While the grade I, $300,000 Cigar Mile is the premier feature on the Nov. 29 card at Aqueduct, 2-year-olds will also be in the spotlight with the 87th renewal of the Demoiselle (gr. II) for fillies and the 95th running of the Remsen (gr. II) for juvenile colts and geldings.
Jeff Puglisi's Frizette Stakes (gr. I) winner Sky Diva, a tall, leggy daughter of Sky Mesa,will seek to add the Demoiselle to her ever-growing resume. Sky Diva has earned $464,000 with two victories and a third in three starts, more than making back her purchase price of $250,000 at the Fasig-Tipton sales in February.
“She was the only one we got out of that sale, and she turned out to be the right one,” said trainer Steve Klesaris. “In addition to meeting all our criteria, she had a great presence. She’s a big, sizeable filly with quite a bit of length. I saw a lot of Unbridled (her maternal grandsire) in her.”
After breaking her maiden at Delaware Park Sept. 8 by 10 lengths, Sky Diva scored a three-length win in the Frizette at Belmont Park and next traveled to California to finish third to Stardom Bound in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies. Among those she may face in the Demoiselle are Jay Em Ess Stable’s Ain’t Love Grand, Dell Ridge Farm’s Bluegrass Princess, Peachtree Stable’s Boleyn, James and Alice Apara’s Springside, Francis J. Paolangeli’s Stormy’s Smile, and Edward P. Evans’ Subprime.
“Sky Diva has been doing very well since the Breeders’ Cup,” said Klesaris. “The Demoiselle will be her last start this year, and I want her last start of the year to be on dirt. The Demoiselle is a traditional race, a good mile and an eighth on the dirt, and my filly will appreciate the added distance.”
Trainer Todd Pletcher is hoping the added distance will benefit his trio of juveniles -- Boleyn in the Demoiselle, and American Dance and Idol Maker in the Remsen.
“She is a good-sized filly, and we are hoping she will step forward and improve,” said Pletcher of Boleyn, second in an overnight stakes at Delaware Park October 18.
American Dance, owned by Edward P. Evans, and James Scatuorchio’s Idol Maker have but three starts between them, with American Dance prevailing in his second start at Aqueduct November 5 and Idol Maker a winner at first asking October 19.
“They’re light on experience going into a race like this, but there’s not a lot of allowance opportunity, especially at this distance,” said Pletcher. “We’re stepping out a bit in jumping out of conditions, but I think both will improve as they stretch out in distance.”
Also being pointed to the Remsen are Willmott Stables’ Awesome Mich, WinStar Farm’s Hold Me Back, Fox Hill Farm’s Old Fashioned and Roddy Valente’s Rip Rap.
“It’s always an interesting race,” said Pletcher of the Remsen. “This time of year these 2-year-olds are going to be the ones who stretch out and run this distance. It’s a stepping-stone to the bigger 3-year-old races next year.”
The field for the 87th running of the grade II Demoiselle:
Post, Horse Name, Age, Sex, Weight, Jockey Name,
1, Stormy's Smile (NY) , 2, Filly, 119, Jose Lezcano,
2, Ain't Love Grand (ON) , 2, Filly, 115, Cornelio H. Velasquez,
3, Boleyn (KY) , 2, Filly, 115, Eibar Coa,
4, Springside (KY) , 2, Filly, 119, Garrett K. Gomez,
5, Sky Diva (KY) , 2, Filly, 121, Ramon A. Dominguez,
6, Bluegrass Princess (KY) , 2, Filly, 115, Alan Garcia,
The field for the 95th running of the grade II Remsen:
Post, Horse Name, Age, Sex, Weight, Jockey Name,
1, Atomic Rain (KY) , 2, Colt, 116, Edgar S. Prado,
2, Idol Maker (KY) , 2, Colt, 116, Eibar Coa,
3, Jazzandthemagician (KY) , 2, Colt, 116, David Romero Flores,
4, Rip Rap (KY) , 2, Colt, 116, Jose Lezcano,
5, Hold Me Back (KY) , 2, Colt, 116, John R. Velazquez,
6, Old Fashioned (KY) , 2, Colt, 116, Ramon A. Dominguez,
7, American Dance (VA) , 2, Colt, 116, Garrett K. Gomez,
8, Awesome Mich (KY) , 2, Colt, 116, Eddie Castro,