Springboard Mile Tipsheet

The $400,000 Remington Springboard Mile will be run Sunday night at Remington Park going a two-turn mile on the dirt for 2-year-olds. Despite some uncertainty about a quarantine issue, the race drew 12 entries and four of them are Oklahoma-breds. It is part of the 2020 Road to the Kentucky Derby with 10 points going to the winner, 4 points going to the second-place finisher, 2 points go to the third-place finisher and 1 point goes to the fourth-place finisher.

Top Springboard Mile Picks

• 10 Maximiliano
• 5 Jungle Runner
• 4 Answer In
• 8 Embolden

• $40 Win
  • 10
• $20 Exactas
  • 4, 5, 8 with 10

Springboard Mile Contenders

#1 Piece of Work romped by over six lengths here going 6 furlongs in his career debut against open maidens. The Arkansas-bred draws the rail for his two-turn debut with Luis Quinonez back aboard.

#2 Alternate Time broke his maiden here going 6 1/2 furlongs on a good track then he came back as the odds-on favorite and beat first-level allowance foes on a muddy track. He’s an unknown factor going two turns on a fast track but at least he draws the rail with Stewart Elliott.

#3 Rowdy Yates is an Oklahoma-bred that has been dominating here against state-bred stakes foes. He won the Ellis Park Juvenile going 7 furlongs in fast time then was no match for a strong winner in his two-turn debut. Son of Morning Line is one of three horses in here trained by Steve Asmussen and draws well with Richard Eramia.

#4 Answer In just missed in his career debut behind a winner that came back to win his next two starts including the Street Sense S. He romped last out going 7 furlongs in fast time at Churchill Downs and shows a bullet workout there since then. The problem I have with him is that he breaks poorly and could be towards the rear of a bulky field. Javier Castellano is in to ride for Brad Cox so that’s a positive sign.

#5 Jungle Runner did nothing in his first two career starts going 7 furlongs at Ellis Park. He broke his maiden here next out going this distance as the odds-on favorite then came back and won a 7-furlong stakes in decent time. Son of Candy Ride will have to improve again but he clearly likes running here and caught two-slow paced races so that might be why his BRIS speed ratings are not faster.

#6 Shipman’s Song took him four starts to break his maiden but he looked good winning by over seven lengths against Oklahoma-breds going one turn. He needs to run a lot better to be in the money.  

#7 Southgate broke his maiden second-time out at Prairie Meadows but has done little here in three tries. Just can’t see any circumstance where he can compete with these.

#8 Embolden has raced on the turf in his last four starts but they all came in sprints. He was an even third in the Futurity (G3) at Belmont Park then was a good second when blinkers were added at Aqueduct. He switches back to dirt with a turf sprinter’s pedigree but Mike Stidham wins 24% first time going long.

#9 Shoplifted looked good breaking his maiden first time out in fast time at Saratoga going 5 1/2 furlongs. He came back with a distant second in the Hopeful (G1) going 7 furlongs on a sloppy track then was overmatched in two Grade 1 races going two turns at Santa Anita. Son of Into Mischief drops down in class for Asmussen.

#10 Maxiliano was second in his career debut on a very sloppy track at Saratoga behind a monster winner. He came back at Keeneland and won going six furlongs and now stretches out for Wesley Ward. Son of Quality Road is out of a dam that was stakes-placed early in her career but mostly raced in cheap claiming races. With not much black type in her pedigree, not sure how she was moved up to be bred to Quality Road but he brought $425K as a yearling.

#11 Kirkcules broke his maiden in his fourth try against Oklahoma-breds going two turns then was second in a state-bred stakes race. Can’t see him overcoming post 11 with his mid-pack racing style.

#12 Slew Tang Clan is still a maiden, draws post 12 and would have to improve by 30 points to have a chance to get a piece of this.