Study Guide: 2025 Remsen Stakes

Dec 02, 2025 J. Keeler Johnson/TwinSpires.com

I Did I Did wins at Churchill Downs. (Photo by Coady Media)

A total of 21 Road to the Kentucky Derby qualification points are up for grabs in Saturday’s $250,000 Remsen (G2) at Aqueduct. The top-five finishers will split the points on a 10-5-3-2-1 basis.

The field is stacked with lightly raced young horses who have shown flashes of serious talent. Let’s meet the field:

Day One Starter

Day One Starter wins at Belmont at the Big A. (Photo by Coglianese Photo)

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

Owner: Wilson Family Stables
Breeder: Brereton C. Jones
Trainer: Shug McGaughey
Jockey: Junior Alvarado

Top Speed Rating: (85) when winning an Aqueduct maiden special weight.
Total Earnings: $65,750

Sire: Upstart
Dam: Psychadelacized
Color: Bay

Day One Starter has four-time Remsen-winning trainer Shug McGaughey in his corner, but must improve upon his distant third-place finish in the Nashua S. at Aqueduct if he’s going to beat tougher foes on Saturday.

Paladin

Paladin wins at Aqueduct. (Photo by Coady Media)

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

Owner: Mrs. John Magnier, Michael B. Tabor, Derrick Smith, Peter M. Brant, Brook T. Smith, and Summer Wind Equine
Breeder: Summer Wind Equine
Trainer: Chad Brown
Jockey: Flavien Prat

Top Speed Rating: (91) when winning an Aqueduct maiden special weight.
Total Earnings: $46,750

Sire: Gun Runner
Dam: Secret Sigh
Color: Chestnut

Paladin clocked a strong finishing time when winning a one-mile maiden special weight at Aqueduct via disqualification. The son of Gun Runner is bred to relish 1 1/8 miles and looms as a formidable win contender for the red-hot jockey/trainer duo of Flavien Prat and Chad Brown.

I Did I Did

I Did I Did wins at Churchill Downs. (Photo by Coady Media)

Start(s): 4
Wins: 1
Place: 1
Show: 0

Owner: Paradise Farms, David Staudacher, Frank Turman, and Skychai Racing
Breeder: Mt. Brilliant Farm & Ranch and The Curlin Syndicate
Trainer: Mike Maker
Jockey: Joel Rosario

Top Speed Rating: (88) when finishing fourth in the Street Sense (G3) at Churchill Downs.
Total Earnings: $101,943

Sire: Curlin
Dam: Ithinkisawapudycat
Color: Bay

I Did I Did exits a fourth-place finish in the Street Sense (G3) on the Road to the Kentucky Derby. He’s faced quality competition throughout his career and could certainly finish in the top four again at Aqueduct.

⚡ Incredibolt goes from last to first in the G3 Street Sense and earns 10 Kentucky Derby points! @jaimetorresjcky was aboard for trainer @riley_mott.

🎥 #TwinSpiresReplay pic.twitter.com/w8OfRtZnmz

— TwinSpires Racing 🏇 (@TwinSpires) October 26, 2025

Grittiness

#6 Courting wins with #3 Grittiness second and #5 Stream It third at Aqueduct. (Photo by Coady Media)

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

Owner: Repole Stable
Breeder: WinStar Farm
Trainer: Todd Pletcher
Jockey: Jaime Rodriguez

Top Speed Rating: (73) when finishing sixth in a Saratoga maiden special weight.
Total Earnings: $18,750

Sire: Curlin
Dam: Coach Rocks
Color: Chestnut

Grittiness ran second to the promising Courting last time out, but must improve upon his career-best 73 Brisnet Speed rating to factor against this deep Remsen field.

Chambersville

Chambersville wins at Keeneland. (Photo by Coady Media)

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

Owner: Shortleaf Stable
Breeder: Shortleaf Stable
Trainer: Kenny McPeek
Jockey: Christopher Elliott

Top Speed Rating: (83) when finishing second in an Aqueduct maiden special weight.
Total Earnings: $79,833

Sire: Twirling Candy
Dam: Reef Point
Color: Bay

Chambersville has raced exclusively on grass, most recently winning a 1 1/8-mile maiden special weight at Keeneland. The fact he’s proven over 1 1/8 miles is a positive, and his pedigree suggests he’ll handle dirt just fine. Don’t count Chambersville out of the mix.

Courting

Courting wins at Aqueduct. (Photo by Coglianese Photo)

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

Owner: Whisper Hill Farm, Stonestreet Stables, and Windancer Farm
Breeder: Stonestreet Thoroughbred Holdings
Trainer: Todd Pletcher
Jockey: John Velazquez

Top Speed Rating: (85) when finishing fourth in an Aqueduct maiden special weight.
Total Earnings: $51,850

Sire: Curlin
Dam: Cavorting
Color: Chestnut

Courting recently led all the way to win a one-mile maiden special weight at Aqueduct by 2 1/2 lengths. He ran his final quarter-mile in a swift :23.95 and should relish stretching out over 1 1/8 miles. Keep in mind, Courting’s full-sister Clairiere won four Grade 1 races over 1 1/16 miles, showcasing the stamina apparent in so many sons and daughters of Curlin.

Igniter

Igniter wins at Aqueduct. (Coglianese Photo)

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

Owner: Three Chimneys Farm
Breeder: Three Chimneys Farm
Trainer: Rick Dutrow Jr.
Jockey: Manny Franco

Top Speed Rating: (88) when winning an Aqueduct maiden special weight.
Total Earnings: $58,750

Sire: Volatile
Dam: Malibu Prayer
Color: Chestnut

Igniter set a quick pace on his way to winning a one-mile maiden special weight at Aqueduct by one length over Rebel Instinct, who returned to win his next start. Igniter’s pedigree hints he might prefer running shorter than 1 1/8 miles, but his obvious talent must be respected.

Concarneau

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

Owner: Waldorf Racing Stables
Breeder: Mikelle Farm and Marilyn Morales
Trainer: Marya Montoya
Jockey: Mychel Sanchez

Top Speed Rating: (77) when winning a Parx Racing maiden special weight.
Total Earnings: $31,390

Sire: Known Agenda
Dam: Zeenut
Color: Chestnut

Concarneau showed talent when leading all the way to win a one-mile maiden special weight at Parx Racing by 7 1/4 lengths, but the 77 Brisnet Speed rating he earned looks light against the Remsen field.

Renegade

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

Owner: Robert Low, Lawana Low, and Repole Stable
Breeder: Robert Low and Lawana Low
Trainer: Todd Pletcher
Jockey: Irad Ortiz Jr.

Top Speed Rating: (91) when winning an Aqueduct maiden special weight.
Total Earnings: $29,000

Sire: Into Mischief
Dam: Spice Is Nice
Color: Bay

Renegade finished a head in front of Paladin in a one-mile maiden special weight at Aqueduct, but was disqualified to second place after interfering with Paladin. As a result, Renegade has yet to officially win a race. However, the fast finish he displayed against Paladin suggests that he has the talent to challenge for victory in the Remsen.

Balboa

Balboa (Photo by Benoit Photo)

Start(s): 5
Wins: 2
Place: 0
Show: 1

Owner: SF Racing, Starlight Racing, Madaket Stables, Dianne Bashor, Determined Stables, Golconda Stable, Waves Edge Capital, and Catherine Donovan
Breeder: Albaugh Family Stables
Trainer: Brittany Russell
Jockey: Ricardo Santana Jr.

Top Speed Rating: (91) when winning the James F. Lewis III S. at Laurel Park.
Total Earnings: $129,600

Sire: Not This Time
Dam: Tap of War
Color: Bay

Balboa was much the best in the six-furlong James F. Lewis III S. at Laurel Park, dominating by 5 1/4 lengths with a flashy 91 Brisnet Speed rating. But it’s possible he’s best as a sprinter; he faltered in his lone start in a two-turn race like the Remsen, finishing fifth in the American Pharoah (G1).

Talkin

Tallkin wins the Stardale at Saratoga. (Photo by Coglianese Photo)

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

Owner: Reeves Thoroughbred Racing, Pine Racing Stables, Legendary Thoroughbreds, Belmar Racing and Breeding, and R. A. Hill Stable
Breeder: Fifth Avenue Bloodstock
Trainer: Danny Gargan
Jockey: Kendrick Carmouche

Top Speed Rating: (92) when winning a Saratoga maiden special weight.
Total Earnings: $155,000

Sire: Good Magic
Dam: Rote
Color: Bay

Talkin won his debut at Saratoga over a strong field, including future Kentucky Jockey Club (G2) winner Further Ado. Then he ran second in the one-mile Champagne (G1) at Aqueduct. However, Talkin was helped by closing into a blazing pace in the Champagne. The Remsen is likely to unfold at a more relaxed pace, potentially complicating Talkin’s path to the winner’s circle.

Probably Dreaming

Start(s): 4
Wins: 3
Place: 1
Show: 0

Owner: Paul L. Fowler Jr.
Breeder: Tropical Racing
Trainer: Gary Capuano
Jockey: Carlos Lopez

Top Speed Rating: (91) when winning the First State Dash S. at Delaware Park.
Total Earnings: $178,200

Sire: Improbable
Dam: Dreaming as Always
Color: Chestnut

Probably Dreaming is a two-time stakes winner, having won the First State Dash S. and Rocky Run S. at Delaware Park. But when he shipped to Aqueduct for the one-mile Nashua S., he finished a tiring second, so stretching out over 1 1/8 miles against tougher competition in the Remsen is a question mark.