Paladin passes first stakes test in Remsen

Paladin rallied to the lead in the stretch and edged away to a two-length win in Saturday’s Remsen (G2) at Aqueduct, confirming himself as Kentucky Derby (G1) contender. The Chad Brown-trained colt remained perfect while stretching to two turns in his second start and completed 1 1/8 miles in 1:50.97 with Flavien Prat.

"Everything went well,” Prat said. “I was a bit worried there'd be a lack of pace, but we were able to sit right off of the pace. When I tipped him out, he reacted the right way. He was traveling well behind horses, but as soon as I tipped him out, he got going. A good move."

Owned by the Coolmore partnership of Mrs. John Magnier, Michael Tabor, Derrick Smith, Peter Brant, Brook Smith, and Summer Wind Equine (Jane Lyon), Paladin crossed the wire first for the initial time, being placed first via disqualification in an Oct. 17 maiden special weight at Aqueduct over a one-turn mile. 

The rival who was disqualified for interference, Renegade, had every shot turning for home in the Remsen but had to settle for second after being outfinished by Paladin.

“I was just hoping he had enough to hold up the runner-up,” Brown said. “Last time, he put his head in front and sort of waited on that horse. We had a little bump and then the DQ (of Renegade), so I didn’t want him to come back on our horse. Flavien kept him to task and away from the other horse, which is good because it didn’t embolden him (Renegade) to come back. I think he just showed a lot of class in only his second start and his first start around two turns to gut it out. He lost (a) front shoe somewhere in the race, so there’s that to deal with and consider for his effort overall, which really goes to show you how much perseverance and class he has at such a young age.”

A Road to the Kentucky Derby Challenge series qualifier, the Remsen has had a significant impact upon the Triple Crown in recent years, and Brown registered his first Remsen win following a pair of nose seconds with Sierra Leone and Zandon.

Grade 1-winning millionaire Zandon finished third in the 2022 Kentucky Derby after just missing against eventual Belmont (G1) winner Mo Donegal in the Remsen. The following year, champion three-year-old male and Breeders’ Cup Classic (G1) winner Sierra Leone recorded a nose second in the Kentucky Derby after coming up a little short against eventual Belmont winner Dornoch in the Remsen.

Paladin earned his first 10 points toward a Kentucky Derby berth, and the second-through-fifth place finishers received points on a 5-3-2-1 scale.

“I like the fact that not only did we secure some Kentucky Derby points today, we also got a good education,” Brown said. “The horse sat in the pocket and took dirt for most of the way. He was able to pause and move around horses and get that two-turn race into him as a two-year-old. I think that’s going to serve him well for the future.”

Off as the 1.88-1 favorite in the 11-horse field, Paladin saved ground and stalked the pace in third through opening splits in :23.32, :47.47, and 1:12.53. He responded while coming under a ride leaving the far turn, closing boldly while wide to take a short lead inside the eighth pole and determinedly proved best in the latter stages. 

Renegade, the 5-2 second choice, held second by nearly two lengths over 29-1 outsider Balboa, a convincing winner of the six-furlong James F. Lewis III S. at Laurel Park in early November. It was another 3 1/2 lengths to last-out maiden scorer Courting in fourth, and Grittiness came next in fifth.

Igniter, I Did I Did, Day One Starter, Talkin, Chambersville, and Concarneau completed the order.

Bred in Kentucky by Summer Wind Equine, Paladin sold for $1.9 million as a yearling at the 2024 Keeneland September sale. He’s the first stakes winner from the Tapit mare Secret Sigh, a half-sister to multiple Japanese Grade 1 winner Mozu Ascot. This is the extended female family of multiple Grade 1-winning millionaire and sire To Honor and Serve.

Brown was asked about future plans.

“He’s going to go down to Payson Park, our winter base, and let him get over this. It looks like he’s got a cut on one of his hind pasterns pretty good, and then he lost (a) front shoe, so I’m going to have to let him get over that and get him down there. For him to overcome all that today, I thought he showed a lot of class.”