Mohaymen Seeks Nashua, Remsen Double

The first three finishers in the Nov. 4 Nashua Stakes (gr. II) will seek to stretch out an extra furlong in the $300,000 Remsen Stakes (gr. II) for 2-year-olds at Aqueduct Racetrack Nov. 28, their last chance to grab black type before the calendar turns.

Mohaymen is perfect in his first two trips to the post, including a grinding victory in the Nashua earlier this month. Shadwell Stable's Tapit   colt has shown the ability to go to the front, as he did in his maiden score, or track, as he did in the Nashua. He will race with Lasix for the first time in the Remsen.

Flexibility ran with Mohaymen through the Nashua stretch but could not get closer than the 1 3/4-length final margin. His two starts have seen him race in mid-pack through the early stages, and he pushed on to defeat New York-breds in his first outing.

Sail Ahoy has the experience edge on the top two, but has shown a proclivity for laying far back in all four of his starts. He has made up enormous ground in breaking his maiden at a flat mile, and then ran on well while going six-wide in the Nashua to miss the winner by 3 ½ lengths. Hall of Fame trainer Shug McGaughey did well with another late runner this season, multiple grade I winner Honor Code  , and hopes to unlock the same magic from Sail Ahoy, a son of Bernardini  .

Gift Box has already gone 1 1/16 miles while breaking his maiden last out. He was far back in his initial outing and overcame trouble in his victory. A further move forward puts him right in the mix here.

Donegal Racing, which won the Travers Stakes (gr. I) this season with Keen Ice, has a knack for getting to the winner’s circle, and will send out Donegal Moon from the Remsen rail. The Malibu Moon   colt broke his maiden at a mile at Keeneland last out in his fourth attempt and has already routed three times. He should show speed from the inside.

Marengo Road has two wins to his credit in five starts including a 9 ¼-length mauling of an allowance optional claiming field in Maryland. He is certainly a wild card here from the outside post. Runaway King broke his maiden on the lawn and then unsuccessfully tried the With Anticipation Stakes (gr. IIT). His return to the main track came in the slop at Delta Downs but he didn’t fire there either.

Hunter O'Riley has progressed in each of his three outs, getting a third, a second, and a victory, the win coming at two turns after a slow start. He, too, will be making his run from behind. Ravenheart won at first asking but encountered traffic trouble in a stakes against Maryland-breds last out. He will stretch out beyond six furlongs for the first time.