Saturday night's $400,000 Springboard Mile at Remington Park offers Kentucky Derby qualifying points and a chance for next year's trail performers to race around 2 turns. Players at Xpressbet and 1/ST BET can take advantage of up to a $10 money-back special on the entire 12-race card at Remington if your win bets finish second or third.
Let's meet the contenders for the Springboard Mile.
1. ECHO AGAIN (Steve Asmussen): Half-bro to 2020 Belmont 4th-place finisher Pneumatic is by super sire Gun Runner and could give trainer record-padding 7th win in this race. Didn’t handle route extension at Churchill from wide post, but rail draw gives him every chance to improve stamina in second distance bid. Saratoga debut gives promise.
2. GUNFLASH (Karl Broberg): RP meet leading trainer & jockey (Christian Torres) team with debut winner by Gun Runner. Half-bro to sprint/route stakes winner Flash of Mischief (BC Sprint alum) for same connections. Patient debut +.
3. CAMPFIRE CREED (Danny Pish): Neck + nose away from 4-for-4, local stakes winner bred more for sprints, mile tops.
4. LIL SWEET THANG (Donnie K. Von Hemel): Stretch-out prep allowance win Nov. 12 for son of Caleb’s Posse, 7th in this race in 2010 before winning multiple G1s, including BC Dirt Mile. Chance to factor late the hotter the pace gets.
5. GIANT MISCHIEF (Brad Cox): Strictly the horse to beat after putting away ballyhooed Baffert shipper on Keeneland’s BC undercard. Dam was outstanding sprinter (G2 winner, $700K) and 2nd dam was strong local RP sprinter as well. Last win without Lasix, but they opt to use it Saturday, going more for the win and purse than Derby points at this stage.
6. AMERICAN OUTLAW (Todd Fincher): High % barn won this race with rallying Senor Buscador in ’20, but this one has a front-running style. May relax more with blinkers off Saturday, which may be good thing given expected strong pace.
7. GHOST HERO (Jayde Geiner): Top OK-bred of meet with stakes wins short, long; bullet work says expect early pace.
8. MONEY RUN (Steve Asmussen): Runhappy colt beat maiden claimers at CD and disappointed in both local tries.
9. WILDATLANTICSTORM (Ray Ashford): Split open-company local preps with Campfire Creed. Five sprints under belt and pedigree suggests a mile won’t be too much. Post difficult given running style and other early speed involved.
Jeremy's Picks: W) GIANT MISCHIEF; P) LIL SWEET THANG; S) ECHO AGAIN
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