2017 Remsen Stakes Preview, Entries & Odds

OffTrackBetting.com - Aqueduct in South Ozone Park, New York will be the scene of the G2 Remsen Stakes on Saturday, December 2. Some of the best two-year olds in the land will line up on Aqueduct's dirt track and race 1 1/8 miles for the winner's share of the $250,000 purse and the 10-4-2-1 qualifying points for the Kentucky Derby.

A field of 10 have been confirmed for the Remsen Stakes - race 9 on Aqueduct's stacked Saturday schedule. Post time is 3:45 PM. Let's take a brief glance into the past performances of all 10 entries for this important G2 Road to the Kentucky Derby qualifier stakes.

2017 Remsen Stakes Entries at Aqueduct

Avery Island

Has three career starts for trainer Kiaran McLaughlin with two wins. Last time out was a very successful step up into stakes competition - a dominant 4 3/4 length win in the G2 Nashua Stakes on this track November 5. Before that was an impressive gate-to-wire 5 1/4 length maiden score at Belmont Park September 30 and a disappointing seventh in his debut in August. Avery Island is certainly trending upward ahead of this weekend, he posted a bullet half mile in 47.47 seconds Friday, the fastest of 91 in the group and will chase a second straight graded stakes score Saturday with Joe Bravo guiding him from post 3.

Catholic Boy

Will hit the track for the fourth time for trainer Jonathan Thomas having posted to nice wins so far - at Gulfstream Park. One win came July 20 (his career debut) and the other was in his stakes bow - by one length in the G3 With Anticipation Stakes at Saratoga August 30. Last time out was his only career blemish and it resulted in an OK fourth in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf. Catholic Boy has been competitive so far and shoots for a second graded stakes score in his dirt debut Saturday with Manuel Franco in the irons from post 5.

Biblical

Has three career starts for trainer Todd Pletcher with a win and a third-place finish. The win came last time out - by 1 3/4 lengths on this track November 17 after a third and a sixth respectively to start his career - all on New York tracks. Biblical has improved every time out and tries to do so again in his major step up in competition Saturday. John Velazquez gets the call from gate 4.

Tap Rap Strike

Will race for the second time for trainer John Servis looking to remain unbeaten. His only start was a good half-length maiden score at Parx October 14. Tap Rap Strike looked good in that race and hopes to do so again in his step up in competition. Irad Ortiz has the mount from the outside gate 10.

Vouch

Will race for just the second time for trainer Arnaud Delacour having posted a win in his only career outing - that coming by 8 3/4 lengths in gate-to-wire fashion at Laurel Park October 30. He tries to remain unbeaten as he steps up from gate 8 with Joel Rosario guiding him.

Bandito

Dale Romans trained colt has one win in his two career starts. His debut resulted in a fifth at Churchill Downs September 29 and his second start was a two-length maiden score at Keeneland October 28. Bandito showed huge improvement last time out and hopes to keep that trend going Saturday from the rail with Luis Saez aboard.

Millionaire Runner

Jamie Mejia trained colt has a win and a second-place finish in his four career starts. He started his career with consecutive fifth-place finishes in MSW races at Laurel Park and followed that with a second in a Maiden Claiming at Parx November 11 and a Maiden Claiming score on that track November 25. Millionaire Runner has shown improvement every time out and hopes to make a statement in his major step up Saturday. Oscar Ulloa is scheduled to ride from gate 6.

V.I.P. Code

Phil Schoenthal trained colt has five career starts and has placed in all - two wins, two seconds and a third-place finish. He steps into graded stakes company for the first time Saturday off an OK second in the minor Awad Stakes at Belmont Park October 28, an Allowance Optional Claiming score at Laurel Park October 8 and a third in a similar race on that track September 15. V.I.P Code had been competitive every time out and shoots for a first stakes score Saturday with Carlos Quinones in the reins from post 9.

Alkhaatam

Chad Brown trained colt will hit the track for the second time off a third in his only career start - at Belmont Park October 25. Alkhaatam was just OK in that race and hopes to make some noise Saturday. Jose Ortiz rides from post 7.

Triple Dog Dare

Rudy Rodriguez trained colt has one second-place finish in his to career starts. He arrives off that second-place finish - a MSW at Belmont Park October 25 which followed a fifth in a similar race on that track October 7. He tries to break his maiden Saturday and arrives in so-so form. Javier Castellano will be in the saddle from gate 2.

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