This weekend at Aqueduct, five graded stakes races will take place, highlighted by three Grade 2 races set to shape the 2026 season. The G2 Cigar Mile offers a potential stepping stone to the prestigious Saudi Cup in February. Two key nine-furlong juvenile stakes, the Demoiselle for fillies and the Remsen for colts, award points toward the Kentucky Oaks and Kentucky Derby, respectively, to the top five finishers.
Saturday’s card also features the G3 Elite Power Stakes for sprinters, the G3 Camry for 3-year-old fillies racing 1 1/8 miles, and the Garland of Roses for female sprinters on the Aqueduct track. Elsewhere, the Grade 2 Starlet at Los Alamitos, spanning 1 1/16 miles, distributes Kentucky Oaks qualifying points to the leading five horses. Additionally, the Maryland Juvenile Stakes and Maryland Juvenile Filly Stakes at Laurel Park will give more 2-year-olds a chance to showcase their talent.
On Saturday, the G2 Demoiselle Stakes at 12:17 pm will see six fillies compete for Kentucky Oaks qualifying points. Schilling, trained by Kenny McPeak, comes off back-to-back wins, including a triumph in the Tempted Stakes. Believable, who finished second in the Tempted, will challenge Schilling again. Notably, two Demoiselle runners, Zanny and Concurrently, are sired by Triple Crown winner American Pharoah.
Later, the G2 Remsen Stakes at 3:08 pm will feature 12 colts battling over 1 1/8 miles, following a history of standout winners like Sierra Leone and Mo Donegal. Among the contenders is Paladin, a Gun Runner colt valued at $1.9 million and compared to Sierra Leone. The field also includes Koating, a $5 million yearling and full brother to multiple Grade 1 winner Clairiere, aiming to prove himself beyond his sister’s reputation.
At 3:37 pm, the G2 Cigar Mile Handicap will highlight Bishop’s Bay, a three-time graded stakes winner recently purchased for $1.3 million with sights set on the Saudi Cup. He faces off against other graded winners like Phileas Fogg and Crazy Mason.
Fan Take: This weekend’s graded stakes at Aqueduct are crucial for shaping the next generation of top thoroughbreds and offer a glimpse into the future stars of horse racing. The performances here could impact the 2026 racing calendar significantly, making these races must-watch events for fans eager to identify the sport’s rising talents.
