Paladin prevails in Remsen joust

Dec 06, 2025 Kellie Reilly/Brisnet.com

Paladin wins the Remsen Stakes at Aqueduct. (Photo by Coglianese Photo / Credit to Angelo Lieto)

With his pedigree, sales history, and connections, Paladin offers an early parallel at this stage of his career with Sierra Leone, who would go on to miss narrowly in the 2024 Kentucky Derby (G1) and eventually became champion three-year-old male.

On Saturday, Paladin advanced the comparison by capturing the $250,000 Remsen (G2) at Aqueduct, a race that Sierra Leone arguably should have won during his two-year-old campaign in 2023.

Trained by Chad Brown for a partnership including Coolmore principals Mrs. John Magnier, Michael Tabor, and Derrick Smith along with Peter Brant, Brook T. Smith, and breeder Summer Wind Equine, Paladin is another well-bred son of Gun Runner who sold for seven figures as a yearling.

A $1.9 million Fasig-Tipton Saratoga purchase, Paladin finished just a head behind Renegade in his Oct. 17 career debut around Aqueduct’s one-turn mile. But the stewards ruled that Renegade caused interference, disqualified him, and awarded the victory to Paladin.

The archrivals squared off again in the Remsen, and Paladin once again tussled with Renegade down the stretch. This time, he had the satisfaction of beating Renegade outright on the racetrack rather than in the stewards’ room.

Sent off as the 1.88-1 favorite with Flavien Prat back aboard, Paladin secured a ground-saving spot nestled just behind the leaders. Longshot Day One Starter carved out the pace in splits of :23.32 and :47.47, prompted throughout by Balboa. As they reached the six-furlong mark in 1:12.53, Balboa put his head in front.

By that point, the 2.97-1 Renegade was revving up on the outside, in a tactical move to get the jump on Paladin. But Paladin was himself on the march, as Prat steered him off the fence and angled even wider out.

Although the familiar foes launched their rallies together, Paladin gained the upper hand in more assertive fashion. The chestnut kicked two lengths clear while clocking 1 1/8 miles in 1:50.97.

Paladin banked his first 10 points toward the Kentucky Derby, as well as valuable experience in the heat of battle.

“I like the fact that not only did we secure some Kentucky Derby points today, we also got a good education,” Brown said. “The horse sat in the pocket and took dirt for most of the way. He was able to pause and move around horses and get that two-turn race into him as a two-year-old. I think that’s going to serve him well for the future.”

Brown revealed that Paladin also had to overcome adversity that wasn’t apparent as the race unfolded.

“It looks like he’s got a cut on one of his hind pasterns pretty good, and then he lost (a) front shoe, so I’m going to have to let him get over that and get him down there (to his winter base of Payson Park). For him to overcome all that today, I thought he showed a lot of class.”

When Paladin initially engaged Renegade, Brown admitted to having a flashback of sorts to two of his noteworthy Remsen runners-up, Sierra Leone and Zandon (2021).

“A couple horses who snatched defeat from the jaws of victory – Zandon, with Mo Donegal bumping and a horse coming back on him, and Sierra Leone making the lead and a horse (Dornoch) coming back on him. I thought this was déjà vu when he hit the front again.

“I saw him wait and I said, ‘oh no.’ Flavien used a lot of experience and good judgment to keep him away from Renegade. If you engage a horse like that and start the bumping, you embolden them to come back sometimes, especially a good horse like him.”

Brown added that by “not allowing the horse (Renegade) to come back on him like in his maiden,” Paladin “showed a good forward move and progression.

“I couldn’t be more excited about the horse going into his three-year-old season.”

Paladin picks up 10 #KentuckyDerby points in the G2 Remsen! 🌹

Chad Brown trains the son of Gun Runner and Flavien Prat was aboard. pic.twitter.com/1mZRLgHwjY

— TwinSpires Racing 🏇 (@TwinSpires) December 6, 2025

Renegade, who took home five points for finishing second, likewise turned in a solid performance that bodes well for his Derby aspirations.

“We kind of had an inconsistent schedule coming into it with (Renegade),” trainer Todd Pletcher said, “and I thought he ran very well. It was an encouraging effort. I think (jockey) Irad (Ortiz Jr.) thought going into the far turn, he had a chance to go ahead and make a move while the eventual winner was on the inside. I thought it was a good trip.

“I would think he’ll gain a lot from this, and it’s good experience for him, and hopefully he keeps moving forward. I was encouraged.”

Balboa held third, another 1 1/2 lengths back, and added three points to bring up his total to four. Courting closed for fourth (two points), in a result that Pletcher described as better than it might look on paper.

“I thought Courting ran sneaky good also,” Pletcher said of last year’s $5 million Keeneland September sale topper. “He got pinballed leaving the gate and got banged around, lost his action behind, and came away further back than we hoped. I thought he put in a couple good moves and still showed some interest in the end. I think he’s still putting things together and there’s room for improvement, but I thought it was a move forward.”

Pletcher’s other runner, Grittiness, checked in fifth (one point). Next came Igniter; I Did I Did; Day One Starter; Talkin, the 4.20-1 third choice who stalked but faded after a wide trip; Chambersville; and Concarneau. Probably Dreaming was scratched.

Paladin enhanced his record to 2-for-2 with $184,250 in his account. The Kentucky-bred is out of the unraced Tapit mare Secret Sigh, who is a half-sister to the versatile Japanese campaigner Mozu Ascot, a Grade 1 winner on both turf and dirt.

This is the family of multiple Grade 1-winning millionaires La Cara and To Honor and Serve, hero of the 2010 Remsen.