Tom Pedulla presents 5 takeaways from coast-to-coast motion that features the Remsen Stakes, Demoiselle Stakes, and Cigar Mile Handicap, all Grade 2 races on Saturday at Aqueduct, and two prestigious Grade 1 contests on Saturday and Sunday at Del Mar.

FULL OF FIGHT: It takes greater than expertise for a horse to be thought to be a Kentucky Derby offered by Woodford Reserve prospect. He will need to have an immense will to win to associate with velocity and stamina if he’s to be a severe participant on the primary Saturday in Might. Dornoch confirmed that when he re-rallied inside to edge Sierra Leone by a nostril to win the 1 1/8-mile Remsen. The victory was value 10 qualifying factors on the Highway to the 2024 Derby. “As quickly as the opposite one got here to him, he noticed him and he need to beat him,” mentioned successful jockey Luis Saez. “I can’t describe this. He needs to win the race.” The Good Magic colt, a $325,000 yearling buy, is a full-brother (identical dam [mother], identical sire [father]) to Mage, this yr’s Kentucky Derby winner.

UP NEXT: Coach Danny Gargan intends to again off Dornoch for a bit following the Remsen. “He’s an enormous, large horse. We’re going to give him a while off and take him right down to Palm Meadows [Training Center],” Gargan mentioned of the Boynton Seaside, Fla., facility. His plan is to tack stroll the teenager for 2 or three weeks earlier than resuming severe coaching with an eye fixed towards a potential begin in March. The Grade 2 Fountain of Youth Stakes is about for March 2 at Gulfstream Park with the Grade 1 Curlin Florida Derby there on March 30. Dornoch gained useful seasoning as a juvenile, successful half of his 4 begins with a pair of runner-up efforts.

KENTUCKY OAKS HOPEFUL: Proprietor Mike Repole already had an early Derby contender in FanDuel Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Offered by Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance victor Fierceness. Now, he has a promising filly for the Longines Kentucky Oaks after Life Discuss registered an authoritative 3 ¾-length victory towards Shimmering Attract within the Demoiselle. The front-running victory for coach Todd Pletcher and jockey Irad Ortiz Jr. was value 10 Oaks qualifying factors. The daughter of 2017 Horse of the Yr Gun Runner had are available in fourth within the NetJets Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies in her earlier begin. Pletcher captured his fourth consecutive Demoiselle. He prolonged his report together with his ninth victory within the 1 1/8-mile race.

GREAT ADVICE: When Hoist the Gold got here in sixth within the Qatar Racing Breeders’ Cup Dash on Nov. 4 at Santa Anita Park with John Velazquez aboard, the jockey urged coach Dallas Stewart to focus on the Cigar Handicap. “He instructed us on the Breeders’ Cup the horse doesn’t like dust in his face,” recalled Stewart. “He mentioned, ‘Simply let me experience him the best way I need, run him a mile at Aqueduct and he received’t get beat.’ ” Hoist the Gold took management early within the Cigar and by no means appeared again in successful by 4 ½ lengths towards late-running Senor Buscador. The victory allowed the 4-year-old son of Mineshaft to grow to be racing’s latest millionaire with greater than $1.1 million in earnings.

ALL CHAD BROWN: East Coast followers are accustomed to seeing coach Chad Brown excel at turf races. As of late, he is also asserting himself in an enormous method on the West Coast. Proprietor Seth Klarman and Brown mixed to win the Grade 1 Hollywood Derby at Del Mar with Program Buying and selling on Saturday. They doubled their enjoyable by taking the Matriarch Stakes on Sunday on the picturesque observe with Surge Capability. Past that, Brown trainees occupied the highest 4 ending positions within the Matriarch with Fluffy Socks, Beaute Cachee and Whitebeam following Surge Capability. Brown received the Matriarch for the sixth time within the final seven editions.