Paladin tallied his first 10 points on the 2026 Road to the Kentucky Derby with his two-length victory in Saturday’s Remsen S. (G2) at Aqueduct.
Paladin’s win topped a big Saturday for Gun Runner, which also saw his 2-year-old fillies Jumping the Gun finish second in the Demoiselle S. (G2) and Nimah take third in the Starlet S. (G2). Gun Runners leads all sires of 2-year-olds in 2025 by graded stakes winners and Grade 1 winners.
Paladin broke alertly from post two and took position in third entering the first turn. He held his spot along the fence down the backstretch while behind the leaders. Renegade swept past him on his outside with three furlongs to go, and Paladin was forced to go three-wide coming into the stretch. He ran down Renegade in the lane and was widening his lead when he stopped the timer in 1:50.97 on a fast track.
“I like the fact that not only did we secure some Kentucky Derby points today, we also got a good education,” said winning trainer Chad Brown. “The horse sat in the pocket and took dirt for most of the way. He was able to pause and move around horses and get that two-turn race into him as a 2-year-old. I think that’s going to serve him well for the future.”
Paladin, who is now 2-for-2, has earned $184,250 for owners Mrs. John Magnier, Michael B. Tabor, Derrick Smith, Peter M. Brant, Brook T. Smith, and Summer Wind Equine, LLC, the latter also the colt’s breeder.
Paladin sold for $1.9 million to Magnier and White Birch Farm at the 2024 Fasig-Tipton Saratoga Select Yearling sale.
