Two horses who could be in the mix next spring illuminated a gloomy Aqueduct on Saturday. Mage’s brother Dornoch laid down his own Kentucky Derby credentials with a gallant score in the G2 2023 Remsen Stakes, and Kentucky Oaks candidate Life Talk cruised to an impressive success in the G2 2023 Demoiselle Stakes.
Remsen Stakes – G2 – purse $250,000 – 1m 1f – dirt – 2yo
Dornoch goes like his bro
Both past and future were in the spotlight as Dornoch, a brother to 2023 Kentucky Derby winner Mage, took the first step in his sibling’s footprints when claiming a thrilling victory in the Remsen, making his stakes breakthrough by pipping the game Sierra Leone and Drum Roll Please at Aqueduct on Saturday.
The muddy, sealed track played to speed all day, and that suited Dornoch, the 8-5 chalk going out on the front end from the gate under Luis Saez. Sierra Leone was right out the back, well adrift until coming with a looping run around the outside to go to the lead in mid-stretch.
Sierra Leone took a clear advantage but Dornoch re-rallied bravely on the rail, closed the gap, and put his head in front on the line to win by a nose. Drum Roll Please rallied in tepid fashion for third, four, and three-quarter lengths back.
2023 Ramsen Stakes Race Video
@horseracingtote Dornoch wins the Remsen Stakes #Horseracing #Horseracingtips #Horsesoftiktok #Horsetok #Horses #FYP #Sports
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“He’s the best I’ve ever had,” said trainer Danny Gargan. “For him to dig in and fight back like that, it was pretty impressive. He ran hard the whole way.”
Dornoch and Sierra Leone – who deserve extra credit for closing in unsuitable conditions – are above-average colts and firmly in the Derby picture. Dornoch will winter in Florida, and make two as yet unspecified starts before the Derby.
2023 Remsen Stakes payouts
| Horse | Win | Place | Show |
| 1. Dornoch | 5.40 | 3.50 | 3.10 |
| 2. Sierra Leone | 5.50 | 3.70 | |
| 3. Drum Roll Please | 3.90 |
Winning time: 1m 50.30s
Demoiselle Stakes – G2 – purse $250,000 – 1m 1f – dirt – 2yo fillies
Talk walks the walk
The Demoiselle went to type, with the favored Life Talk taking her rivals gate-to-wire to make her stakes breakthrough, giving trainer Todd Pletcher his fourth straight win in the race and a record-extending ninth overall.
The even-money shot was coming back from solid G1 performances and made her class tell, setting unhurried fractions on the lead and stacking the field up behind her on the turn. Then, when Irad Ortiz asked her to go, she went.
Life Talk surged clear at the top of the lane, opening up daylight that she extended all the way to the wire, cruising by three and three-quarter lengths from the onepaced second-choice Shimmering Allure, with Dolomite a length back in third.
2023 Demoiselle Stakes Race Video
@horseracingtote Life Talk wins the Demoiselle Stakes #Horseracing #Horseracingtips #Horsesoftiktok #Horsetok #Horses #FYP #Sports
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“Beautiful, beautiful, beautiful,” said Ortiz. “She was so relaxed, I had plenty of horse, and as soon as I moved my hands on her she took off.”
Life Talk had previously run fourth in the G1 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies and is certainly in the conversation for the Kentucky Oaks following this display.
2023 Demoiselle Stakes payouts
| Horse | Win | Place | Show |
| 1. Life Talk | 4.00 | 2.90 | 2.50 |
| 2. Shimmering Allure | 4.60 | 3.10 | |
| 3. Dolomite | 4.10 |
Winning time: 1m 51.10s
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