Study Guide: 2023 Remsen Stakes

Nov 29, 2023 J. Keeler Johnson

It’s been many years since a Remsen (G2) winner came back to claim victory in the Kentucky Derby (G1); the last to complete the double was Go for Gin in 1993-94.

But despite its dry spell as a Road to the Kentucky Derby qualifier, the Remsen remains an important race. Recent winners of the 1 1/8-mile contest at Aqueduct include Court Vision (2007), To Honor and Serve (2010), Overanalyze (2012), Honor Code (2013), Mo Town (2016), Catholic Boy (2017), and Mo Donegal (2021)—all of whom went on to win at the Grade 1 level.

The 2023 Remsen is taking place this Saturday with a purse of $250,000 plus 21 Kentucky Derby qualification points (split 10-5-3-2-1 among the top five finishers) up for grabs.

Let’s meet the 10 horses entered in the Remsen:

---

Le Dom Bro

Start(s): 3
Wins: 1
Place: 2
Show: 0

Owner: Vicente Stella Stables
Breeder: Teneri Farms
Trainer: Eniel Cordero
Jockey: Jose Gomez

Top Speed Rating: (88) when finishing second in a Gulfstream Park maiden special weight.
Total Earnings: $62,450

Sire: Mucho Macho Man
Dam: Valiant Emilia
Color: Bay

A maiden winner sprinting at Saratoga in his third career start, Le Dom Bro has been freshened since August and has yet to run farther than six furlongs. Stepping up in class and distance for the Remsen are significant obstacles to overcome, though his pedigree suggests 1 1/8 miles won’t be an issue.

---

Domestic Product

Start(s): 2
Wins: 1
Place: 0
Show: 0

Owner: Klaravich Stables
Breeder: Klaravich Stables
Trainer: Chad Brown
Jockey: Manny Franco

Top Speed Rating: (87) when breaking his maiden at Aqueduct.
Total Earnings: $53,700

Sire: Practical Joke
Dam: Goods and Services
Color: Dark bay/brown

Domestic Product has already won over the track and distance of the Remsen, dominating an Oct. 27 maiden special weight by 4 1/2 lengths. He needs to step forward from a Brisnet Speed rating perspective, but is progressing in the right direction for hot trainer Chad Brown and can’t be counted out of win consideration.

---

Dornoch

Start(s): 3
Wins: 1
Place: 2
Show: 0

Owner: West Paces Racing, R. A. Hill Stable, Belmar Racing and Breeding, Two Eight Racing, and Pine Racing Stables
Breeder: Grandview Equine
Trainer: Danny Gargan
Jockey: Luis Saez

Top Speed Rating: (95) when breaking his maiden at Keeneland.
Total Earnings: $119,900

Sire: Good Magic
Dam: Puca
Color: Bay

A full-brother to 2023 Kentucky Derby winner Mage, Dornoch has already placed at the stakes level, finishing second in the Sapling S. behind next-out Bourbon (G2) runner-up Noted. Dornoch is steadily improving and posted a sharp 95 Brisnet Speed rating when dominating a 1 1/16-mile maiden special weight at Keeneland by 6 1/2 lengths, so a winning run in the Remsen isn’t out of the question.

Kentucky Derby winner Mage's little brother, #2 Dornoch leaves the competition behind to breaks his maiden in R6 at Keeneland for trainer @garganracing with @luissaezpty aboard! 🤩🌹

🎥 #TwinSpiresReplay pic.twitter.com/nY9GH5zsxB

— TwinSpires Racing 🏇 (@TwinSpires) October 14, 2023

---

Moonlight

Start(s): 3
Wins: 1
Place: 2
Show: 0

Owner: Town and Country Racing and Madaket Stables
Breeder: Peter E. Blum Thoroughbreds
Trainer: Todd Pletcher
Jockey: Irad Ortiz Jr.

Top Speed Rating: (92) when breaking his maiden at Aqueduct.
Total Earnings: $110,500

Sire: Audible
Dam: Sundown
Color: Gray/roan

Moonlight joined the Road to the Kentucky Derby with a runner-up effort in the 1 1/16-mile Street Sense (G3) at Churchill Downs. He’d previously smashed a one-mile maiden special weight at Aqueduct by eight lengths, earning a 92 Brisnet Speed rating, so returning to Aqueduct and reuniting with four-time Eclipse Award-winning jockey Irad Ortiz should set the stage for another competitive finish.

Congrats to LIBERAL ARTS and his connections on their win in The Street Sense Stakes worth 🔟 points on the Road to the #KyDerby! pic.twitter.com/9S0ubuhwNJ

— Kentucky Derby (@KentuckyDerby) October 29, 2023

---

Drum Roll Please

Start(s): 3
Wins: 1
Place: 1
Show: 0

Owner: Gold Square
Breeder: Barlar
Trainer: Brad Cox
Jockey: Javier Castellano

Top Speed Rating: (96) when finishing second in a Saratoga maiden special weight.
Total Earnings: $71,130

Sire: Hard Spun
Dam: Imply
Color: Chestnut

Runner-up behind future Breeders’ Futurity (G1) winner Locked in a one-mile maiden special weight at Saratoga, Drum Roll Please graduated in a similar contest on Oct. 6 at Aqueduct, sticking close to a hot pace before kicking on to win by two lengths. Drum Roll Please is yet another talented and improving prospect with a chance to challenge in the Remsen.

---

Billal

Start(s): 3
Wins: 1
Place: 0
Show: 2

Owner: Kaleem Shah
Breeder: Repole Stables
Trainer: Bill Mott
Jockey: Junior Alvarado

Top Speed Rating: (85) breaking his maiden at Aqueduct.
Total Earnings: $80,100

Sire: Street Sense
Dam: Bambalina
Color: Bay

A maiden winner sprinting seven furlongs at Aqueduct, Billal faltered in his first start against stakes competition, finishing third by 6 1/4 lengths in the one-mile Nashua S. at Aqueduct. With a career-best 85 Brisnet Speed rating, Billal will need improvement to challenge against tougher competition in the Remsen.

---

Sierra Leone

Start(s): 1
Wins: 1
Place: 0
Show: 0

Owner: Mrs. John Magnier, Michael B. Tabor, Derrick Smith, Westerberg, Rocket Ship Racing, and Peter M. Brant
Breeder: Debby M. Oxley
Trainer: Chad Brown
Jockey: Jose Ortiz

Top Speed Rating: (85) when winning his debut at Aqueduct.
Total Earnings: $46,750

Sire: Gun Runner
Dam: Heavenly Love
Color: Dark bay/brown

After getting off to a slow start in a one-mile maiden special weight at Aqueduct last month, Sierra Leone finished fast to win by 1 1/4 lengths. The stoutly bred son of Gun Runner has the potential to improve while stretching out over 1 1/8 miles, so don’t count him out of the mix for a top-five finish.

---

Where’s Chris

Start(s): 3
Wins: 2
Place: 0
Show: 1

Owner: Nice Guys Stables
Breeder: The Neuman Group
Trainer: Rick Dutrow
Jockey: Isaac Castillo

Top Speed Rating: (92) when winning his debut at Aqueduct.
Total Earnings: $139,000

Sire: Twirling Candy
Dam: Sea Queen
Color: Dark bay/brown

Where’s Chris made his route debut in the Nashua and pressed a decent pace before finishing fast (final quarter-mile in about :24.65) to win by three-quarters of a length. This strong closing kick bodes well for stretching out over 1 1/8 miles, and Where’s Chris already has the Brisnet Speed ratings to factor for hot trainer Rick Dutrow, so there’s a lot to like about this son of Twirling Candy.

---

Copper Tax

Start(s): 6
Wins: 5
Place: 1
Show: 0

Owner: Rose Petal Stables
Breeder: Lance Sullenberger
Trainer: Gary Capuano
Jockey: Kendrick Carmouche

Top Speed Rating: (94) when winning the Rocky Run S. at Delaware Park.
Total Earnings: $250,000

Sire: Copper Bullet
Dam: Wilhelmina
Color: Bay

Former claimer Copper Tax has won five straight races, including the Rocky Run S. at Delaware Park and the James. F. Lewis III S. at Laurel Park. Copper Tax is versatile in terms of running style and owns four straight Brisnet Speed ratings in the 91-94 range, suggesting he’s a win threat even while stepping into the graded stakes ranks for the first time.

---

Private Desire

Start(s): 3
Wins: 1
Place: 0
Show: 0

Owner: Stephen P. Brunetti Jr.
Breeder: Tan Wilbert
Trainer: Todd Pletcher
Jockey: Jose Lezcano

Top Speed Rating: (94) when breaking his maiden at Aqueduct.
Total Earnings: $64,800

Sire: Constitution
Dam: Brahms Cat
Color: Bay

Private Desire broke slowly and race greenly in the Nashua, but recovered a bit as the race went on to finish fourth behind Where’s Chris. Private Desire had previously wired a 6 1/2-furlong maiden special weight at Aqueduct with a 94 Brisnet Speed rating, so dismiss this Todd Pletcher trainee at your own risk. Pletcher has won the Remsen three times, including in 2005 with future Kentucky Derby runner-up Bluegrass Cat.