By Alan Carasso
A pair of unheralded, but enormously talented 'TDN Rising Stars' are set to square off in Saturday's GII Remsen S., with the winner stamping himself as a potential leading candidate for next year's Classics.
After dropping an excruciating defeat with Cairo Prince (Pioneerof the Nile) in the 2013 renewal, trainer Kiaran McLaughlin earned his first Remsen in 2015 with Shadwell Stable's Mohaymen (Tapit) and that ownership is represented here by Takaful (Bernardini). The dark bay was cold on the board for his Oct. 29 debut over 6 1/2 furlongs of the Belmont main track, but he was nothing short of spectacular, clicking off a half-mile in :44.96 and then kicking on powerfully to stop the clock in 1:15.82, good for a 92 Beyer Speed Figure. McLaughlin is well aware that the task at hand is not an easy one.
“It's a big step up from a maiden to a Grade 2 and it's a big step up from 6 1/2 [furlongs] to a mile and an eighth, but he's certainly a Grade 2 type,” the conditioner said. “The distance is a little bit of a concern, but we don't have a lot of options, so we're going to give it go. We've missed out on a [longer] prep, but we can't do anything about that so we're going to hope for the best.”
By a Classic-winning sire and with Distorted Humor and Seeking the Gold responsible for his first two dams, the nine-furlong trip certainly seems within his scope.
Fellow 'Rising Star' Mo Town (Uncle Mo) returns to action, having missed the Nov. 4 GII Nashua S. with a muscle strain. Well-bet when runner-up on his Saratoga unveiling Aug. 27, he had no problems whatsoever handling a muddy Belmont main track Sept. 24, splashing home a seven-length winner. Bernardini features on the bottom of his pedigree, inspiring extra confidence in trainer Tony Dutrow.
“I don't think that two turns will be an issue for our horse at all. I don't even think about that because I just don't feel like there's anything to worry about in that regard,” said Dutrow.
No Dozing (Union Rags) has a decided experience edge on the top two in the market, having graduated at Laurel at second asking before finishing a very good fourth in what has become a key running of the GI Claiborne Breeders' Futurity at Keeneland Oct. 8. Classic Empire (Pioneerof the Nile) went on to win the GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile, while the fifth-placed was a very handsome winner of the GIII Delta Downs Jackpot S. Nov. 20.
Newman (Bernardini), third to GI Champagne S. hero and BC Juvenile third Practical Joke (Into Mischief) at Saratoga Aug. 6, led late in a one-mile Belmont maiden Oct. 15 before being grabbed on the wire by You're To Blame (Distorted Humor) and adds Lasix for this two-turn try.
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