Buddy's Saint, Homeboykris Clash in Remsen

Louis Lazzinnaro and partners’ Homeboykris, winner of the Oct. 10 Champagne Stakes (gr. I) at Belmont, and Kingfield Stables’ Buddy's Saint, a sparkling 12-length winner of the Nov. 7 Nashua Stakes (gr. II) at Aqueduct, are two of the six entered in the 1 1/8-mile Remsen, and will mark the first two-turn test for both promising colts. Homeboykris will carry top weight of 122 pounds, but Buddy’s Saint was installed as the 4-5 morning-line favorite.

 

A gelded son of Roman Ruler purchased privately after breaking his maiden at Calder in July, Homeboykris had trained sensationally going into the Champagne, and his connections say he’s only improved since.

 

“He’s doing better than ever,” said Juan Rodriguez, who will saddle Homeboykris while trainer Rick Dutrow Jr., serves a 30-day suspension. “So far, he’s done everything we’ve asked him to do. Two turns should be no problem for him.” 

 

Homeboykris, who was bred in Maryland by David Hayden's Dark Hollow Farm and William Paca Beatson, again gets the services of jockey Edgar Prado.

 

Buddy’s Saint was sensational in his Nashua win under Jose Lezcano, fighting off early pressure before running his rivals into the ground in his second career start. He finished first in his debut, but was disqualified. The son of Saint Liam, who was purchased for $100,000 as a yearling by owner/trainer Bruce Levine.

 

In his final timed workout for the Remsen, Buddy’s Saint covered five furlongs over the main track at Aqueduct in 1:01.17 Nov. 22,  the second fastest of 14 moves at the distance and a departure from his usual routine. 

 

“He’s had two starts and only shipped the one time,” said Levine, who sent the colt over from his Belmont base for the workout. “He’s still a green horse and I thought it wouldn’t hurt him to ship once more, go through the motions again. He went well, all systems go, and we’re excited to run him.” 

 

Completing the field in the Remsen are: Philip J. Messina’s Peppi Knows, exiting a win in the Oct. 10 Finger Lakes Juvenile Stakes; Earle Mack’s Grand Rapport, seventh in the Sept. 19 Futurity (gr. II) at Belmont; Curtis Fayette’s Fudge Truffle, a maiden with one second-place finish and two thirds from four starts; and Citrus Kid, winner of the Oct. 10 Dover Stakes at Delaware Park at the Remsen distance. 

 

In the Remsen’s sister race, the $200,000 Demoiselle (gr. II) for juvenile fillies going nine furlongs, Phipps Stable’s homebred Protesting was made the 2-1 favorite after breaking her maiden by five lengths in a 1 1/8-mile race over Keeneland’s Polytrack Oct. 23. The daughter of A.P. Indy, trained by Shug McGaughey, leads a field of seven.

 

Trainer Kelly Breen will run the 5-2 second choices, In the Rough and Profiteroles, as a coupled entry for George and Lori Hall. Both exit impressive maiden wins at the Meadowlands, with In the Rough running off to a 6 3/4-length victory in the slop on Oct. 24, and Profiteroles hitting the wire five lengths in front of the rest of the field on Nov. 13.  

 

Lansdon Robbins’ Fuzzy Britches (3-1) has stood up to some tough fillies, most recently running third in the Miss Grillo Stakes at Belmont Oct. 4 behind Dad’s Crazy and Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf winner Tapitsfly. Carded for the turf, the Miss Grillo was taken off and run over the main track listed as good.

 

“This will be her first time going around two turns, but she should be able to handle it,” said Juan Rodriguez. “She’s a good filly and we hope she might be able turn into a graded stakes horse.” 

 

Completing the field in the Demoiselle are George Hall’s Oh Diane, who broke her maiden at third asking at the Meadowlands Nov. 12; Curtis Fayette’s Miss Afleet Alex, also a third-try maiden winner in an Oct. 23 race at Remington Park, and Jim Hill’s Tizahit, who finished fourth in the Tempted (gr. III).

$200,000 Demoiselle (gr. II, Race 6, 2:14), 2YO Fillies, 1 1/8 Miles (Dirt)
PP. Horse, Jockey, Weight, Trainer
1. Fuzzy Britches (KY), R A Dominguez, 115, J Rodriguez
2. Miss Afleet Alex (KY), M C Berry, 115, K W Marshall
3. In the Rough (VA), J R Velazquez, 115, K J Breen
4. Profiteroles (KY), J Bravo, 115, K J Breen
5. Tizahit (VA), E S Prado, 115, G Weaver
6. Protesting (KY), E Castro, 115, C R McGaughey III
7. Oh Diane (KY), R Maragh, 115, G C Contessa

 

$200,000 Remsen (gr. II, Race 7, 2:42), 2YO, 1 1/8 Miles (Dirt)
PP. Horse, Jockey, Weight, Trainer
1. Fudge Truffle (TX), M C Berry, 116, K W Marshall
2. Peppi Knows (KY), Belmonte, 118, S J Keyrouze
3. Grand Rapport (KY), R Migliore, 116, G C Contessa
4. Buddy's Saint (KY), J Lezcano, 120, B N Levine
5. Homeboykris (MD), E S Prado, 122, J Rodriguez
6. Citrus Kid (KY) , R Maragh, 120, J P Terranova