It’s been 22 years since trainer Shug McGaughey took a horse to the Kentucky Derby, finishing 2-3 with the heavily favored entry of Easy Goer and Awe Inspiring in 1989. But yesterday at Aqueduct, McGaughey unleashed a promising contender for next year’s Run for the Roses, saddling his 2-year-old colt Saarland to win the Grade 2, $150,000 Remsen by a neck over Nokoma.

Ridden by John Velazquez, Saarland sat well back off the pace (:23.4, :48.1) set by 32-1 Seat Open, rallied wide turning for home and wore down Nokoma in the final sixteenth. He had to survive a stewards’ inquiry after third-place finisher Silent Fred took up in midstretch, but the judges ruled no interference occurred.

“He never really ran until the last eighth of a mile,” said McGaughey, who’s previously won the Remsen with Fast Play and Coronado’s Quest. “He beat a nice horse. I think (Nokoma) will be OK.”

Saarland, a son of 1990 Derby winner Unbridled, previously finished fourth in the Champagne and eighth in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile. He ran the mile and an eighth in 1:51.1 and paid $5.70 as the favorite.

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Sent off the 8-5 favorite after winning the Tempted at Belmont by 61/4 lengths, Smoke’n Frolic stamped herself one of the top 2-year-old fillies in America yesterday with a smashing, front-running score in the Big A’s Grade 2, $150,000 Demoiselle.

Making her first start around two turns, the gray daughter of sprint champ Smoke Glacken shot right to the front, settled nicely under John Velazquez through moderate fractions (:24.1, :48.3), shook off a bid from Saintly Action on the far turn and then drew off with ease to win by 4½ lengths in 1:50.2 for a mile and an eighth. Longshot Lady Shari got up late to nip second-choice Proxy Statement by a neck for second.

Smoke’n Frolic paid $5.30 topping a $36 exacta.