Trainer Reid thinks extra distance will help Eloquist in Remsen
When Eloquist first made the races, finishing sixth in two sprints, trainer Butch Reid’s confidence was not shaken.
“I told the owners in the spring, ‘don’t be looking for much out of this horse early in the year,’ ” Reid told Horse Racing Nation. “But when the distances start to stretch out later in the year, he’s going to come to the fore. So far it looks like I’ve been right in that regard.”
After breaking his maiden on his third attempt, going one mile at Parx, the Nyquist colt is set to run in Saturday’s $250,000 Remsen (G2) at Aqueduct, a 10-4-2-1 Kentucky Derby points race. It will be a tall task for Eloquist, who will face off against a field of eight that includes Mo Donegal running for Todd Pletcher and Zandon for Chad Brown.
Eloquist will be piloted by Dylan Davis in the Remsen.
“It’ll be up to Dylan where he wants to put him,” Reid said. “He doesn't have a whole ton of speed, but the distance will not be a problem. I feel very confident that a mile and an eighth is within his range.”
The 1 1/8-mile Remsen will be the longest the colt has ever run. Reid said he was excited to see how Eloquist does with the extra distance.
The colt was a $70,000 purchase at the 2020 Fasig-Tipton fall yearling sale. Chuck Zacney of Cash is King LLC, which owns Eloquist with LC Racing, discovered Eloquist there.
The colt, out of Our Gal El, by Tapit, made a solid impression on Reid.
“Big, strong, good-looking horse,” Reid said. “Looks like it’s all there, but in the beginning he was kind of playing around.”
In his first race, going six furlongs at Monmouth Park, Eloquist got off to a slow start and began his closing move too late. When he tried the same distance at Parx in September, results were similar.
Going the mile at Parx on Oct. 20, the colt finally got it done under jockey Frankie Pennington, coming along the rail and winning the race in the final furlong. Reid said he hoped that a combination of distance and maturity will help Eloquist have a bright future.
“He’s gotten more serious as time has gone on,” Reid said. “He let little things bother him in the beginning, like he got dirt and mud in his face the first time he ran, things like that. But knowing all along that we’re waiting for the distances to stretch out for him.”
The Remsen will be the eighth race Saturday at Aqueduct. It is set to go off at 3:15 p.m. EST.