Known Agenda Favored vs. Four Rivals in Remsen

Five juveniles hoping to put their names on the 2021 Road to the Kentucky Derby leaderboard will meet Dec. 5 in the $150,000 Remsen Stakes (G2) at Aqueduct Racetrack. 

The Remsen, which offers 10-4-2-1 qualifying points to the top four finishers, is one of four graded stakes on a card headlined by the Cigar Mile Handicap (G1) for 3-year-olds and up. Known Agenda, already a winner at the nine-furlong Remsen distance, is the morning-line favorite. 

Trained by Todd Pletcher, Known Agenda will attempt to give his trainer a third Remsen victory. Pletcher won in 2005 with Bluegrass Cat and in 2012 with Overanalyze—both subsequent grade 1 winners.

Owned and bred by Vincent Viola's St. Elias Stable, Known Agenda broke his maiden Nov. 8 at Aqueduct on a fast main track after a debut second going 6 1/2 furlongs. The son of Hill 'n' Dale at Xalapa stallion Curlin  is the third foal out of grade 1 winner Byrama.

"I was actually surprised he ran as well as he did sprinting, but it helped him a lot for his maiden win," Pletcher said. "He's designed to run longer. He's had two good efforts so far.

"We always felt that he was always a two-turn horse and is bred to be one. Especially that opening week, it seemed like the track was extra demanding. The fact that he was able to handle it on that deep of a surface is encouraging. He's come back and trained well, so we're looking forward to running him."

John Velazquez will pilot Known Agenda from post 2.

Hall of Fame trainer Shug McGaughey will send out Ten for Ten following the colt's runner-up finish to Remsen rival Pickin' Time in the one-mile Nashua Stakes (G3) Nov. 8 at Aqueduct. 

Owned by Donald and Donna Adam's Courtlandt Farms, the son of Darley stallion Frosted  was second in his debut Sept. 7 going six furlongs at Saratoga Race Course. Ten for Ten most recently worked a half-mile in :48.25 Nov. 29 at Belmont Park. 

McGaughey said the colt is coming into the Remsen in good order.

"He acts like he's a pretty nice horse," McGaughey said. "It will be interesting seeing him go a mile and an eighth. He's quick, so we'll see how he does on Saturday. He should be able to place himself well."

Bred in Kentucky by George Krikorian, Ten for Ten is out of the Eskendereya mare Summer Vacation, a half sister to grade 1 winners Creative Cause  and Vexatious, as well as multiple graded stakes winner Destin .

Jose Ortiz will have the call from post 5.

John Bowers Jr.'s New Jersey homebred Pickin' Time, trained by Kelly Breen, will attempt to become the first horse since Mohaymen  in 2015 to score the Nashua-Remsen double.

The son of Stay Thirsty  won the six-furlong Smoke Glacken Stakes Sept. 27 at Monmouth Park before stretching out in the Nashua.

Jockey Jose Lezcano, who won the 2009 Remsen aboard Buddy's Saint, will ride from the inside post.

Entries: Remsen S. (G2)

Aqueduct Racetrack, Saturday, December 05, 2020, Race 4

• Grade II
• 1 1/8m
• Dirt
• $150,000
• 2 yo
• 1:00 PM (local)

PP	Horse	Jockey	Wgt	Trainer	M/L
1	1Pickin' Time (NJ)	Jose Lezcano	122	Kelly J. Breen	5/2
2	2Known Agenda (KY)	John R. Velazquez	118	Todd A. Pletcher	8/5
3	3Brooklyn Strong (NY)	Joel Rosario	120	Daniel Velazquez	7/2
4	4Erawan (FL)	Manuel Franco	118	Jose Corrales	15/1
5	5Ten for Ten (KY)	Jose L. Ortiz	118	Claude R. McGaughey III	2/1