Aqueduct: Paladin overtakes Renegade to win Remsen

Paladin 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 on Saturday.

After being elevated from second to first in his debut against familiar foe Renegade going one mile on Oct. 17 at the same track, Paladin stepped up to stakes company for the nine-furlong test for 2-year-olds. The Gun Runner colt, trained by Chad Brown, aced the first two-turn challenge of his career despite losing a front shoe, garnering 10 qualifying points to the Grade 1 Kentucky Derby. The 112th edition of the Remsen – and the last held at the Big A before moving to the new Belmont Park next year – offered 10-5-3-2-1 qualifying points to the top-five finishers toward the run for the roses in May.

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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. Paladin thrived with plenty of daylight on the outside as Prat tipped 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, and 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 Saturday was a good race."

Paladin, owned by Mrs. John Magnier, Michael Tabor, Derrick Smith, Peter Brant, Brook Smith and breeder Summer Wind Equine, 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 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 – 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 Saturday, 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 Saturday, 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 the race. "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 as 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."