Paladin surges late, takes Remsen in rematch with Renegade
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OZONE PARK, N.Y. - Paladin, the recipient of a beautiful trip under Flavien Prat, had made the lead inside the eighth pole when his trainer Chad Brown saw him starting to wait on the competition.
Brown began to have flashbacks of recent Remsen heartbreaks when, as he said, he watched Zandon (2021) and Sierra Leone (2023) “snatch defeat from the jaws of victory” having both made the lead in their races only to lose by a nose.
“I thought this was déjà vu when he hit the front because I saw him wait I said ‘Oh no,’ “ Brown said.
But there would be no agony of defeat this time. With Prat keeping his horse a path or so away from Renegade in deep stretch, Paladin kicked clear late and went on to record a two-length victory over his budding rival in the Grade 2, $250,000 Remsen Stakes.
It was just seven weeks ago when Renegade and Paladin came together and bumped in deep stretch. Renegade finished first by a head, but was disqualified from that victory for the bumping incident with Paladin being elevated to first, Renegade demoted to second.
On Saturday, Brown credited Prat for the way he handled Paladin in the stretch.
“Flavien used a lot of experience and good judgment to keep him away from Renegade,” said Brown, who won his first Remsen since Leave the Light On won in 2014. “I think if you engage a horse like that and start the bumping you embolden them to come back sometimes - especially a good horse like him. They’re going to meet again somewhere - [Renegade’s] a good horse. To keep him away from him, it didn’t allow the other one to find another gear.”
In the field of 11 - Probably Dreaming scratched - Paladin got a beautiful ground-saving trip from post 2, sitting third along the rail while Day One Star set the pace, pressed by Balboa.
In the stretch, after six furlongs were run in 1:12.53, Balboa kept going on the lead. Meanwhile, Irad Ortiz Jr. had made an early move on Renegade to get first run on Paladin. Prat had to wait for Renegade to clear him before getting to the outside. When he did, Paladin came with his run, ultimately drawing clear late.
Paladin, a son of Gun Runner owned by Mrs. Susan Magnier, Michael Tabor, Derrick Smith, Peter Brant and Summer Wind Equine, covered the 1 1/8 miles in 1:50.97 - .42 slower than Zany’s final time winning the Demoiselle earlier on the card. Paladin (85 Beyer Speed Figure) did earn 10 qualifying points toward the May 3 Kentucky Derby.
Brown said Paladin lost a right front shoe in the race and had a cut on a hind pastern.
“For him to overcome all that I think he showed a lot of perseverance for a lightly raced, young horse,” Brown said. “He got a great trip, but he took dirt, he maneuvered around some stopping horses and [Paladin] got the jump on him and had him a spot.”
Renegade finished second by 1 1/2 lengths over Balboa, who finished 3 1/2 lengths in front of Courting. He was followed by Grittiness, Igniter, I Did I Did, Day One Starter, Talkin, Chambersville and Concarneau.
Renegade did well to be second, considering he missed some training time due to a quarter crack.
“We had an inconsistent schedule coming into it, I thought he ran very well,” Pletcher said. “Encouraging effort.”
Pletcher also felt another of his runners, Courting, ran well to be fourth after bumping with Chambersville coming out of the starting gate.
“I thought he put in a couple of good moves and still showed some interest in the end,” Pletcher said. “I think he’s still putting things together and there’s room for improvement, but I thought it was a move forward.”
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