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Remington Springboard Mile: Undefeated Shippers and Proven Stakes Winners Clash in Derby Points Race
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The $300,000 Springboard Mile at Remington Park on December 20 serves as one of the final opportunities for 2-year-olds to earn qualifying points toward the 2026 Kentucky Derby, distributing them on a 10-5-3-2-1 scale to the top five finishers. While no past winner of this one-mile contest has gone on to capture the Run for the Roses, the race has attracted a competitive field of 12, blending undefeated eastern shippers, graded stakes performers, and track-savvy locals.
Leading the contenders is Arctic Beast, an undefeated New York-bred trained by Michael Maker. The son of promising young sire Yaupon has dominated his three starts, all at sprint distances, culminating in dominant victories in restricted stakes at Finger Lakes. He drew off by more than seven lengths in one outing and followed with a decisive score in the New York Breeders’ Futurity on October 13, his most recent race. Drawing the advantageous rail post and reuniting with jockey Ricardo Santana Jr., who has guided him to his last two triumphs, Arctic Beast brings the field’s highest overall performance rating and ties for the strongest last-race speed. Though untested at a route, his early pace and flawless record make him a standout, especially as Maker has enjoyed success shipping stakes runners to Remington Park in recent seasons.
Hall of Fame trainer Steve Asmussen saddles a powerful trio, headlined by Spice Runner, the field’s most accomplished runner to date. Owned by Winchell Thoroughbreds, this son of Gun Runner captured a graded stakes earlier in the year and enters as the top earner with over $316,000 banked. After a graded placing and a tougher trip in his latest route attempt, connections opt for a class drop and change of scenery, hoping the Oklahoma surface suits him better. Asmussen’s deep history in this event positions his entrants well.
Another Asmussen runner, Time for Music, adds intrigue as a family connection—his son Erik Asmussen takes the ride on this Not This Time colt. After breaking through in his third start, Time for Music delivered a strong closing runner-up effort in a Churchill Downs allowance route last month, showing improvement over longer distances.
Local hopes rest heavily with Royalamerican, the standout Oklahoma-bred prepared by owner-trainer C.R. Trout. This gelding has excelled at Remington, winning his latest around two turns and capturing the Oklahoma Classics Juvenile earlier. Regular rider David Cabrera sticks with him as he steps into open stakes company for the first time.
Other notables include Essential Time, a clever stakes winner over the local surface returning to dirt after a turf try, and shippers like Supreme Good from Kenny McPeek’s barn, fresh off a maiden route score at Aqueduct.
With a mix of proven routers, sharp sprinters stretching out, and track specialists, the Springboard Mile promises an exciting conclusion to Remington Park’s 2025 meet, potentially launching several toward bigger targets in the new year.
2025 Remington Springboard Mile – Field of 12
$300,000 Stakes for 2-Year-Olds | 1 Mile | Remington Park | December 20, 2025
| Post Position | Horse | Jockey | Trainer | Morning Line Odds | Key Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Arctic Beast | Ricardo Santana, Jr. | Michael J. Maker | 4-1 | Undefeated in 3 starts; dominant New York-bred stakes winner |
| 2 | Time for Music | Erik Asmussen | Steven M. Asmussen | 9-2 | Strong recent route effort; family ride with trainer’s son |
| 3 | Essential Time | Iram V. Diego | Danny Pish | 6-1 | Local stakes winner returning to dirt |
| 4 | Royalamerican | David Cabrera | C. R. Trout | 12-1 | Proven local router; recent stakes success at Remington |
| 5 | My Dream Zapper | Ernesto Valdez-Jiminez | Stetson Rushton | 20-1 | Recent placer stretching out |
| 6 | Supreme Good | Christopher Elliott | Kenneth G. McPeek | 8-1 | Recent route maiden winner |
| 7 | Spice Runner | Stewart Elliott | Steven M. Asmussen | 3-1 | Morning-line favorite; graded stakes winner seeking rebound |
| 8 | Way Beyond | Ramon A. Vazquez | Steven M. Asmussen | 12-1 | Part of strong Asmussen trio |
| 9 | Western Man | Richard E. Eramia | Joe S. Offolter | 20-1 | Impressive debut winner locally |
| 10 | Big Apple Patrick | Walter A. Rodriguez | Daniel Leitch | 15-1 | Recent allowance performer |
| 11 | Jets Rio | Rene Diaz | Ron Moquett | 30-1 | Recent maiden winner over route |
| 12 | Express Kid | Jose L. Alvarez | Wade Rarick | 20-1 | Stakes-placed with mixed form |
| Selections: 1-7-4-2 | |||||
Selections and Wagering Strategies for the 2025 Remington Springboard Mile
The field shapes up as a clash between proven class, undefeated potential, and local form. The top overall performance ratings favor Arctic Beast with the strongest composite ability, followed closely by Royalamerican and Spice Runner. Last-race speed ties at the highest level between Arctic Beast and Time for Music, while several runners show competitive dirt performances near the expected winning standard for this one-mile test.
Arctic Beast stands out as the most reliable contender. Undefeated in three starts, this Michael Maker trainee has dominated from the front in restricted stakes company, drawing off impressively in his latest outing more than two months ago. His early pace style suits the rail draw, and the step up to a route remains the main question, though his pedigree and sharp works suggest stamina potential.
Spice Runner brings the deepest resume, including a graded stakes victory earlier this season for Steve Asmussen, who fields three strong entries and has dominated this event historically with seven prior wins. After tougher recent routes against top company, this class relief and surface switch could spark a rebound for the field’s leading earner.
Royalamerican offers proven local success around two turns, winning his most recent route convincingly at this track for owner-trainer C.R. Trout. His consistent form over the Remington surface makes him a dangerous stalker.
Time for Music, another Asmussen runner, showed improved closing ability in his latest route effort and benefits from a family connection with Erik Asmussen aboard. Essential Time returns to dirt after a solid turf placing and has already won stakes here locally.
Selections:
- Win/Top Pick: #1 Arctic Beast
- Place/Exacta Key: #7 Spice Runner
- Show/Underneath: #4 Royalamerican
- Longshot to Include: #2 Time for Music
Wagering Strategies:
- Win/Place on #1 Arctic Beast (value around 4-1 morning line if available).
- Exacta Box: 1-7-4-2 (covers the top contenders with potential for solid payouts if a longer price hits underneath).
- Trifecta Key: #1 Arctic Beast over 2-4-7 over 2-3-4-7-8 (keys the undefeated favorite on top, using Asmussen runners and locals underneath for coverage).
- Superfecta Play (0.10 base): Small ticket keying #1 on top with 2-4-7 underneath, adding #3 Essential Time and #8 Way Beyond for deeper value.
- Conservative approach: Focus on exactas and trifectas wheeling Arctic Beast on top with the three Asmussen entries (2-7-8) and Royalamerican for track affinity.
This setup balances the favorite’s reliability with class droppers and locals, aiming for overlays in multi-race wagers.
