After DQ, Renegade, Paladin may meet again in Remsen

OZONE PARK, N.Y. – The 2-year-old colts Renegade and Paladin, separated by a head in a one-mile maiden race at Aqueduct last Friday, are likely to meet again in the Grade 2, $250,000 Remsen Stakes going 1 1/8 miles on Dec. 6, the trainers of both horses said.

Renegade, a son of Into Mischief trained by Todd Pletcher and ridden by John Velazquez, finished a head in front of Paladin, a son of Gun Runner trained by Chad Brown and ridden by Flavien Prat. Renegade was disqualified by the stewards and placed second for herding Paladin in deep stretch. Paladin was elevated to first from second.

“I thought it was a very questionable call,” Pletcher said. “I don’t think in any way did it affect the order of finish. Flavien never had to stop riding his horse or alter course. He drifted in a little bit, we drifted out a little more, but it doesn’t change our opinion of the horse. We think he’s a nice horse. It’s a win in my eyes.”

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Brown said he was pleased with the way his horse ran and deserved to be put up because he was being carried out and the margin of defeat was so close.

“He lost a front shoe in the race, he was herded a bit late which bothered him, I was happy to see him get put up,” Brown said. “I’ll talk to the ownership group. My initial thought would be to go to the Remsen and follow a similar route that we did with Sierra Leone.”

Ironically, the 2021 Remsen winner, Mo Donegal, trained by Pletcher and ridden by Irad Ortiz Jr., beat Zandon, trained by Brown and ridden by Velazquez, by a nose in a race where there was some bumping late. After an inquiry and a jockey’s objection no change was made to the result.

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