SUNDAY: Handicapping the Springboard Mile

By Rick Francis —-

The road to a starting berth in the 144th Kentucky Derby heads to Oklahoma City and Remington Park where a field of twelve 2-year-old colts and geldings get the call to post in the running of the Springboard Mile Stakes.

A winner’s share of 400k and Derby points (10-4-2-1) should make for an interesting Sunday evening; let’s take a look at the starters.

Remington Park

Race 11), Springboard Mile Stakes 2YO 1 Mile Post Time 7:40 CST

Combatant (1), Asmussen/Santana; after debuting on the Churchill turf, connections brought this Scat Daddy colt to the main track and watched him clear a nice maiden field and post the one of the field’s fastest times at the distance; you know he’ll be a factor.

Major Brown (2), Whitelaw/Parker; rebounded off a beating in the Clever Trevor to best a nice OC field here; think he runs back to his overnight form.

Brangelina (3), Pish/Sorenson; showed a lot getting up by a head here last out; gets serious class-test.

Bode’s Maker (4), Milligan/Wethey; finished up well placing here in the Clever Trevor; expect a continued forward in this.

Flip the Coin Jan (5), O’Neill/Gutierrez; Cal-shipper has shown solid improvement in his last three, hand riding past pricey MC’s at Del Mar; he’s another to take a closer look at.

Night Strike (6), Calhoun/Diego; don’t discount anything from this barn, but I’m just not enamored about the quality of competition he beat in breaking his maiden last out; be careful.

Soul P Say (7), Milligan/Loveberry; this guy should be an exotics factor; breaking his maiden in last he posted a winning time at the route equal to Combatant; using.

Flat Lucky (8), Asmussen/Vazquez; has disappointed in each of his last two. Sent as race fave’s in each, Flat Out colt finished third in both, and those were non-threatening thirds.

Redatory (9), Dupuy/Cabrera; perfect 2-for-2; his Clever Trevor score was in gate-to-wire fashion; he’s as ready as ready can get.

Believe in Royalty (10), Jones/Albarado; very pricey Tapit colt enters on a 2-race win streak over the Laurel main, and for his stakes debut always dangerous Larry Jones enlists always dangerous Robby Albarado for the ride.

Kingsville (11), Pish/Quinonez; best word to describe last, bounced. Short price favorite rallied but still finished a clear second to Major Brown; should rebound.

Greyvitos (12), Kitchingman/Espinoza; San Luis Rey survivor enters off a pillar-to-post win in the Grade 3 Bob Hope at Del Mar, a victory that posted this field’s highest sped figure; Victor rides in with Malibu Moon colt.

Selections: 10, 1, 7, 12