Brooklyn Strong tries longer distance in five-horse Remsen

OZONE PARK, N.Y. – Brooklyn Strong, a convincing winner of the Sleepy Hollow Stakes for New York-breds at Belmont on Oct. 24, will step into open company when he meets just four rivals in Saturday’s Grade 2, $150,000 Remsen Stakes for 2-year-olds at 1 1/8 miles.

Brooklyn Strong has yet to run beyond a mile, but trainer Daniel Velazquez believes his horse will excel at the added distance.

“I think the mile and an eighth suits him – the longer the better,” Velazquez said. “He just seems like a horse that really has a good turn of foot the longer the distance of the race.”

Joel Rosario rides Brooklyn Strong from post 3.

From the rail out, the Remsen field is Pickin’ Time, Known Agenda, Brooklyn Strong, Erawan, and Ten for Ten.

The Remsen, with only five horses, is carded as race 4 and thus kept out of the Empire 6 wager, the pool of which is being distributed on Saturday’s card.

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The top four finishers of the Remsen earn qualifying points (10-4-2-1) to the 2021 Kentucky Derby.

Malathaat faces seven in Demoiselle

Malathaat, the dominant winner of the Tempted Stakes on Nov. 6, will face seven rivals in the Grade 2, $150,000 Demoiselle Stakes for 2-year-old fillies going 1 1/8 miles.

Malathaat, a daughter of Curlin owned by Shadwell Stable and trained by Todd Pletcher, will break from the rail under John Velazquez.

Outside of Malathaat, in order, are Traffic Lane, Millefeuille, Malibu Curl, Dollar Mountain, Cafe Society, Caramocha, and Celestial Cheetah.

Pletcher has pair in Go for Wand

Pletcher sends out Nonna Madeline and Graceful Princess in a six-horse field entered in Saturday’s Grade 3, $100,000 Go for Wand Handicap.

Nonna Madeline has won both the Summer Colony at Saratoga and Lady’s Secret Stakes at Monmouth Park this year. Nonna Madeline was third and Graceful Princess last of five in the Grade 3 Turnback the Alarm Stakes here on Nov. 7.

Portal Creek, Sharp Starr, Overheated, and Stand for the Flag complete the field for the Go for Wand, which will go as race 6.