3 reasons to consider the Springboard Mile a strong prep

Although the $200,000 Remington Springboard Mile on Friday night never has been a highly regarded prep race relative to other races on the Kentucky Derby trail, this edition might end up producing one or two high-level runners down the road. At this point, anything can happen as these 2-year-olds develop.

Here are three reasons to consider this Springboard Mile a strong edition.

1. Favorites with respectable speed figures and class

Otto the Conqueror enters this race as the deserved morning-line favorite after winning a seven-furlong Oct. 29 optional-claiming race at Churchill Downs by four lengths with a 99 on TimeformUS. For a 2-year-old in October against allowance foes, a 99 on TimeformUS stands as a respectable figure.  

Furthermore, the race came back looking strong when the runner-up Honor Marie went on to capture the Grade 2 Kentucky Jockey Club Stakes and the third-place Just Steel won the Ed Brown Stakes in his next start.

Glengarry, the morning-line second choice, won the six-furlong Bowman Mill Stakes at Keeneland on Oct. 28 in his most recent start. He held off Normandy Hero by a half-length while earning a 105 on TimeformUS.

The Bowman Mill race also came back strong in terms of next-out winners. 

The third-place finisher Valentine Candy won the Advent Stakes at Oaklawn in his next start by an impressive 6 3/4 lengths. Also, the fourth-place Patriot Spirit went on to capture the Inaugural Stakes at Tampa Bay Downs.  

2. California shipper with Grade 1 experience

Raging Torrent, whose trainer Doug O’Neill knows how to navigate the trail and win the Kentucky Derby, represents the California circuit.

In September, the son of Maximus Mischief took up a wide stalking position in the Del Mar Futurity (G1) before fading on the turn and finishing fourth by 6 1/4 lengths. Meanwhile, the Bob Baffert-trained Prince of Monaco won the race by a narrow margin over his stablemate Mirahmadi.

About one month later in the American Pharoah Stakes (G1), Raging Torrent tried to press the speedy Baffert-trained pacesetter Wine Me Up before fading on the far turn and finishing fourth again, this time by 12 1/4 lengths.

Wine Me Up’s stablemate Muth went on to pass him and draw clear for a 3 3/4-length victory. Only a few weeks later, Muth had to settle for second to Fierceness in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile after making a threatening bid.

Raging Torrent lost by sizable margins in the Del Mar Futurity and the American Pharoah, but he had to compete against talented Baffert runners and still earned speed figures that match Otto the Conqueror and Glengarry.

For those reasons, Raging Torrent adds to the quality and depth of this Springboard Mile, and he might win as the only Grade 1-experienced horse.

3. Expensive runners

Usually, the expectations run higher when horses cost more at auction. The high prices normally indicate either a great physical appearance, desirable pedigree or a fast workout at the sale, or a combination of all those factors.

Notice how the lowest two prices on the morning line were expensive horses.

Morning-line favorite Otto the Conqueror cost $450,000 as a yearling over a year ago at Keeneland, and second choice Glengarry hit the six-digit mark in May when he cost $150,000 at the Fasig-Tipton Midlantic sale.

Also note the price on the local runner Magic Grant, who cost a hefty $300,000 at the Ocala March sale for Willis Horton Racing. The successful owner Willis Horton died in 2022, but his son Kevin continues to buy and campaign horses as an owner in his father’s name.

Magic Grant shows only two starts at Remington, which makes him a "local" horse, but the connections clearly intend for this horse to develop into something more down the line. They already made one aggressive move with him when Magic Grant won the Clever Trevor Stakes in his second start as a maiden after running only sixth in his local debut.

These six-digit horses bring up the prestige of this prep race because the expectations for them to become big runners down the line are higher.