The $400,000 Remington Springboard Mile Stakes at Remington Park on Sunday is a significant race for 2-year-olds who aspire to be considered Kentucky Derby quality in the upcoming months. A large field of 12 colts and geldings are entered in this year's edition, making for a competitive race and a potential large payout. the field is led by Grade 3 Bob Hope Stakes winner Greyvitos, who posted the 19-to- 1 upset in that race last month in California as he earned his first win in his third career start in a stakes race. A number of local runners may be ready to have a say in the outcome including Redatory, Bode's Maker and Flat Lucky, who finished first, second, and third, respectively, in the one-turn Clever Trevor Stakes last month. Another shipper from California, Flip the Coin Jan, exits a 7 ¼-length win at the distance of the Springboard Mile, the same distance Believe in Royalty earned a win at last month in Maryland. Other horses entering the race off wins and certainly with chances to have a say in the outcome include Combatant, Brangelina, Major Brown, Night Strike and Soul P Say. Kingsville, second in his most recent race behind Major Brown, rounds out the field.

Believe in Royalty finished third in his career debut in August, at this mile trip around two turns, and has won both his starts since. Debuting around two turns is a tough question to ask any horse, let alone a young horse, but since that debut with a 75 Equibase Speed Figure, Believe in Royalty improved nicely to earn an 83 figure with a 2 ¼-length win in career start No. 2, then earned a 92 figure in his most recent effort. In his most recent race, Believe in Royalty established an easy lead from the start, opened up to lead by seven lengths entering the stretch, and coasted to an effortless ridden-out win by 3 ¾-lengths. Although he led from start to finish last month, based on his debut effort in which he closed from seventh to third Believe in Royalty does not need the lead to win. In this race, with it likely either Redatory, Greyvitos, or Major Brown may want the lead from the start, Believe in Royalty can stalk the pacesetters and get up in time for the win.

Combatant is one of two from the strong barn of Steve Asmussen (the other being Flat Lucky), a trainer who has won with nearly a third (11 of 35) of his starters in dirt route stakes in the past six months. Combatant improved nicely to win his second career start at the end of October, earning a 91 speed figure. That effort is likely to be improved upon in this situation, particularly with the colt getting the ground-saving rail and with the trainer's No. 1 winning jockey, Ricardo Santana Jr., in the saddle.

Greyvitos (BENOIT photo)

Flip the Coin Jan may have been racing in maiden claiming races in California but may also be good enough to compete in this stakes race based on his 89 last-race figure when winning by seven lengths at the one-mile distance of the Springboard Mile. Trainer Doug O'Neill claimed the colt for $50,000 in August and since then Flip the Coin Jan has improved markedly. With the No. 1 rider for the barn, Mario Gutierrez, in from California to ride and with the colt already having won powerfully at the distance, Flip the Coin Jan adds another contender to the mix in this race.

Greyvitos was still a maiden when he entered the gate for the Bob Hope Stakes last month at Del Mar, but he exited with not only his first win but a stakes win as well. In his first start in blinkers and the third start of his career, Greyvitos led from start to finish with an exceptional 110 figure that, on paper, makes him the one to beat if he can repeat the effort. On the other hand, he gets the extreme outside post in this two-turn race and may have to work to get position before the first turn without going too wide which may cost him some energy he could need late in the race. Additionally, Greyvitos faces twice as many foes as he did in the Bob Hope, which only had six horses. That could mean more early pace pressure if Greyvitos goes for the lead from the start, or it could mean the possibility of traffic trouble if jockey Victor Espinoza decides to take him back off the pace and rally late in the race. Still, based on the quality of his Bob Hope effort, Greyvitos can't be discounted as a contender to win the Springboard Mile.

The rest of the Remington Springboard Mile Stakes field, with their best representative Equibase Speed Figures, is Bode's Maker (88), Brangelina (74), Flat Lucky (88), Kingsville (75), Major Brown (77), Night Strike (89), Redatory (92) and Soul P Say (80).

My selections:

Believe in Royalty

Combatant

Flip the Coin Jan

Greyvitos