The 25th edition of the $300,000 Springboard Mile brings the 2026 Remington Park racing season to a close on Saturday night. The finale on a 12-race card anchors a program that includes 6 consecutive stakes races on the back half. A field of 12 has entered, which barring scratches would be the 13th capacity lineup in the race’s history. Kentucky Derby qualifying points will be on the line.
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Let’s meet the contenders for the Springboard Mile (Race 12):
#1-ARCTIC BEAST: Undefeated New York-bred exits off a Saratoga debut win and a pair of restricted stakes at Finger Lakes. The son of sprint sire Yaupon has yet to race beyond 6 furlongs, but benefits from the rail under 2-time Springboard Mile winner Ricardo Santana Jr. Trainer Mike Maker appears for the Springboard Mile for the first time since 2018, but has won with 3 of 5 stakes shippers to Oklahoma City since 2024.
#2-TIME FOR MUSIC: Trainer Steve Asmussen’s first of 3 chances in this year’s Springboard Mile as he looks for a record-padding eighth win in this race. $750,000 Not This Time colt has won 1 of 4, a Keeneland maiden sprint, and exits a Churchill Downs allowance runner-up. Jockey Erik and trainer Steve Asmussen have combined for 42 wins at the current Remington Park meet, striking at 30% wins. Dam was a multiple stakes winner at age 2.
#3-ESSENTIAL TIME: 12-1 upset winner of the Clever Trevor Stakes around 1 turn, while adding 2-turn experience in a turf allowance third since. Son of Champion 2-Year-old Essential Quality tries to give trainer Danny Pish his first Springboard Mile score after 13 prior attempts (twice third). Regular rider Iram Diego is aboard.
#4-ROYALAMERICAN: Season’s top Oklahoma-bred freshman has won the Oklahoma Classics Juvenile and the 2-turn mile Don McNeill Stakes in recent starts. C.R. Trout trainee tries open company for the first time and is the barn’s first Springboard Mile starter since 2015. Trout has a second and third in 5 prior attempts in this race. David Cabrera once again rides.
#5-MY DREAM ZAPPER: Ghostzapper colt raids from Colorado’s Arapahoe Park, where he won 2 straight prior to a runner-up bid as favorite in the Gold Rush Futurity. Five prior starts at Prairie Meadows and Arapahoe give him foundation for his first start beyond 6 furlongs. Trainer Stetson Rushton goes to local pilot Ernesto Valdez-Jiminez.
#6-SUPREME GOOD: Trainer Kenny McPeek brings this Aqueduct maiden graduate to Remington Park from his Oaklawn winter base. Colt by Supremacy was not competitive in 2 starts at Saratoga this summer, but found the competition more to his liking at the Big A over a 1-turn mile. Has won at the distance, but yet to try 2 turns. Christopher Elliott takes the mount for the first time and will leave the gate next to his father, Stewart, aboard Spice Runner.
#7-SPICE RUNNER: Morning line favorite won the Grade 3 Iroquois Stakes at Churchill Downs and owns the field’s signature win to date. Second of 3 Steve Asmussen trainees looking to give the barn an eighth Springboard Mile trophy. Gun Runner colt was outrun twice in more recent starts around 2 turns in the Grade 1 Breeders’ Futurity and Grade 2 Kentucky Jockey Club. Six-start veteran has the deepest resume in the lineup and pairs with Stewart Elliott for the first time.
#8-WAY BEYOND: Third and final Steve Asmussen trainee in the lineup, this one takes the path of last year’s Springboard Mile winner Coal Battle – via Delta Downs’ Jean Lafitte Stakes. Has 1 win in 5 starts, a noise victory for a $150,000 claiming tag at Churchill Downs. Twirling Candy colt matches with current Remington Park meet leading jockey Ramon Vazquez.
#9-WESTERN MAN: Most lightly raced Springboard Mile entrant won his career debut November 28 in a Remington Park maiden sprint. That 9-1/4 length score prompted veteran local trainer Joe Offolter to enter just his second Springboard Mile starter in the event’s 25 years. Oklahoma-bred by Code West gets tested for class and distance under Richard Eramia, who guided Long Range Toddy to victory in the 2019 edition of this race.
#10-BIG APPLE PATRICK: Churchill debut winner October 29 followed that with a 2-turn starter allowance third. Kentucky-based trainer Daniel Leitch brings regular rider Wilson Rodriguez along for the ride. All-day pedigree sees Belmont Stakes winner Union Rags as sire and Belmont Stakes winner Lemon Drop Kid as damsire.
#11-JETS RIO: November 20 local maiden graduate over the same trip, this Candy Ride colt looks to get the Ron Moquett stable over the Springboard Mile hump. Moquett’s 2 previous bids in this race produced the runner-up in 2021 as well as 2024 with Speed King a year ago. All 3 starts have come around 2 turns and could have a future on turf or dirt. Rene Diaz has the return mount.
#12-EXPRESS KID: Prairie Freshman Stakes runner-up has had mixed reviews since arriving at Remington. No threat in the Clever Trevor vs. Essential Time, but bounced back to win his first try around 2 turns in a November 6 turf alllowance. Wad Rarick trains the son of Bodexpress, who gets Jose Alvarez to ride for the first time.
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