The $300,000 Remington Springboard Mile Stakes is one of the most interesting prep races on the Road to the Kentucky Derby Presented by Woodford Reserve calendar, even though it has not been an especially productive qualifying race since the points system was put in place in 2013.

The Springboard Mile is the lone qualifying prep race at Remington Park and thus presents and interesting mix of horses shipping into Oklahoma for top connections combined with runners for local trainers and owners. It’s a terrific opportunity for a 2-year-old to pick up some valuable Derby points — the top five finishers will be awarded qualifying points on a 10-5-3-2-1 scale — as the end of the year approaches.

While the race has only produced six Kentucky Derby starters in its history, several competitors went on to enjoy significant success. Will Take Charge, runner-up in the 2012 Springboard Mile, was named champion 3-year-old male the following year, while 2018 winner Long Range Toddy won the Rebel Stakes three months later. More recently, 2020 Springboard Mile winner Senor Buscador won the Grade 2 San Diego Handicap earlier this year and most recently ran second in the Grade 2 Cigar Mile. So, while the Remington Springboard Mile has yet to produce a Kentucky Derby winner, it has served as a springboard for a number of talented 2-year-olds over the years.

Gettysburg Address (Coady Photography)

This year’s edition Friday night is headlined by 5-2 morning-line favorite #8 Otto the Conqueror on a two-race winning streak for Hall of Fame trainer Steve Asmussen and 3-1 second choice #6 Raging Torrent, who has been competing against Grade 1 competition in Southern California for trainer Doug O’Neill.

While Asmussen is no stranger to Remington as a 2012 inductee into the Oklahoma Horse Racing Hall of Fame and a 17-time leading trainer at the Oklahoma City track, he ships Otto the Conqueror in from Oaklawn Park after he posted a front-running four-length win in an allowance-optional claiming race Oct. 29 at Churchill Downs.

Raging Torrent has competed in the Grade 3 Best Pal Stakes, Grade 1 Runhappy Del Mar Futurity, and Grade 1 American Pharoah Stakes in his last three starts after winning his debut in July, but he’s been defeated by 6 ¼ lengths or more in his three stakes races.

#5 Glengarry, the 7-2 third choice on the morning line, is unbeaten in three starts and enters the Springboard Mile off a half-length win in the Bowman Mill Stakes Oct. 28 at Keeneland. He’s clearly talented but this will be his first try stretching out in distance after running in a trio of three-quarter-mile sprints.

Initially I liked #3 Gettysburg Address (6-1) shipping in from Churchill Downs, but he has been scratched from the race, so I will bet an exacta box with Otto the Conqueror and local runner #4 Magic Grant (8-1), the later coming off an impressive 4 ½-length romp from off the pace in the Clever Trevor Stakes Oct. 27 at Remington.

Betting Strategy on a $10 Budget

$5 exacta box: 4,8 ($10)

What to say at the betting window: Remington Park, Race 10, $5 exacta box, 4,8

Betting Strategy on a $30 Budget

$15 exacta box: 4,8 ($30)

What to say at the betting window: Remington Park, Race 10, $15 exacta box, 4,8

6 Beginner Betting Tools

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