AQUEDUCT is bracing for a December 6 that feels less like a raceday and more like a culmination — a day where stories converge, stakes swell, and reputations stand on the edge of transformation. With eleven races from 11:20am to 4:07pm, the rhythm will unfold in pulses, each race adding tension, expectation and noise. At the heart of it sit six major stakes that promise to deliver narrative, heat and defining moments — from juvenile revelations to mile-long declarations of class. The card is stacked, the atmosphere thick, and the sense of something big arriving is unmistakable — tomorrow, Aqueduct won’t just host races, it will host moments.
Six high-stakes contests concentrated into a single winter afternoon — a stakes festival that will command national attention and shape the season’s tone.
THE CROWN RACES — THE SIX TITLES EVERYONE WILL BE WATCHING
These are the races where the noise will peak, where the smallest decisions will decide the biggest prizes, and where the season’s narrative will bend.
DEMOISELLE STAKES (G2) — $250,000
• Race 3 • 12:17pm • 1 1/8M • 6 contenders
The Demoiselle has always been a stage where rising fillies step out of promise and into prophecy, and tomorrow’s edition will be no different. This is the kind of race that can shape winter rankings and tilt spring expectations long before the classics arrive. The field enters knowing that one strong performance here can shift futures, reputations, and entire campaigns.
Contenders: JUMPING THE GUN, SHILLING, ZANY, CONCURRENTLY, IVY GIRL and BELIEVABLE
ELITE POWER STAKES (G3) — $250,000
• Race 5 • 1:13pm • 6F • 6 contenders
A mid-card spark with the weight of prestige. The Elite Power brings pure force — speed, maturity, and horses who thrive when the tempo tightens and the track crackles with pressure. The race promises a signature burn that will lift the day into its highest gear.
Contenders: EL GRANDE O, FULL MOON MADNESS, ACOUSTIC AVE, JUST BEAT THE ODDS, ST. JUDE and SUBROGATE
NEW YORK STALLION SERIES — FIFTH AVENUE — $500,000
• Race 8 • 2:39pm • 7F • 13 contenders
This half-million-dollar showcase for two-year-old fillies is where New York breeding tradition meets ambition. Expect raw talent, bold moves, and young runners discovering their identity under the spotlight. With that purse on the line, the Fifth Avenue feels less like a race and more like a proving ground of courage and future stars.
Contenders: FANCY LIGHTS, GALILEANS GIRL, KAZ FARM GIRL, HIP HOP DANCER, UNMIZTAKEN, BRAVERTHANUBELIEVE and others.
REMSEN STAKES (G2) — $250,000
• Race 9 • 3:08pm • 1 1/8M • 12 contenders
One of the most influential juvenile races in the country, the Remsen often predicts who will matter months from now. This is the gateway — the test of stamina, grit and class that has shaped the next generation of classic contenders for decades. Every stride here will be watched, measured, and remembered.
Contenders: DAY ONE STARTER, PALADIN, CHAMBERSVILLE, CONCARNEAU, PROBABLY DREAMING, RENEGADE and others.
CIGAR MILE HANDICAP (G2) — $500,000
• Race 10 • 3:37pm • 1M • 7 contenders
The signature race. The anchor of the afternoon. The Cigar Mile isn’t just about speed across a tight mile — it’s about willpower, precision, and the kind of horses who thrive in crowded, high-stakes arenas. This is where champions reinforce their status and outsiders shock entire divisions.
Contenders: DOC SULLIVAN, PHILEAS FOGG, PENTATHLON, CRAZY MASON, BRAZENLY, MIKA and BISHOPS BAY
NEW YORK STALLION SERIES — GREAT WHITE WAY — $500,000
• Race 11 • 4:07pm • 7F • 16 contenders
The finale sbring two-year-old colts onto a stage that can launch early legends. With half a million at stake, every rider knows there’s no room for hesitation, no margin for error. This race will send the crowd home breathless, closing the day with the thrill of discovering which colt will rise to the challenge.
Contenders: PARKER BOONE, DIAMOND CHILD, TRUE LEGEND, SPIRIT OF NEW YORK, MUSCLE SHOALS, COMBAT MISSION and others.
HIGHLIGHTS OF THE DAY — STORYLINES SHAPING THE FESTIVAL
• A stakes festival concentrated into one winter afternoon
Six major stakes — four of them carrying $250,000 or more — turn Aqueduct into a December powerhouse, shifting national attention back to the Big A and reminding everyone why winter racing here still commands respect.
• New York breeding takes center stage
The NYSS Fifth Avenue and Great White Way both carry $500,000, making it a landmark day for local breeding programs. Expect emotion, pride and community energy as owners and teams step up with homegrown firepower.
• Juveniles with futures on the line
Between the Demoiselle, Remsen, and the NYSS races, tomorrow will reveal early signals for next spring’s divisions — the kind of signals that pundits and stables will analyze for months.
• A paddock bursting with purpose and pressure
Riders returning in form, trainers riding emotional waves, and teams arriving with weeks of preparation behind them — tomorrow holds the kind of tension that only major stakes days can summon.
THE REMAINING FIVE — A SMOOTH, STORY-WOVEN MARCH THROUGH THE UNDERCARD
The day will begin by laying its foundation with Race 1 at 11:20am, a contest for three-year-olds and upward, run over 6F, drawing 7 hopefuls for $28,000. It will set the pace, ease the crowd in, and open the gates on a long afternoon of rising momentum.
From there, Race 2 will bring the first wave of anticipation as two-year-old maidens step onto the track at 11:48am, stretching across 1 Mile, with 8 young runners chasing their first piece of recognition for $85,000. It’s the kind of race that reveals raw talent before the spotlight moves to the stakes.
Later in the card, Race 4 will take its place at 12:45pm, offering seasoned fillies and mares a chance to assert their form over 6F, with 8 runners competing for $88,000. It brings depth, maturity, and a touch of experience into the afternoon mix.
The progression will continue through Race 6, a maiden contest for fillies and mares three and up, set for 1:42pm, stretching 7F, with 11 horses stepping out for a purse of $38,000. Quietly competitive, this race serves as a link between the undercard and the rising stakes.
By the time Race 7 will arrive, the tone sharpens again. Scheduled for 2:11pm, over 1 Mile, featuring 12 three-year-olds and up with $88,000 on the line, it keeps the energy high as the afternoon turns toward its major events.
BUILDING THE ANTICIPATION
Everything points to a December 6 that will echo long after the last horse returns to the barn. The stakes are large, the stories are rich, and the divisions are ready for clarity. Tomorrow, Aqueduct won’t just offer races — it will offer turning points, breakthroughs, and moments that shape the winter racing narrative. The excitement is already humming. All that’s left is for the gates to open.
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