Paladin up late to win the Remsen, NYRA Photo
Brian Bohl
For impressive juvenile Paladin, it could soon be a case of “have run, will travel,” as prestigious opportunities await the Gun Runner chestnut in 2026 following Saturday’s effort in which he made a strong move from the outside to overtake Renegade and power home a two-length winner in the Grade 2, $250,000 Remsen at Aqueduct Racetrack.
After being elevated from second to first in his debut versus familiar foe Renegade going one mile on October 17 at the same track, Paladin stepped up to stakes company for the nine-furlong test for 2-year-olds. The Chad Brown trainee, despite losing a front shoe, aced the first two-turn challenge of his career, garnering double digit qualifying points to the Grade 1 Kentucky Derby, with the 112th edition of the Remsen – and the last one held at the Big A before moving to the new Belmont Park next year – offering 10-5-3-2-1 qualifying points to the top-five finishers towards the Run for the Roses in May.
Paladin, off as the 9-5 favorite, broke sharp under Flavien Prat and tracked pacesetter Day One Starter, who traded punches with Balboa on the front end with the opening quarter-mile in 23.32 seconds and the half in 47.47 on the fast main track.
Balboa, prompted by rider Ricardo Santana, Jr., maintained the lead out of the turn and heading into the stretch. But Paladin thrived with plenty of daylight on the outside as Prat tapped into a deep reservoir. In the final furlong, Renegade and Paladin linked up, with Paladin gaining separation and posting a final time of 1:50.97.
Renegade, trained by Hall of Famer Todd Pletcher and ridden by Irad Ortiz, Jr., finished 1 1/2-lengths clear of Balboa for second. Courting finished fourth while Grittiness picked up the single qualifying point for fifth. Igniter, I Did I Did, Day One Starter, Talkin, Chambersville and Concarneau completed the order of finish. Probably Dreaming scratched.
Prat won the Remsen for the second consecutive year after piloting the Eoin Harty-trained Poster in 2024.
“Everything went well,” Prat said. “I was a bit worried there’d be a lack of pace, but we were able to sit right off of the pace. When I tipped him out, he reacted the right way. He was traveling well behind horses, but as soon as I tipped him out, he got going. A good move. It is that time of the year when you start dreaming. There is still a long way to go. A lot of tests to answer, but today was a good race.”
Mrs. John Magnier, Michael B. Tabor, Derrick Smith, Peter Brant, Brook T. Smith and breeder Summer Wind Equine’s Paladin started his career with high expectations. The colt was a $1.9 million purchase at the 2024 Fasig-Tipton Saratoga Select Yearling Sale. He is out of the Tapit mare Secret Sigh, a half-sister to dual Group 1-winner Mozu Ascot and stakes-winner Kareena.
“Flavien kept him to task and away from the other horse, which is good because it didn’t embolden him [Renegade] to come back,” Brown said. “I think he just showed a lot of class in only his second start and his first start around two turns to gut it out. He lost [a] front shoe somewhere in the race, so there’s that to deal with and consider for his effort overall, which really goes to show you how much perseverance and class he has at such a young age.
“He maneuvered around some stopping horses and the second choice in the race [Renegade] got the jump on him, moving around him and had him in a spot,” Brown continued. “The way the horse was able to pause coming around and finish his race off while keeping a straight course and not allowing the horse to come back on him like in his maiden – he showed a good, forward move and progression. I couldn’t be more excited about the horse going into his 3-year-old season.”
Paladin returned $5.76 on a $2 win bet. He improved his career earnings to $184,250.
“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 2-year-old. I think that’s going to serve him well for the future.
“He’s going to go down to Payson Park, our winter base, and let him get over this,” Brown added. “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. For him to overcome all that today, I thought he showed a lot of class.”
Renegade, also making his stakes bow and first time going two turns, again linked up with Paladin in the stretch. In their prior meeting in October, Renegade rallied up the inside to cross the wire a head in front but was subsequently disqualified following a stewards’ inquiry concerning the final sixteenth. He has finished on the board in all three starts for Pletcher.
“We kind of had an inconsistent schedule coming into it with [Renegade] and I thought he ran very well,” said Pletcher of Renegade, who reportedly missed a workout when dealing with a quarter-crack leading up to this event. “It was an encouraging effort. I think Irad 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.”
Live racing resumes Sunday at the Big A with an eight-race card, featuring the Grade 3, $200,000 Comely in Race 7 and the $150,000 Garland of Roses in Race 6. First post is 12:40 p.m. Eastern.
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