Unlike the G1 Cigar Mile, the G2 Remsen has no standout and features more than a few potentially viable winners.
Of the nine colts entered, only won has won a race other than maiden or claiming. That was Cleon Jones who hit it out of the park in the Bertram Bongard for New York-breds and was narrowly beaten in two other state-bred events.
But we’ve got pedigrees galore, Hall of Famers and future Hall of Famers–and that goes for the riders, too.
In terms of horses, Amends ran like a high class colt for Shug McGaughey after the Hall of Famer added blinkers. Bill Mott’s Forza Di Oro broke maiden in second start, as the majority of his youngsters do.
Todd Pletcher has a pair for two long time clients, there’s a distance meant colt shipping in from Churchill who has a bit more than a puncher’s chance and then there’s the colt we fancy, who figures to hit his stride on Saturday.
Ajaaweed (9-2) broke maiden in start two while stretching out to a mile then was not disgraced at all when stretched out farther and introduced to a second turn in Keeneland’s G1 Breeders’ Futurity. And no one was beating Maxfield that day.
But Kiaran McLaughlin did not jump into the Juvenile waters from there. Rather, he gave him two months to develop further since his tough trip in Lexington and stayed home waiting this, trying to pull another Mohaymen.
Ajaaweed has worked five times in the interim, the spacing is good, he nicely drawn with favorable dynamics and Joel Rosario sees fit to ride him back a third time. Somewhere north of 3-1 would be fair.
Taking Ajaaweed to win and key-boxing exactas and trifectas first and second with Shotski (15-1), Chase Tracker (7-2) and Alpha Sixty Six (9-2).
and that goes for the riders
