Cairo Prince Meets Honor Code in Solid Remsen
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Nashua Stakes (gr. II) winner Cairo Prince and Kentucky Derby Future Book One individual favorite Honor Code head the roster of nine runners signed up for the $400,000 Remsen Stakes (gr. II) at Aqueduct Racetrack Nov. 30.
The nine-furlong test will be the final graded stakes affair in New York for 2-year-olds hoping to further their case for the 2014 Derby trail. Cairo Prince, a son of Pioneerof the Nile trained by Kiaran McLaughlin, has already proven his ability, winning a maiden contest by daylight in October and returning a month later to annex the Nashua by 2 1/2 lengths over three foes he will face again in the Remsen. By virtue of that victory, Cairo Prince will be giving six pounds to the rest of the field.
Honor Code, from the last crop of 1992 Horse of the Year A.P. Indy, garnered considerable attention by coming from 22 lengths off the pace to break his maiden by 4 1/2 lengths last August at Saratoga. He returned in the Champagne Stakes (gr. I) in October, only to once again lose touch with his field, dropping 11 lengths off the pace, then going eight-wide around the turn to just miss by a neck to Havana.
Treadway Racing Stable’s Noble Moon finished third in the Nashua when coming from far back after being bumped at the start. The Malibu Moon colt broke his maiden in front-running style in September, and will likely be more prominently placed in the Remsen from his inside post position.
Starlight Racing’s Intense Holiday was forth in the Nashua while also rallying from the rear of the field. He had broken his maiden going wire-to-wire in August at Monmouth Park before finishing fifth in the Champagne.
Wicked Strong enters the Remsen off a nice maiden-breaker going a mile at Belmont Park in October. The Hard Spun colt races for Centennial Farms.
Afleet Accompli has four starts under his belt while racing at Monmouth and Parx Racing. He was most recently second in an allowance affair at Parx after having broken his maiden there going a mile and 70 yards.
Mental Iceberg won from off the pace going 1 1/16 miles over turf at Belmont in September in New York-bred company. The son of Freud will try dirt and open company for the first time.
Master Lightning and Matuszak both enter off disappointing performances last out.
Master Lightning, by Pulpit, finished ninth in the Nashua after having broken his maiden at Belmont in October. He and Intense Holiday are trained by Todd Pletcher.
Matuszak broke his maiden at first asking at Churchill Downs in September but returned to run eighth in an allowance heat at Keeneland and fifth in an optional claimer/allowance at Churchill for trainer Bill Mott. The son of Bernardini will wear blinkers this time.
$400,000 Remsen Stakes (gr. II, Race 9, 3:49 p.m.), 2YOs, 1 1/8 Miles
PP. Horse, Jockey, Weight, Trainer
1. Noble Moon (VA), A O Solis, 116, L Gyarmati
2. Master Lightning (PA), J Lezcano, 116, T A Pletcher
3. Afleet Accompli (KY), I Ortiz Jr., 116, K J Breen
4. Honor Code (KY), J Castellano, 116, C R McGaughey III
5. Mental Iceberg (NY), G Rodriguez, 116, G DiPrima
6. Matuszak (KY), J Alvarado, 116, W I Mott
7. Wicked Strong (KY), R Maragh, 116, J A Jerkens
8. Intense Holiday (KY), J Rosario, 116, T A Pletcher
9. Cairo Prince (KY), L Saez, 122, K P McLaughlin
Blinkers On: Matuszak