Kentucky Derby BRIS Speed Rating Report: Remsen Stakes
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December 7th, 2017
One of the biggest surprises heading into the winter has been the impact of the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf (G1). Nobody expects to see it produce Kentucky Derby contenders, but the one-mile turf test at Del Mar is defying conventional standards this year.
The top two from the Juvenile Turf, Mendelssohn and Untamed Domain, took action in Pool 1 of the Kentucky Derby Future Wager at 31-1 and 29-1, respectively (Bolt d’Oro was the lowest-priced individual interest at 7-1). And as we wait for their first dirt starts, fourth-placer Catholic Boy has emerged as one to follow with a convincing victory in the December 2 Remsen Stakes (G2) at Aqueduct.
Trained by Jonathan Thomas, Catholic Boy made his first three starts on turf including a nice tally over Untamed Domain in the With Anticipation (G2) at Saratoga. He experienced trouble in the early stages of the Juvenile Turf and offered a fine rally to be beaten only 1 ½ lengths.
Making his dirt and nine-furlong debut in the Remsen, the More Than Ready colt finished powerfully to win by a widening 4 ¾-length margin and registered an outstanding 109 BRIS Late Pace rating.
His 98 BRIS Speed figure was also a career-best and Catholic Boy is eligible to keep moving forward off the encouraging performance.
Some see the Remsen as a negative key race for the Kentucky Derby since it hasn’t produced a Kentucky Derby winner in a long time. But don’t look for similarities between Catholic Boy and the 22 Remsen winners since Thunder Gulch – none were graded stakes winners on turf.
I love the versatility displayed so far by the talented 2-year-old and am excited to see what Catholic Boy has to offer in 2018.
Here are the top BRIS Speed ratings so far in the Road to the Kentucky Derby series:
|
Horse (finish) |
|
Race |
|
BRIS Speed |
|
Bolt d’Oro |
|
FrontRunner (1st) |
|
105 |
|
Good Magic |
|
BC Juvenile (1st) |
|
105 |
|
Solomini |
|
BC Juvenile (2nd) |
|
100 |
|
Bolt d’Oro |
|
BC Juvenile (3rd) |
|
99 |
|
Catholic Boy |
|
Remsen (1st) |
|
98 |
|
Firenze Fire |
|
Champagne (1st) |
|
96 |
|
Good Magic |
|
Champagne (2nd) |
|
96 |
|
Solomini |
|
FrontRunner (2nd) |
|
96 |
|
Enticed |
|
Ky Jockey Club (1st) |
|
93 |
|
Avery Island |
|
Remsen (2nd) |
|
93 |
|
Tiz Mischief |
|
Ky Jockey Club (2nd) |
|
93 |
|
The Tabulator |
|
Iroquois (1st) |
|
92 |
|
Enticed |
|
Champagne (3rd) |
|
92 |
|
Free Drop Billy |
|
Breeders’ Futurity (1st) |
|
91 |
|
Hollywood Star |
|
Iroquois (2nd) |
|
91 |
|
Vouch |
|
Remsen (3rd) |
|
91 |
|
Promises Fulfilled |
|
Ky Jockey Club (3rd) |
|
90 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
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