Aqueduct will host its two leading juvenile stakes, the $250,000 Remsen (G2) and $250,000 Demoiselle (G2), on Saturday, with Kentucky Derby (G1) and Kentucky Oaks (G1) qualifying points, respectively, on the line in both nine-furlong features. However, the absence of brilliant Nashua (G3) winner Independence Hall from the Remsen leaves that race with a wide-open field of nine, while the Demoiselle attracted an arguably more interesting field of 12 fillies.
Betting in the Remsen might center around Ajaaweed, a distant fourth behind Maxfield in the Breeders’ Futurity (G1) at Keeneland last time after a dominating maiden win at Belmont over one mile, and Alpha Sixty Six, fifth to Tiz the Law in his stakes debut in the October 5 Champagne (G1).
“He shipped to Kentucky last time but didn’t ship really well and wasn’t quite himself for a couple of days,” said trainer Kiaran McLaughlin of Ajaaweed. “He came back here and has been training very, very well, and he’s ready. We think he wants a mile and an eighth, so all is well. He has a really good closing kick. Going a mile and an eighth, he’ll probably come from off of it [the speed].”
“We feel that he can run all day,” owner Paul Pompa Jr. said of Alpha Sixty Six. “He missed the break in the Champagne. He ran incredible but he spotted the field six lengths and it’s hard to make up a lot of ground when you’re up against those type of horses. We watched his gallop out and he did so very well. The race won’t be a distance issue if he’s good enough.”
Chase Tracker adds blinkers after finishing a distant third to Independence Hall in the one-mile Nashua for trainer Todd Pletcher, while four-time Remsen winner Shug McGaughey saddles Phipps homebred Amends, who won at second asking by more than four lengths in an off-the-turf maiden at Belmont. Shipping up from his Laurel base is Shotski, a decent fourth in the $120,000 Street Sense at Churchill Downs in his stakes debut.
Third behind likely champion British Idiom in the Alcibiades (G1) after a troubled start, Alandra could be the one to fear in the Demoiselle with a cleaner trip. The regally-bred daughter of Blame won on debut at Saratoga for McGaughey.
“She’s proven going two turns,” McGaughey said. “I think she’ll run that far and I think she needed to run again after she ran at Keeneland.”
Maedean romped by more than five lengths when taking the $150,000 Tempted at Aqueduct over one mile, while Critical Value steps up in class after similarly dominating the $250,000 Maid of the Mist against New York-breds.
“She’s doing excellent. I would think she would be well regarded,” trainer Mark Hennig said of Maedean. “She’s going to appreciate the stretch out. Her mother was a true mile and a half, mile and a quarter horse, so I’ve been looking forward to getting her around two turns.”
Promising last-out graduates in the Demoiselle include Lake Avenue, Blame Debbie, and I Dare U, while Daphne Moon could improve off a troubled fifth in the Frizette (G1), a race in which she was well supported.
