Kentucky Derby BRIS Speed Rating Report: Springboard Mile

Greyvitos proved too good for rivals in the December 17 Springboard Mile, shrugging off a wide trip from post 12 to record a 2 ¼-length decision, and the Malibu Moon colt has now won two straight graded stakes for trainer Adam Kitchingman. The Remington Park feature was a new addition to the Road to the Kentucky Derby series and Greyvitos picked up his first points toward a berth in the first leg of the 2018 Triple Crown.

A 93 BRIS Speed rating was the only disappointing aspect of his performance.

Bred for turf on his female side, the gray Virginia-bred did not fire when making his career debut on grass in July. He was freshened nearly four months afterward, returning with a rallying third in a 5 ½-furlong maiden special weight on Santa Anita’s main track, and Kitchingman decided to try blinkers the third time out in the November 11 Bob Hope (G3) at Del Mar. Greyvitos sped right to the front and led wire-to-wire, registering a 19-1 upset in the 7-furlong test.

Stretching out to two turns, Greyvitos didn’t make the early lead in the Springboard Mile but was kept in the clear by jockey Victor Espinoza. When he made his move to the lead leaving the far turn, the race was over. Last-out maiden winner Combatant, who was favored at 2-1 with Greyvitos the 3-1 second choice, offered a nice rally from just off the pace to finish a clear second but was never a threat to the winner.

Greyvitos easily brought the top BRIS Speed rating into the Springboard Mile, registering a 98 for the Bob Hope. It’s disconcerting to see a lower figure for his first two-turn start but the pace wasn’t fast and the gray colt lost plenty of ground on both turns before winning comfortably. He’ll need to run faster at age 3, but Greyvitos remains an intriguing prospect who could have more to offer.

Here are the top BRIS Speed ratings so far in the Road to the Kentucky Derby series:

Horse (finish)		Race		BRIS Speed
Bolt d’Oro		FrontRunner (1st)		105
Good Magic		BC Juvenile (1st)		105
Solomini		Los Alamitos Futurity (3rd)		101
McKinzie		Los Alamitos Futurity (1st)		100
Instilled Regard		Los Alamitos Futurity (2nd)		100
Solomini		BC Juvenile (2nd)		100
Bolt d’Oro		BC Juvenile (3rd)		99
Catholic Boy		Remsen (1st)		98
Firenze Fire		Champagne (1st)		96
Good Magic		Champagne (2nd)		96
Solomini		FrontRunner (2nd)		96
Enticed		Ky Jockey Club (1st)		93
Greyvitos		Springboard Mile (1st)		93
Avery Island		Remsen (2nd)		93
Tiz Mischief		Ky Jockey Club (2nd)		93
The Tabulator		Iroquois (1st)		92
Enticed		Champagne (3rd)		92
Free Drop Billy		Breeders’ Futurity (1st)		91
Combatant		Springboard Mile (2nd)		91
Hollywood Star		Iroquois (2nd)		91
Vouch		Remsen (3rd)		91
Promises Fulfilled		Ky Jockey Club (3rd)		90