# Remsen Stakes

The Remsen Stakes is an American Grade II race for Thoroughbred horse race run annually near the end of November at Aqueduct Racetrack in Queens, New York. The one and one-eighths mile race is open to two-year-olds and currently offers a purse of $250,000.
Inaugurated in 1904, the Remsen was named for Colonel Joremus Remsen (1735–1790) whose family at one time owned a large portion of Long Island and who became leader of the American Revolutionary forces at the 1776 Battle of Long Island.
Run at Jamaica Race Course from inception in 1904 to 1959, it was run in two divisions in 1943 and until 1954 was known as the Remsen Handicap. There was no race held in 1908, and none from 1910 to 1917 as well as 1951.
The Remsen stakes is influential as one of the last graded stakes for two-year-olds on the New York racing circuit and its winner is generally among the winterbook favorites for the following year's Kentucky Derby.

## Records

* 1:47 4/5 – Believe It (1977) (at current 1+1⁄8 miles distance)
* 1:33 4/5 – Sum Up (1964) 2nd fastest 2yo dirt mile
Most wins by a jockey:
* 4 – Eddie Maple (1972, 1977, 1981, 1989)
* 4 – John R. Velazquez (2001, 2005, 2010, 2016)
Most wins by a trainer:
* 4 – Claude R. McGaughey III (1988, 1997, 2001, 2013)
Most wins by an owner:
* 2 – Belair Stud (1938, 1941)
* 2 – Brookmeade Stable (1940, 1944)
* 2 – Maine Chance Farm (1944, 1945)
* 2 – Allen T. Simmons (1943, 1948)
* 2 – Windfields Farm (1959, 1963)
* 2 – Rokeby Stable (1971, 1986)
* 2 – Fox Hill Farms, Inc. (2004, 2008)
* 2 – WinStar Farm (2005, 2007)
* 2 – West Paces Racing (2022, 2023)

## Winners

| Year | Winner | Jockey | Trainer | Owner | Distance | Time | Win$ |
| 2023 | Dornoch | Luis Saez | Danny Gargan | West Paces Racing, R. A. Hill Stable, Belmar Racing & Breeding, Two Eight Racing & Pine Racing Stables | 11⁄8 M | 1:50.30 | $250,000 |
| 2022 | Dubyuhnell | José Ortiz | Danny Gargan | West Paces Racing & Stonestreet Stables | 11⁄8 M | 1:50.88 | $250,000 |
| 2021 | Mo Donegal | Irad Ortiz Jr. | Todd A. Pletcher | Donegal Racing | 11⁄8 M | 1:53.61 | $250,000 |
| 2020 | Brooklyn Strong | Joel Rosario | Daniel Velazquez | Mark Schwartz | 11⁄8 M | 1:50.60 | $82,500 |
| 2019 | Shotski | Luis Saez | Jeremiah O'Dwyer | Gary Barber, Wachtel Stable (Adam Wachtel), Pantofel Stable (Len Schleifer), Mike Karty | 11⁄8 M | 1:54.24 | $137,500 |
| 2018 | Maximus Mischief | Frankie Pennington | Robert E. Reid Jr. | Cash Is King LLC (Chuck Zacney) & LC Racing (Glenn Bennett) | 11⁄8 M | 1:51.34 | $137,500 |
| 2017 | Catholic Boy | Manuel Franco | Jonathan Thomas | Robert V. LaPenta | 11⁄8 M | 1:52.50 | $150,000 |
| 2016 | Mo Town | John R. Velazquez | Anthony W. Dutrow | S. Magnier, M. Tabor, D. Smith, Team D | 11⁄8 M | 1:51.58 | $180,000 |
| 2015 | Mohaymen | Junior Alvarado | Kiaran McLaughlin | Shadwell Stable | 11⁄8 M | 1:50.69 | $180,000 |
| 2014 | Leave the Light On | José L. Ortiz | Chad C. Brown | Klaravich Stables, Inc. & William Lawrence | 11⁄8 M | 1:51.06 | $240,000 |
| 2013 | Honor Code | Javier Castellano | Claude R. McGaughey III | Lane's End Farm & Dell Ridge Racing LLC | 11⁄8 M | 1:52.92 | $240,000 |
| 2012 | Overanalyze | Ramon Domínguez | Todd A. Pletcher | Repole Stable | 11⁄8 M | 1:50.13 | $150,000 |
| 2011 | O'Prado Again | Kent Desormeaux | Dale Romans | Donegal Racing | 11⁄8 M | 1:52.07 | $120,000 |
| 2010 | To Honor and Serve | John R. Velazquez | William I. Mott | Live Oak Plantation | 11⁄8 M | 1:50.03 | $120,000 |
| 2009 | Buddy's Saint | Jose Lezcano | Bruce N. Levine | Kingfield Stables (Eli Lomita) | 11⁄8 M | 1:52.95 | $120,000 |
| 2008 | Old Fashioned | Ramon Domínguez | J. Larry Jones | Fox Hill Farms, Inc. | 11⁄8 M | 1:50.33 | $120,000 |
| 2007 | Court Vision | Eibar Coa | William I. Mott | WinStar Farm | 11⁄8 M | 1:52.48 | $120,000 |
| 2006 | Nobiz Like Shobiz | Cornelio Velásquez | Barclay Tagg | Elizabeth Valando | 11⁄8 M | 1:48.82 | $120,000 |
| 2005 | Bluegrass Cat | John Velazquez | Todd A. Pletcher | WinStar Farm | 11⁄8 M | 1:52.20 | $120,000 |
| 2004 | Rockport Harbor | Stewart Elliott | John Servis | Fox Hill Farms, Inc. | 11⁄8 M | 1:48.80 | $120,000 |
| 2003 | Read the Footnotes | Jerry Bailey | Richard A. Violette Jr. | Klaravich Stables, Inc. | 11⁄8 M | 1:50.60 | $120,000 |
| 2002 | Toccet | Jorge Chavez | John F. Scanlan | Dan Borislow | 11⁄8 M | 1:50.40 | $120,000 |
| 2001 | Saarland | John R. Velazquez | Claude R. McGaughey III | Cynthia Phipps | 11⁄8 M | 1:51.20 | $120,000 |
| 2000 | Windsor Castle | Robbie Davis | Frank A. Alexander | Frank A. Alexander | 11⁄8 M | 1:51.80 | $120,000 |
| 1999 | Greenwood Lake | Jean-Luc Samyn | Nick Zito | Dee Conway et al. | 11⁄8 M | 1:50.60 | $120,000 |
| 1998 | Comeonmom | Joe Bravo | Robert A. Barbara | Sabine Stable, LLC (Joseph & Winnie Greeley) | 11⁄8 M | 1:49.80 | $120,000 |
| 1997 | Coronado's Quest | Mike Smith | Claude R. McGaughey III | Stuart S. Janney III | 11⁄8 M | 1:52.20 | $120,000 |
| 1996 | The Silver Move | Richard Migliore | Linda L. Rice | Earl Silver | 11⁄8 M | 1:53.40 | $120,000 |
| 1995 | Tropicool | Jorge Chavez | John C. Kimmel | Kenneth Ellenberg | 11⁄8 M | 1:50.20 | $170,000 |
| 1994 | Thunder Gulch | Gary Stevens | D. Wayne Lukas | Michael Tabor | 11⁄8 M | 1:53.80 | $120,000 |
| 1993 | Go for Gin | Jerry Bailey | Nick Zito | William J. Condren | 11⁄8 M | 1:52.60 | $120,000 |
| 1992 | Silver of Silver | Jacinto Vásquez | Stanley R. Shapoff | Chevalier Stable (Joanne Shapoff, et al.) | 11⁄8 M | 1:50.20 | $120,000 |
| 1991 | Pine Bluff | Craig Perret | Thomas Bohannan | Loblolly Stable | 11⁄8 M | 1:50.80 | $120,000 |
| 1990 | Scan | Jerry Bailey | Flint S. Schulhofer | William Haggin Perry | 11⁄8 M | 1:52.40 | $106,560 |
| 1989 | Yonder | Eddie Maple | Woody Stephens | Claiborne Farm | 11⁄8 M | 1:51.20 | $145,680 |
| 1988 | Fast Play | Ángel Cordero Jr. | Claude R. McGaughey III | Ogden Phipps | 11⁄8 M | 1:50.60 | $197,400 |
| 1987 | Batty | Jose Santos | Suzanne H. Jenkins | Joseph Daniero | 11⁄8 M | 1:52.40 | $176,400 |
| 1986 | Java Gold | Pat Day | MacKenzie Miller | Rokeby Stable | 11⁄8 M | 1:49.60 | $172,680 |
| 1985 | Pillaster | Ángel Cordero Jr. | LeRoy Jolley | Peter M. Brant | 11⁄8 M | 1:49.00 | $193,000 |
| 1984 | Stone White * | Robbie Davis | Gilbert Puentes | Gilbert Puentes | 11⁄8 M | 1:53.20 | $178,680 |
| 1983 | Dr. Carter | Jorge Velásquez | John M. Veitch | Frances A. Genter | 11⁄8 M | 1:49.00 | $134,700 |
| 1982 | Pax In Bello | Jeffrey Fell | Steve Jerkens | Mrs. Arnold Willcox | 11⁄8 M | 1:50.20 | $141,300 |
| 1981 | Laser Light | Eddie Maple | Patrick J. Kelly | Live Oak Racing | 11⁄8 M | 1:50.80 | $103,500 |
| 1980 | Pleasant Colony * | Vincent Bracciale Jr. | P. O'Donnell Lee | Buckland Farm | 11⁄8 M | 1:50.20 | $67,920 |
| 1979 | Plugged Nickle | Buck Thornburg | Thomas J. Kelly | John M. Schiff | 11⁄8 M | 1:50.40 | $64,560 |
| 1978 | Instrument Landing | Jeffrey Fell | David A. Whiteley | Pen-Y-Bryn Farm | 11⁄8 M | 1:50.20 | $48,375 |
| 1977 | Believe It | Eddie Maple | Woody Stephens | Hickory Tree Stable | 11⁄8 M | 1:47.80 | $48,375 |
| 1976 | Royal Ski | Jack Kurtz | John J. Lenzini Jr. | Gerry Cheevers | 11⁄8 M | 1:50.40 | $49,545 |
| 1975 | Hang Ten | Laffit Pincay Jr. | Woody Stephens | Mill House Stable | 11⁄8 M | 1:49.20 | $52,219 |
| 1974 | El Pitirre | Mike Venezia | Lazaro S. Barrera | Enrique Ubarri | 11⁄8 M | 1:49.40 | $34,380 |
| 1973 | Heavy Mayonnaise | Chuck Baltazar | David Erb | William Trotter II | 11⁄8 M | 1:51.40 | $17,925 |
| 1972 | Kinsman Hope | Eddie Maple | John L. Cotter | Kinship Stable | 1 M | 1:37.00 | $18,045 |
| 1971 | Key To The Mint | Braulio Baeza | J. Elliott Burch | Rokeby Stable | 1 M | 1:36.60 | $21,570 |
| 1970 | Jim French | Ángel Cordero Jr. | John P. Campo | Frank Caldwell | 1 M | 1:36.80 | $18,360 |
| 1969 | Protanto | Jorge Velásquez | MacKenzie Miller | Cragwood Stables | 1 M | 1:35.60 | $19,792 |
| 1968 | Palauli | Larry Adams | Frank Y. Whiteley Jr. | Powhatan Stable | 1 M | 1:36.40 | $18,980 |
| 1967 | Salerno | Manuel Ycaza | William H. Turner Jr. | James P. Mills | 1 M | 1:38.00 | $19,890 |
| 1966 | Damascus | Bill Shoemaker | Frank Y. Whiteley Jr. | Edith W. Bancroft | 1 M | 1:37.00 | $19,695 |
| 1965 | Gary G. | Braulio Baeza | Rudolph L. Coyne | Harbor View Farm | 1 M | 1:36.00 | $18,460 |
| 1964 | Sum Up | Don Pierce | Edward A. Neloy | Elmendorf Farm | 1 M | 1:33.80 | $18,428 |
| 1963 | Northern Dancer | Manuel Ycaza | Horatio Luro | Windfields Farm | 1 M | 1:35.60 | $18,330 |
| 1962 | Rocky Link | John Rotz | Stephen A. DiMauro | Golden Triangle Stable | 1 M | 1:36.40 | $19,305 |
| 1961 | Figaro Bob | John Rotz | Eugene Jacobs | Alexander J. Ostriker | 1 M | 1:36.80 | $19,240 |
| 1960 | Carry Back | Johnny Sellers | Jack A. Price | Katherine Price | 1 M | 1:36.40 | $22,822 |
| 1959 | Victoria Park | Eric Guerin | Horatio Luro | Windfields Farm | 1 M | 1:37.20 | $23,050 |
| 1958 | Atoll | John Ruane | Raymond Metcalf | Elkcam Stable (Mackle brothers) | 11⁄16 M | 1:44.60 | $18,322 |
| 1957 | Misty Flight | Eddie Arcaro | James E. Fitzsimmons | Wheatley Stable | 11⁄16 M | 1:45.00 | $20,100 |
| 1956 | Ambehaving | Logan Batcheller | Dr. John Lee | Bohemia Stable | 11⁄16 M | 1:45.60 | $64,975 |
| 1955 | Nail | Hedley Woodhouse | George M. Odom | Josephine Widener Bigelow | 11⁄16 M | 1:45.20 | $64,475 |
| 1954 | Roman Patrol | Douglas Dodson | Joseph H. Pierce Jr. | Pin Oak Farm (James S. Abercrombie) | 11⁄16 M | 1:48.00 | $37,250 |
| 1953 | Galdar | Jimmy Nicols | Edward M. O'Brien | Edward M. O'Brien | 11⁄16 M | 1:46.60 | $19,550 |
| 1952 | Social Outcast * | Eric Guerin | William C. Winfrey | Alfred G. Vanderbilt | 11⁄16 M | 1:45.40 | $19,600 |
| 1951 | Race not held | Race not held | Race not held | Race not held | Race not held | Race not held | Race not held |
| 1950 | Repetoire | Kenneth Church | Albert Jensen | Nora A. Mikell | 6 F | 1:11.40 | $8,575 |
| 1949 | Lights Up | Ovie Scurlock | Winbert F. Mulholland | George D. Widener Jr. | 6 F | 1:13.40 | $8,875 |
| 1948 | Eternal World | Ted Atkinson | Frank Catrone | Allen T. Simmons | 5 F | 1:00.60 | $14,300 |
| 1947 | Big If | Charles Givens | James W. Maloney | Mrs. J. T. Maloney | 11⁄16 M | 1:47.00 | $17,450 |
| 1946 | Phalanx | Ruperto Donoso | Sylvester Veitch | C. V. Whitney | 11⁄16 M | 1:45.80 | $18,000 |
| 1945 | Lord Boswell | Eric Guerin | Tom Smith | Maine Chance Farm | 6 F | 1:11.20 | $8,595 |
| 1944 | Great Power * (DH) | Eddie Arcaro | Preston M. Burch | Brookmeade Stable | 6 F | 1:12.40 | $5,395 |
| 1944 | War Jeep * (DH) | Albert Snider | Tom Smith | Maine Chance Farm | 6 F | 1:12.40 | $5,395 |
| 1943-1 | Bellwether | Johnny Longden | Joseph A. Kramer | Cain Hoy Stable | 6 F | 1:13.20 | $7,912 |
| 1943-2 | Black Badge | Wayne Wright | Frank E. Childs | Abraham Hirschberg | 6 F | 1:11.40 | $8,112 |
| 1942 | Blue Swords | Carroll Bierman | Walter A. Kelley | Allen T. Simmons | 6 F | 1:12.80 | $8,250 |
| 1941 | Apache | James Stout | James E. Fitzsimmons | Belair Stud | 6 F | 1:12.80 | $8,950 |
| 1940 | Harvard Square * (DH) | Buddy Haas | Max Hirsch | W. Arnold Hanger | 6 F | 1:11.20 | $6,425 |
| 1940 | Mettlesome * (DH) | Alfred Robertson | Hugh L. Fontaine | Brookmeade Stable | 6 F | 1:11.20 | $6,425 |
| 1939 | Camp Verde | Don Meade | Lewis T. Whitehill | T. P. Morgan | 6 F | 1:11.80 | $6,600 |
| 1938 | Johnstown | James Stout | James E. Fitzsimmons | Belair Stud | 6 F | 1:11.00 | $7,100 |
| 1937 | Bourbon King | Charles Kurtsinger | Duval A. Headley | Hal Price Headley | 6 F | 1:12.40 | $7,500 |
| 1936 | Clodion | John Gilbert | Walter A. Carter | Walter A. Carter | 6 F | 1:12.60 | $3,065 |
| 1935 | The Fighter | Eddie Arcaro | Robert McGarvey | Milky Way Farm Stable | 6 F | 1:12.00 | $3,885 |
| 1934 | Esposa | Earl Porter | John F. Schorr | Middleburg Stable (William Ziegler Jr.) | 6 F | 1:13.40 | $3,660 |
| 1933 | Sgt. Byrne | Alfred Robertson | James Ritchie | John Simonetti | 6 F | 1:12.60 | $1,690 |
| 1932 | Quel Jeu | Jack Long | George M. Odom | Arden Farm | 6 F | 1:11.80 | $1,425 |
| 1931 | Cambal | Eddie Ambrose | John J. Hastings | Mrs. George U. Harris | 6 F | 1:13.00 | $2,895 |
| 1930 | Vander Pool | Whitey Abel | D. R. "Puddin" McDaniel | Tennessee Stable (Agnes Allen) | 6 F | 1:13.80 | $5,100 |
| 1929 | Flying Heels | Willie Kelsay | Henry McDaniel | Gifford A. Cochran | 6 F | 1:12.80 | $4,350 |
| 1928 | Chatford | Clarence Watters | Andrew Walker | Dave Lederer | 6 F | 1:12.80 | $4,250 |
| 1927 | Excalibur | George Ellis | Clyde S. Phillips | Greentree Stable | 6 F | 1:12.00 | $4,950 |
| 1926 | Sweepster | Laverne Fator | Sam Hildreth | Rancocas Stable | 6 F | 1:12.60 | $4,500 |
| 1925 | Timmara | Harold Thurber | John O. Burttschell | T. W. O'Brien | 6 F | 1:13.40 | $4,175 |
| 1924 | Master Charlie | George Babin | Andrew G. Blakely | William Daniel | 6 F | 1:11.60 | $4,675 |
| 1923 | Ladkin | Harold Thurber | Louis Feustel | August Belmont Jr. | 6 F | 1:12.00 | $4,075 |
| 1922 | Tall Timber | James Butwell | T. J. Healey | Richard T. Wilson Jr. | 6 F | 1:12.00 | $4,125 |
| 1921 | Missionary | Andy Schuttinger | Kimball Patterson | Lexington Stable (E. F. Simms & H. W. Oliver) | 6 F | 1:13.60 | $4,450 |
| 1920 | Grey Lag | Lavelle Ensor | Sam Hildreth | Sam Hildreth | 6 F | 1:13.00 | $3,625 |
| 1919 | Pilgrim | Charles Fairbrother | Thomas Welsh | Joseph E. Widener | 6 F | 1:12.80 | $2,675 |
| 1918 | War Pennant | Johnny Loftus | Walter B. Jennings | A. Kingsley Macomber | 6 F | 1:13.20 | $1,925 |
| 1909 | – 1917 | Race not held | Race not held | Race not held | Race not held | Race not held | Race not held |
| 1908 | The Turk | Carroll Shilling | Richard O. Miller | Silver Brook Farm | 5.5 F | 1:08.20 | $1,050 |
| 1908 | Race not held | Race not held | Race not held | Race not held | Race not held | Race not held | Race not held |
| 1907 | King Cobalt | Eddie Dugan | Algernon W. Claxon | Brownleigh Park Stable | 5.5 F | 1:07.40 | $1,525 |
| 1906 | Frank Gill | Joe Notter | John I. Smith | J. L. McGinnis | 5.5 F | 1:08.00 | $1,635 |
| 1905 | Jacobite | Joseph A. Jones | A. Jack Joyner | Sydney Paget | 5.5 F | 1:07.40 | $1,810 |
| 1904 | Dandelion | Willie Davis | John E. Madden | Francis R. Hitchcock | 5.5 F | 1:06.80 | $1,535 |
* 1984 – Stone White finished first, but was disqualified from purse money.
* 1980 – Akureyri finished first, but was disqualified and placed third.
* 1952 – Jamie K finished first, but was disqualified.
* 1940, 1944 – Dead heat for the win.