The Remington Springboard Mile Stakes is always a fun handicapping and betting challenge, taking me outside of my comfort zone of the usual circuits that I bet to Oklahoma for a qualifying race on the road to the 2026 Kentucky Derby Presented by Woodford Reserve.

The one-mile race typically draws a strong local contingent and the $300,000 purse ensures several out-of-state runners make the trek for a chance at a nice paycheck along with the Derby qualifying points awarded on a 10-5-3-2-1 scale to the top five finishers.

Remington-based runners for the 2025 edition held Dec. 20 are Clever Trevor Stakes winner #3 Essential Time (6-1), two-time Remington stakes winner #4 Royalamerican (12-1), stakes-placed #12 Express Kid (20-1), and maiden winners #9 Western Man (20-1) and #11 Jets Rio (30-1). Essential Time has finished in the top three in all three starts while Royalamerican has never been worse than second in four races. Both should be competitive in this race.

I have not liked what I’ve seen from Iroquois Stakes winner #7 Spice Runner (3-1) in his two most recent starts, so I’m happy to let him beat me as the 3-1 morning-line favorite. I’ll play against him in the Springboard Mile despite the fact that he’s been facing better competition.

The horse that really caught my eye is #1 Artic Beast (4-1), who has natural speed and should be on or near the pace from the inside post. He’s a two-time stakes winner at Finger Lakes shipping in from Oaklawn Park for trainer Mike Maker. The Yaupon colt will be stretching out an extra quarter-mile in distance to a mile, but his dam (mother), Frostie Anne, was a stakes winner at 1 1/8 miles and he’s the fastest horse in the race while unbeaten in three starts.

I also like longshot #10 Big Apple Patrick (15-1) to outrun his odds. He won his debut impressively at Churchill Downs in October before fading late after setting the pace at 1 1/16 miles in a starter-allowance race under the Twin Spires Nov. 22. Both races came on a sloppy track and I’m interested to see if he takes a step forward on a dry track with no rain in the forecast in Oklahoma City this weekend.

My plan of attack is to bet Arctic Beast to win at 3-1 odds or higher and play him in a trifecta over Essential Time, Royalamerican, and Big Apple Patrick.

Wagering Strategy on a $10 Budget

$10 to win on #1 Arctic Beast

What to say at the betting window: Remington Park, Race 12, $10 to win on 1

Wagering Strategy on a $30 Budget

$12 to win on #1 Arctic Beast ($12)

What to say at the betting window: Remington Park, Race 12, $12 to win on 1

$3 trifecta: 1 with 3,4,10 with 3,4,10 ($18)

What to say at the betting window: Remington Park, Race 12, $3 trifecta: 1 with 3,4,10 with 3,4,10