Zandon might try big jump in distance in Remsen

OZONE PARK, N.Y. – While it is not trainer Chad Brown’s modus operandi to stretch a horse out from six furlongs in his debut to nine furlongs in his second start, he is strongly considering doing that with Zandon in Saturday’s Grade 2, $250,000 Remsen Stakes.

Zandon, a son of Upstart, won his debut going six furlongs on Oct. 9. He was being pointed to the Nashua on Nov. 7, but got sick and was held out of the race. It turned out not to be serious, and Zandon shortly resumed training. Brown said Zandon reminds him a lot of Cloud Computing, the 2017 Preakness winner who won his debut sprinting before finishing second in the Gotham at 1 1/16 miles in his second start.

“He looks like him,” Brown said. “He’s a big, good-looking black horse that was able to win sprinting and he’s not a sprinter.”

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Brown said the 1 1/8-mile Remsen is an attractive spot for Zandon because “I know he wants to go that far.” Also, Brown would have Joel Rosario to ride Zandon in the Remsen.

The Remsen will not include any stakes winners. Rockefeller, the Nashua winner, shipped back to trainer Bob Baffert in Southern California. Overstep, second in the Sleepy Hollow Stakes, and Judge Davis, third in the Nashua, are expected to run, as are Mo Donegal, Eloquist, Mr Jefferson, Unbridled Bomber, and Who Hoo That’s Me.

◗ Through the first 11 days of the 15-day Aqueduct fall meet, favorites are 20 for 53 on turf and 20 for 53 on dirt. Only six scheduled turf races have moved to the dirt because of wet weather.