Tipsheet: 2024 Springboard Mile Stakes

A deep field of 12 sophomores will go eight panels on the Remington Park dirt in Friday’s $300,000 Springboard Mile S. The 2025 Road to the Kentucky Derby challenge series tilt will reward the top five finishers with qualifying points on a 10-5-3-2-1 structure. 

Springboard Mile Stakes Picks

• #1 Coal Battle
• #3 Speed King
• #11 Mister Omaha
• #7 Jolly Samurai

Springboard Mile Stakes Wagers

• $15 win/place #1 Coal Battle
• $5 exacta key box 1 with 3,7,11

Springboard Mile Stakes Contenders

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#1 COAL BATTLE (10-1): Upset pick is 2-for-2 on the dirt and gets top billing in the deep cast. The $70,000 son of Coal Front was a strong stakes winner at Delta Downs in his most recent outing, and I expect him to receive a fine trip from the rail while saving ground throughout. Juan Vargas will be in the silks. 

#2 BLUE ANGEL (15-1): Gun Runner three-year-old was a game debut winner when sprinting on the course in his last effort and will likely appreciate the added ground on this occasion. This April foal is bred to go long and has trained forwardly for a conditioner who is better with second-time runners in general. David Cabrera inherits the ride. 

#3 SPEED KING (7-2): Volatile colt was very impressive at first asking when leading at every call beneath the Twin Spires for Ron Moquett. This January foal stretches out in his stakes bow and has posted a pair of strong drills leading up to Friday. The gray colt will have Rafael Bejarano in the controls.

#4 DOMINANT SPIRIT (15-1): Mohaymen juvenile has registered two very good races to kickstart his career and will be in the mix from the break on this occasion. The Bret Calhoun charge proved to be capable of handling seven-eighths most recently, and he is in with a chance for sure with regular pilot Jose Alvarez in the stirrups. 

#5 BROOKLYN ALLEY CAT (20-1): Improving son of Minister’s Wild Cat has won a pair of races in succession, led by a nice allowance tally on the strip in his latest venture. The dark bay gelding still seems a bit slower than some of the major players in the group, but he could earn a placing with continued ascension. 

#6 ESSAY (20-1): Second from the Calhoun shedrow was a smart allowance sprint winner on the oval most recently, but he is a question mark going long for the initial time. The Thousand Words gelding will be forwardly placed from the opening bell beneath Richard Eramia. 

#7 JOLLY SAMURAI (4-1): Unbeaten son of First Samurai has rallied to a trio of wins in succession, with the last pair coming in the stakes ranks as of late. The gelded juvenile earned a hefty 104 Brisnet Late Pace number when going seven furlongs and seems well poised to handle the one-mile voyage against this cast. The Texas-bred chestnut will have Rene Diaz taking the reins once again. 

#8 COMPLEX MUSIC (8-1): Son of very good freshman sire Complexity ran off to a daylight allowance tally at six panels at Indiana last time and could be any kind in his two-turn debut. Stewart Elliot will pilot the $110,000 yearling purchase, likely settling in the second flight in the early going. 

#9 DR. RUBEN M (6-1): California import has improved since going long on the dirt in his last pair of assignments and earned a solid 92 Brisnet Speed Speed figure in his maiden triumph most recently. The Vino Rosso colt is quick and able to stay the trip, and it’s a positive that Edwin Maldonado comes out to retain the mount. 

#10 MEDICINE DOG (20-1): Constitution colt was outrun in an allowance dash on the oval in his latest showing and would be a surprise at a healthy price in his route bow. 

#11 MISTER OMAHA (5-1): Omaha Beach colt is a head shy from being unbeaten from four career outings and has been dominant with Oklahoma-bred runners leading up to this one. The homebred is a winner at the distance and will be moving into the fore approaching the turn for home as a major player with Luis Quinonez up. 

#12 KEENO (12-1): Two-year-old son of Keen Ice had a nice local prep, finishing second in an allowance for Steve Asmussen. The late runner was assigned a tough post on the outside, and he will need a lot of pace help to set up his late burst with Jermaine Bridgmohan accepting the mount.