do want to give him a shot and get a nice two-turn race under him before he gets a little bit of a breather.”
Aviator Gui is 1-for-3, his lone win coming at a mile on dirt on Sept. 28 at the Big A after the race was moved off the turf. The Uncle Mo gray returned turf and ran fourth in the 1 1/16-mile Awad.
“Aviator Gui is more of a steady sort – not quite as fast (as Keewaydin), but he has a lot of endurance,” Brown said. “So, it will be a class test for him. I think he’ll appreciate the dirt better – a bit of an experiment last time.”
Studlydoright, 9-2, already has six starts and a record of three wins and two seconds. The Nyquist colt trained by Jerry Robb comes into the Remsen off a half-length victory in the Nashua at the Big A on Nov. 2. This will be his seventh start in seven months.
He won the Tremont Stakes at Saratoga after breaking his maiden in his debut, then finished second to Mo Plex in the Sanford Stakes (G3) and ran seventh in the Hopeful Stakes (G1).
“I was happy with it [the Nashua],” Robb said. “I’ve been waiting to run long, hoping that is what he wanted and thinking that is what he wanted. The Remsen is even farther, so I’m looking forward to it.”
Post time for the Remsen is 2:36 p.m. ET
For those who bet horse racing …
The picks: 1 Keewaydin 2 Studlydoright 3 Tux
1 Tux (Junior Alvarado, Bill Mott), 3-1
2 Aviator Gui (Manny Franco, Chad Brown), 6-1
3 Poster, Flavien Prat, Eoin Harty), 5-1
4 Studlydoright (Xavier Perez, Jerry Robb), 9-2
5 Keewaydin (Dylan Davis, Chad Brown), 6-5
6 Surfside Moon (Kendrick Carmouche, James Lawrence), 20-1
7 Gun Trader (Francisco Martinez, Uriah St. Lewis), 30-1
Muhimma, the 4-5 favorite, gives Brad Cox yet another promising 2-year-old filly. Already, the trainer has Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies (G1) winner Immersive and Golden Rod Stakes (G2) winner Good Cheer in his barn, both with 4-0 records.
Muhimma has won both of her sprints under Florent Geroux by a combined margin of 13 lengths. Geroux is aboard again leaving from post 1 in a field of 10.
Other contenders include Bless the Broken (12-1), who rallied for second going 1 1/16 miles at Churchill Downs for trainer Will Walden, and Beauty Reigns (9-2), coming off a debut win at Aqueduct.
Post time for the Demoiselle is 3:05 p.m.
1 Muhimma (Florent Geroux, Brad Cox), 4-5
2 Liam in the Dust (Flavien Prat, Rudolphe Brisset), 10-1
3 Fortuna Mia (Eric Cancel, Linda Rice), 15-1
4 Carmen’s Candy Jar (Irad Ortiz, Jr., Todd Pletcher), 12-1
5 Michelle (K Davis, Brittany Russell), 20-1
6 Bless the Broken (Ramon Vazquez, Will Walden), 12-1
7 Five Aside (Joel Rosario, John C. Servis), 20-1
8 Beauty Reigns (Junior Alvarado, Bill Mott), 9-2
9 Tip Line (Francisco Martiez, Uriah St. Lewis), 30-1
10 Ballerina d’Oro (Dylan Davis, Chad Brown), 8-1
The writing team at US Racing is comprised of both full-time and part-time contributors with expertise in various aspects of the Sport of Kings.
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