The 2023 Remsen Stakes Tipsheet

A very good group of 10 two-year-old prospects will travel 1 1/8 miles on the Aqueduct dirt surface in Saturday’s $250,000 Remsen S. (G2). The 2024 Road to the Kentucky Derby contest offers the top-five finishers qualifying points on a 10-5-3-2-1 basis. 

Remsen Picks

• #7 Sierra Leone
• #2 Domestic Product
• #4 Moonlight
• #6 Billal

Remsen Wagers

• $20 win and place #7 Sierra Leone
• $4 exacta key box 7 with 2,4,6
• $1 trifecta 7 with 2,4,6 with all 

Remsen Contenders

#1 LE DOM BRO: Mucho Macho Man colt graduated going six furlongs at Saratoga in the summer and makes his first appearance since that victory. The Kentucky-bred colt is well drawn on the rail to save ground, but he has landed in an awfully tough spot for his first return assignment. Jose Gomez will be in the silks.  

#2 DOMESTIC PRODUCT: Klaravich homebred was a fine maiden winner on the oval and at the distance in his second career try last time out. The Chad Brown charge appreciated the addition of blinkers on that occasion, and I think that he has a high  ceiling going forward. Manny Franco will stay in the silks and guide the win threat. 

#3 DORNOCH: Full brother to Kentucky Derby star Mage graduated with ease at Keeneland most recently for conditioner Danny Gargan. The bay has run well in his first trio of races to date and wouldn’t be a shocker in this tilt with a forward move while making his local debut. Luis Saez will be in the stirrups once again. 

#4 MOONLIGHT: Street Sense S. (G3) runner-up looked the part in his maiden score at Aqueduct two back and looms large in his third run off the short layoff. The $285,000 son of Audible has the speed to stay close early, the turn of foot to put his rivals away late, and the move to 1 1/8 miles seems well within his scope, as well. Irad Ortiz Jr. will take the reins. 

#5 DRUM ROLL PLEASE: Brad Cox pupil was a facile maiden winner on the oval going a one-turn mile last time out and could be any kind trying two turns. The $250,000 son of Hard Spun is surely talented enough to compete with this cast, and the Keystone State-bred might find himself forcing the pace from the opening bell with Javier Castellano in the irons. 

#6 BILLAL: The $725,000 son of Street Sense finished third in the recent Nashua S. which followed a nice maiden score on the surface two races back. Bill Mott trainee has early foot, and he will run with the blinkers off for the initial time which could see him relax a bit more on the back side. Interesting colt retains the services of Junior Alvarado. 

#7 SIERRA LEONE: $2.3 million yearling purchase made good at first asking when running down a nice prospect for conditioner Chad Brown. The top selection did his best work late on debut to suggest that the move to nine furlongs will be a good one, and the Kentucky-bred will have a good measure of pace to rally into, as well. Jose Ortiz picks up the live mount. 

#8 WHERE’S CHRIS: Nashua S. upsetter closed swiftly to earn his initial stakes triumph last time out and rates an obvious chance with even minor improvement on Saturday. The son of Twirling Candy has flashed a lot of potential in each of his trio of races to date, and his pedigree hints that going long will be in his wheelhouse, too. Isaac Castillo has the assignment. 

#9 COPPER TAX: Gary Capuano trainee has rolled home to five wins in succession and will get a true class test in this offering. The bay son of Copper Bullet aced his lone route test to date when romping at Delaware Park two races back, and the former claimer posted a pair of one-mile morning drills to ready for this test, as well. Kendrick Carmouche picks up the mount. 

#10 PRIVATE DESIRE: Constitution colt came home fourth in the Nashua last time out in preparation for his two-turn debut on Saturday. The Todd Pletcher pupil draws widest of all in the field, and he has yet to give the impression of a colt who will prosper at 1 1/8 miles at this stage of his development. Jose Lezcano will be in the silks.