Road to the 2019 Kentucky Derby: Remsen Stakes analysis

Grade 2, $250,000 Remsen Stakes, 1 1/8 miles, Aqueduct, Dec. 1, 2018
(10 Derby qualifying points for a win, 4 for second, 2 for third, 1 for fourth)

Winner: Maximus Mischief, by Into Mischief
Trainer: Butch Reid
Jockey: Frankie Pennington
Owner: Cash is King LLC and LC Racing
Beyer Speed Figure: 97

After MAXIMUS MISCHIEF won his first race at Parx Racing on Sept. 29, a 5 1/2-furlong race against maidens, noted Philadelphia-based racing writer Dick Jerardi – for whom I have the utmost respect – informed me that he thought this colt was the best horse from the area since Smarty Jones.

High praise, indeed, and so far Maximus Mischief has done nothing to shake that opinion. He scored an equally dominating victory against a first-level allowance field at Parx on Oct. 20, then cleared a far bigger hurdle in this race. He shipped out of town, went around two turns – going from seven furlongs to 1 1/8 miles, a significant increase in distance – and again won while earning another solid Beyer figure.

Maximus Mischief heads to the winter as one of the more promising prospects on the East Coast; he’ll spend the winter at Gulfstream Park. There’s obviously a lot of raw talent here. The big question regarding the Kentucky Derby will be whether his pedigree – he’s out of a Songandaprayer mare - makes 1 1/4 miles just a bit outside his comfort zone. But that’s what was said about Smarty Jones at this point in his career, and things turned out pretty well for him.

In this race – which, on paper, was a field lacking depth - Maximus Mischief balked a bit at going into the gate but had no problem leaving, as he again used his keen speed to establish a forward position, just outside of GLADIATOR KING around the first turn. He seemed to get just a bit keen heading into the backstretch when TAX loomed up outside him, but never got rank, and maintained a narrow lead while racing between Gladiator King and Tax heading into the far turn. Tax loomed up to seriously challenge Maximus Mischief midway on the far turn, at which point Pennington asked Maximus Mischief for his best. He bounded into the stretch with authority, putting away Tax, and held a safe margin to the wire. He got tired late, as he switched to his left lead with about 60 yards to go, but considering the jump in distance from his two prior races that was understandable at this point in his development.

NETWORK EFFECT, who was second, checked slightly soon after the start, then got a bit rank behind horses heading into the first turn. He raced just behind the early leaders around the first turn while under a snug hold, drafted behind Maximus Mischief down the backstretch, could not go with Maximus Mischief nor Tax heading into the lane despite being urged along, then made steady late progress while never threatening the winner. The next time he goes two turns, I’d like to see what he could do if given his head early.

Tax, who finished third, took up a forward position just outside of Maximus Mischief while in the three path around the first turn, raced alongside Maximus Mischief down the backstretch, applied more pressure heading around the far turn, couldn’t go with Maximus Mischief in upper stretch, and lost the place very late.

BOURBON WAR, who was fourth, checked slightly leaving the gate and lost position; he had one horse beat into the first turn. He was rated strongly around the first turn and acted like he wanted to do more, dropped back to last while wide after turning into the backstretch, made some progress while in the clear and wide on the far turn, came into the lane in the four path, but failed to sustain his rally and went evenly the rest of the way.

JUNGLE WARRIOR, who was fifth, broke slowly, had no early speed, and trailed early. He got very headstrong turning into the backstretch and pulled his way to a position just outside of Network Effect, raced outside Network Effect while in the three path around the far turn, but began to weaken nearing the quarter pole and was no factor thereafter.

Gladiator King, who was sixth, showed good speed to go up and vie for the early lead, though he took an awkward step just as he went into the first turn. He raced inside of Maximus Mischief around the first turn and into the backstretch, began to weaken with a half-mile to go, steadily dropped away through the lane and did not change leads in upper stretch.

CHINOMADO, who was last of seven, veered out leaving the gate but then was guided back toward the rail, checked slightly when stablemate Gladiator King angled in front of him heading into the first turn, then wound up just behind the early leaders while extremely hard to handle. He settled down when turning into the backstretch, saved ground, but was done passing the half-mile pole and chucked it while completely overmatched.