Kentucky Derby prep: Field, tips for Friday's Springboard Mile

Springboard Mile at Remington Park. The two-turn dirt mile offers 10-5-3-2-1 Kentucky Derby points to its top five finishers, and horses who run well often continue on to more points races in the winter and spring.

The Springboard Mile became a Derby points race in 2017 and since sent six horses to the run for the roses, with a fifth place as the best finish. In 2020 Señor Buscador won the Springboard Mile in his second career start and now ranks 10th in all-time career earnings in North America with $12.9 million.

Here is a full-field analysis for the Springboard Mile with the official track morning-line odds. The race is scheduled for 11:26 p.m. EST and is listed as the final race of 12.

1. Coal Battle, 10-1. Coal Front – Lonnie Briley / Juan Vargas – 4: 2-0-0 - $127,625. Coal Battle won his debut in a race that was off the turf at Evangeline Downs and then was fourth in the Juvenile Mile at Kentucky Downs. Last month, he returned to dirt with a victory in the Jean Lafitte at Delta Downs as the favorite. Coal Battle is one of three stakes winners in the field and the leading money winner. Both of his wins came when he ran with Lasix, which is not allowed in stakes under Horseracing Integrity and Safety Authority regulations. Toss.

2. Blue Angel, 15-1. Gun Runner – Steve Asmussen / David Cabrera – 1: 1-0-0 - $20,298. Blue Angel is the first of three entrants in the field for Steve Asmussen as he tries for his eighth victory in the Springboard Mile. The son of Gun Runner won his only start by a head as an even-money favorite on a sloppy and sealed track with a closing move last month at Remington Park. Toss.

3. Speed King, 7-2. Volatile – Ron Moquett / Rafael Bejarano – 1: 1-0-0 - $69,000. Speed King won his only start with a front-end trip at Churchill Downs at odds of 22-1. The son of Volatile sold three times at auction, most recently for $100,000 in April. Win contender.

4. Dominant Spirit, 15-1. Mohaymen – Bret Calhoun/ Jose Alvarez – 2: 1-1-0 - $35,298. Dominant Spirit ran twice as the favorite at Remington, winning his debut by almost five lengths in September. Then in October in the Clever Trevor he battled on the lead and was second by a half-length. Trainer Bret Calhoun won this race in 2010 and 2013. Live long shot.

5. Brooklyn Alley Cat, 20-1. Ministers Wild Cat – Danny Pish / Iram Diego – 6: 2-0-1 - $46,917. Brooklyn Alley Cat broke his maiden in his fifth start, which was on the turf at Remington in October racing two turns. He moved back to the dirt two weeks ago and rallied from a distant last to win by more than a length going a mile. Use underneath.

6. Essay, 20-1. Thousand Words – Bret Calhoun / Richard Eramia – 4: 2-0-0 - $49,598. Essay won at first asking in June at Lone Star Park against a field of 10 Texas-breds. He returned in the Juvenile Sprint at Kentucky Downs and finished sixth. Back on the main track he could not keep up in the Kip Deville and was last. Last month, he came back to win an allowance sprint at Remington while pressing the pace. Toss.

7. Jolly Samurai, 4-1. First Samurai – Danny Pish / Rene Diaz – 3: 3-0-0 - $110,196. Jolly Samurai has a perfect record after three starts at Remington while racing from off the pace at increasing distances. He won the Kip Deville and the Clever Trevor, which are the two prep races for the Springboard Mile. The Texas-bred is the horse to beat. The morning line odds of 4-1 seem to be too high. The one to beat.

8. Complex Music, 8-1. Complexity – Steve Asmussen / Stewart Elliot – 6: 2-0-1 - $75,630. Complex Music is one of the most experienced horses in the field. He broke his maiden in his second try while racing for a $100,000 tag as a colt who sold for $110,000 in March. He tried a pair of stakes without much luck and was third and a winner in a pair of sprint allowances at Horseshoe Indianapolis against fields of six each time. Use underneath.

9. Dr Ruben M, 6-1. Vino Rosso – Doug O’Neill / Edwin Maldonado – 4: 1-2-0 - $59,700. Dr Ruben M ships from California for Doug O’Neill. In October he broke his maiden in his fourth try with a front-end trip going a mile at Santa Anita. California rider Edwin Maldonado travels to Oklahoma to stay on board. Top choice.

10. Medicine Dog, 20-1. Constitution – Sarah Nicole Davidson / Floyd Wethey Jr. – 3: 1-0-1 - $24,091. Medicine Dog won his first start by nine lengths in a maiden claimer where he was taken for the $30,000 tag. He was third two weeks later in the Clever Trevor and then was fifth in the allowance that Essay won last month. Toss.

11. Mister Omaha, 5-1. Omaha Beach – Joe Offolter / Luis Quinonez – 4: 3-0-1 - $102,409. Mister Omaha won his last three starts and faced Oklahoma-breds in all four of his races. His two recent wins were in stakes where the total margin was more than 10 lengths. The move to open company will present a new challenge. Toss.

12. Keeno, 12-1. Keen Ice – Steve Asmussen / Jermaine Bridgmohan – 4: 1-2-0 - $31,064. Keeno is a Calumet Farm homebred who had a troubled trip in his debut and was moved up to second by disqualification. He broke his maiden on the turf going two turns. He was eighth in the Clever Trevor and second in the allowance that was won by Brooklyn Alley Cat. Toss.

Summary: A wide-open field of 12 makes the Springboard Mile a dicey race to handicap. The Springboard has had high-priced winners recently, and it makes sense to use some horses that have higher odds.

Dr. Ruben M has successful experience going the mile and will be the top choice. The suggested wager is an exacta key box using him with Jolly Samurai, Brooklyn Alley Cat, Complex Music and Speed King.