Talkin, NYRA photo
Christian Abdo
Trainer Danny Gargan sends out Grade 1 seed Talk as he seeks his third victory in the past four editions of Saturday’s Grade 2, $250,000 Remsen, a nine-furlong test for youngsters, at Aqueduct Racetrack.
The Remses will award the top five finishers with 10-5-3-2-1 qualifying points, respectively, for the Grade 1 Kentucky Derby in May at Churchill Downs.
Gargan captured the 2022 Remsen with Dubyuhnell and defended his title in 2023 with Dornoch, both sons of Good Magic, similar to this year’s contender Talkin. Dornoch battled back in the track to beat Sierra Leone by a nose and capture the Remsen en route to future victories in the Grade 1 Belmont Stakes presented by NYRA Bets, the Grade 1 NYRA Bets Haskell and the Grade 2 Fountain of Youth.
“I liked Good Magic as a racehorse,” Gargan said. “I tried him as a sire. We’re just always looking for dirt horses that will last a long time, that’s what he is and what we’re trying to buy. Yes, we want to try to win classic races, we got lucky and won one. This horse has a great pedigree and a nice family.”
Talkin, a Good Magic bay owned by Reeves Thoroughbred Racing, Pine Racing Stables, Legendary Thoroughbreds, Belmar Racing and Breeding and RA Hill Stable, has made two career starts. He captured his seven-furlong debut by a neck on August 30 at Saratoga Race Course, beating 2-year-old $1.3 million purchase Stradale as well as subsequent 20-year-old maiden winner and Grade 2 Kentucky Jockey Club victor Further Ad.
“He beat a good bunch there,” Gargan said. “We’ve been waiting to do two turns. We want to see a strong performance that will last a long time to get him ready for next year.”
Talk [post 11, Kendrick Carmouche] abandoned his victory to attempt the one-turn mile Grade 1 Champagne here on October 4, where in seventh place he was four lengths off the pace under returning pilot Kendrick Carmouche and closed a 6 1/2-length second ahead of the runaway pacer Napoleon Solo. Talkin, who picked up five Kentucky Derby qualifying points after a loss, will now try two turns for the first time.
“He was in a good place in Champagne but then the horses shuffled him back a bit,” said Gargan. “He went to the rail and there was a horse going in front of him, so he went back out and Kendrick said, ‘by the time he was able to run away, the race was over.’ One of those things where speed went and he just got shuffled out, but that’s how it goes: still second in a Grade 1, got five Derby points and we’re moving on, we’re happy with that.
Bred in Kentucky by Fifth Avenue Bloodstock, a $600,000 purchase at the 2024 Keeneland September Yearling Sale, Talkin is out of the winning Tiznow mare Rote, a half-sister to Grade 1 winner Magnificent Song, dual group/graded-placed Great Barrier Reef and Galileo’s Song. His second mother, Song to Remember, is a half-sister to double class winner Lech and class 3 winner Savina.
Mrs. John Magnier, Michael B. Tabor, Derrick Smith, Peter Brant, Brook T. Smith and breeder Summer Wind Equine’s Paladin [post 2, Flavien Prat] was elevated to victory over returning rival Renegade in its one-turn mile debut on October 17 here.
The Gun Runner chestnut, trained by five-time Eclipse Award winner Chad Brown, paced from a close-up fourth position, making the jump on Renegade late, but that rival rallied around the inside to cross the wire a head ahead and was subsequently disqualified following a stewards’ investigation regarding the last sixteenth.
“I thought he ran really well,” Brown said. “He ran a very good race and was put into the herd late, and I was happy he was taken care of. Once he felt that other horse and straightened up again, he galloped very well. I don’t think the extra distance will be a problem. He has done very well since the race.”
Paladin, a $1.9 million purchase at the 2024 Fasig-Tipton Saratoga Select Yearling Sale, is out of the Tapit mare Secret Sigh, a half-sister to both Group 1 winner Mozu Ascot and stakes winner Kareena. His second mother is two-time winner India.
“This horse always acted like this,” Brown said of leading two turns. “He was an expensive yearling who was a beauty, and that hasn’t changed. He’s really grown into himself and he looks beautiful now. I think he has a bright future ahead of him.”
Hall of Fame trainer Todd Pletcher contributed the above Defector [post 9, Irad Ortiz, Jr.]the well-related Courting [post 6, John Velazquez]and the girl Crustiness [post 4, Jaime Rodriguez, blinkers ON]as he seeks a record-equalling fourth Remsen score, most recently winning with future Grade 1 Belmont Stakes winner Mo Donegal in 2021.
Renegade, owned by Repole Stable and its breeders Robert Low and Lawana Low, is still a girl after his second-place disqualification. Into Mischief Bay was previously a distant third to dominant winner It’s Our Time in his 6 1/2 furlong debut Aug. 16 at Saratoga.
Renegade, a $975,000 purchase at the 2024 Keeneland September Yearling Sale, is out of the Grade 3-winning Curlin mare Spice Is Nice. His second mother is Grade 1 winner Dame Dorothy, a half-sister to Group 1 winner Mrs. Lindsay.
Whisper Hill Farm, breeder Stonestreet Stables and Windancer Farm’s Courting were a $5 million purchase at the 2024 Keeneland September Yearling Sale. The Curlin chestnut is a full brother to multiple Grade 1 winner Clairiere out of the multiple Grade 1 winning Bernardini mare Cavorting. His second mother is the double class 1 placed Promenade Girl.
Courting made his two attempts locally by completing a one-turn mile, setting the pace to finish second on November 9 by 2 1/2 lengths over Grittiness. He was previously a fourth by 2 1/4 lengths in his debut on September 27 against returning rival Igniter.
Repole Stable’s Grittiness made his third start last as he finished second to Courting after being bumped at the break. The Curlin chestnut finished sixth twice this summer in the first special weight sprints at Saratoga. Bred in Kentucky by WinStar Farm, Grittiness is a $575,000 purchase at the 2024 Keeneland September Yearling Sale and is out of the Grade 2-winning Oxbow mare Coach Rocks.
The field of participants is completed by the stakes winners Balboa [post 10, Ricardo Santana, Jr.] for trainer Brittany Russell and Probably dreams [post 12, Carlos Lopez] for conditioner Gary Capuano; bet placed Day one starter [post 1, Junior Alvarado] for Hall of Famer Shug McGaughey; as well as the first winners Igniter [post 7, Manny Franco] for trainer Rick Dutrow, Jr., I did it [post 3, Joel Rosario] for trainer Mike Maker, Concarneau [post 8, Mychel Sanchez] for trainer Marya Montoya and Chambersville [post 5, Chris Elliott] for trainer Ken McPeek.
The Remsen is scheduled as Race 9 on Saturday’s 11-race card, which also includes the Grade 2 Cigar Mile [Race 10]the damsel of grade 2 [Race 3]which awards the top five finishers with 10-5-3-2-1 qualifying points for the Kentucky Oaks, and the Grade 3 Elite Power [Race 5]. The map includes the $500,000 NYSSS Great White Way [Race 11] and the $500,000 NYSSS Fifth Avenue [Race 8]. First message is 11:20 am Eastern.
America’s Day at the Races will present live coverage and analysis of the Aqueduct Racetrack fall meet on the FOX Sports networks. For the broadcast schedule and channel finder, visit https://www.nyra.com/aqueduct/racing/tv-schedule/.
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