2017 Remsen Stakes Picks

Remsen Stakes Preview and Odds

As part of the 2018 Kentucky Derby qualifying series, the Remsen Stakes awards points to the top four finishers on a 10-4-2-1 scale. Coming in as the lukewarm 3-1 favorite in the morning line odds is Avery Island for trainer Kiaran McLaughlin. A Kentucky-bred colt, Avery Island last out won the (G2) Nashua Stakes on the Aqueduct dirt, and is one of two runners in the field with a graded-stakes victory to his name.

In that race he was bumped coming out of the gate, but quickly got into stride and took the lead a half-mile into the race, going on to win by more than four lengths. Prior to that he had broke his maiden in his second lifetime start, taking the field wire-to-wire to win by more than five lengths. Both of those races were run at 1 1/16 miles, and he'll be stretching out beyond that for the first time here.

Top Contender Tries Switching From the Turf

The other Remsen starter with a graded-stakes win on his resume is Catholic Boy (5-1) who two starts back took the (G3) With Anticipation Stakes at Saratoga at odds of 12-1. He followed that up by running very well to get fourth in the 2017 Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf. That race was run at one mile, and although the added distance here could work to his advantage, the question for him is the surface, as all of his previous three races have been on the turf.

Looking for a big price to use in the exotics, Bandito could fit the bill at ML odds of 15-1. He comes into the Remsen in a last-out win at Keeneland at 1 1/8 miles, his second lifetime start. In that race he broke well and stalked just off the early pacesetter before taking over with 3/8 of a mile to go and getting the win by two lengths. While the competition is a lot tougher here, a repeat of that effort could be enough to get him in the money.

Breaking from the far outside post is Tap Rap Strike (8-1) who showed a lot of patience in waiting for a hole to open and then was swung three wide to take command in the stretch and win his one and only lifetime start at Parx Racing in mid-October. He showed a very good turn of foot in the lane to move past the leaders despite drifting out and then back in, and if jockey Irad Ortiz can work out a good trip from the #10 post he should be closing fast as they approach the wire. 

The Remsen Stakes goes Saturday, December 2 from Aqueduct Race Track in New York. It's race #9 of 10 on the day, and immediately precedes the running of the (G1) Cigar Handicap. Expected post time for the Remsen is 3:45 PM Eastern.

Entries w/ ML Odds

1. Bandito (15-1)
2. Triple Dog Dare (6-1) 
3. Avery Island (3-1)
4. Biblical (8-1) 
5. Catholic Boy (5-1) 
6. Millionaire Runner (50-1)
7. Aikhaatam (7-2)
8. Vouch (6-1)
9. V.I.P. Code (20-1)
10. Tap Rap Strike (8-1)

Remsen Stakes Picks

1. #5 - Catholic Boy
2. #3 - Avery Island
3. #10 - Tap Rap Strike
4. #1 - Bandito  

You can get your bets down on both the Remsen Stakes and the Cigar Handicap from the convenience of your home and enjoy all kinds of bonuses and special promotions with an online racebook account. 

Category : Betting Picks

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