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Make It Big Battles Osbourne Through Stretch To Take Springboard Mile

Make It Big earned 10 qualifying points in the 2022 Kentucky Derby standings Friday night, winning the $401,200 Springboard Mile for 2-year-olds at Remington Park in Oklahoma City, Okla.

The top 2-year-old race of the Remington Park season provided the stage for the third win in a row to start the career of Make It Big, who has never raced on Lasix. Kentucky Derby points are awarded to horses only if they have not raced on the diuretic during the qualifying races. The other horse earning points in the Springboard was runner-up Osbourne, who gets four in the Derby standings. The third and fourth place finishers, Concept and Classic Moment, both from trainer Steve Asmussen's barn, competed with Lasix on Friday night.

Rick Sacco, racing manager for Make it Big's owner, Red Oak Stable in Ocala, Fla., was non-committal on where Make It Big's first start as a 3-year-old will be in 2022, but the dark bay colt by Neolithic, out of the Congrats mare Ruby on My Mind, won his first two races at Gulfstream Park in Hallandale Beach, Fla. The $120,000 purchase at the Ocala Breeders Sale Spring Sale of 2-year-olds in training has quickly earned his keep. He won $240,000 from the purse Friday and is now undefeated through three attempts with total earnings of $303,828.

“Yes, we will enjoy these Kentucky Derby points,” said Sacco, “but we will have to discuss where we send him next.”

Sarah Shaffer, trainer Saffie Joseph, Jr.'s assistant, was on hand for the victory, just having met the horse for the first time this week. She stables at the Fair Grounds in New Orleans, La.

“He has a personality and a half,” she said. “We expected the cold weather to sharpen him up here.”

Temperatures were brisk in the high 40s when seven horses broke from the gate for the Springboard. Make It Big was feeling his oats in the warmup. Jockey Jose Ortiz was putting everything he had to keep the colt in his skin before the race.

“We really wanted to get him warmed up,” said Shaffer. “He's very smart. He knew what he was here for. Nice horse.”

Make It Big broke his maiden on Oct. 9 at Gulfstream, winning by 8 1/2 lengths at first asking. He then took down the $60,000 Ocala Stud Juvenile Sprint Stakes for Florida-breds at Gulfstream by 2 1/4 lengths on Oct. 30. Both of those wins came at seven furlongs and with jockey Edgard Zayas in the saddle. Friday night's Springboard was his first trip around two turns.

“The horse was two-for-two with Edgard,” said Ortiz, who shipped in from the East Coast for the mount. “Unfortunately, Edgard couldn't ride because he had to have surgery on his shoulder.”

Ortiz, the No. 4 rider in the country with his horses earning more than $24 million in 2021, wasn't a bad substitute and he rode Make It Big to perfection. He took the winner's circle photos with the garland of flowers wrapped around his shoulders from head to near his feet.

Ortiz let Make It Big settle in fifth down the backstretch and then asked for a run at the top of the stretch. By that time the colt was rolling and he engaged Osbourne who took the lead before the field left the final turn. Make It Big battled neck and neck with Osbourne throughout the length of the stretch, gaining a half-length win at the finish.

Osbourne is trained by Ron Moquett of Breeders' Cup Sprint winner fame, Whitmore. Osbourne, a 2-year-old gelded son of Tapiture, out of the Rock Hard Ten mare Planet Rock also has not raced on Lasix in three tries. He broke his maiden in his last start at Churchill Downs in Louisville, Ky., on Nov. 17 at seven furlongs. Julien Leparoux, his regular rider, fought gamely from the outside post position in the field of seven. He was three lengths ahead of third-place finisher Concept, winner of the $75,000 Kip Deville Stakes on Sept. 26 at Remington.

The remaining order of finish in the Springboard was Classic Moment (4th), Rowdy Rascal (5th), Revenir (6th), and Bye Bye Bobby (7th).

Make It Big was sent off at 6-5 odds as the betting favorite and paid $4.60 to win, $3.40 to place, and $2.60 to show. The winner cut into early fractions of :24.77 for the first quarter-mile, :49.22 for the half-mile, 1:14.94 for three-quarters of a mile, and 1:27.86 for seven furlongs. His winning time at the mile was 1:41.23 over the fast main surface.

Make It Big is doing his best to put his young sire, Neolithic, on the map. That stallion went to stud in 2018 and Make It Big was foaled in 2019. Neolithic has some classic bloodlines, being a son of Harlan's Holiday, and his stud fee might soar if this horse proves to be worthy on the Kentucky Derby trail. Neolithic's stud fee for 2022 is $5,000 for a live foal. Harlan's Holiday won $3.6 million in his racing career, including Grade 1 wins in the Florida Derby, the Blue Grass Stakes, and the Donn Handicap.

Make It Big is easily Neolithic's top earner among his progeny.

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Cox, Asmussen Account For 10 Of The 35 Nominees To Springboard Mile

The top two trainers in the country, Brad Cox and Steve Asmussen, have 10 of the 35 nominations to the $400,000 Springboard Mile for 2-year-olds on closing night, Dec. 17, at Remington Park.

The cornerstone open race for juvenile horses here has seen Cox nominate six and Asmussen four to this race run at the mile distance. Cox currently is the nation's top conditioner with $30,918,451 in horse earnings this year. Asmussen is a close second at $30,321,160.

Only one of Cox's six is a stakes winner and that horse, Kaely's Brother, was moved from second into the stakes win by disqualification at Delta Downs in Louisiana. Kaely's Brother, by Twirling Candy, out of the Yes It's True mare Policy of Truth, ran second in the $100,000 Jean Lafitte Stakes on Nov. 20. As the heavy favorite, Kaely's Brother checked behind the horse that crossed the finish line first, Waita Minute Hayes. The stewards ruled Waita Minute Hayes would be disqualified and Kaely's Brother be put up as the winner. Kaely's Brother had broken his maiden at Keeneland on Oct. 9 by three-quarters of a length, sprinting six furlongs. The colt's win in the Jean Lafitte was at the mile distance.

Kaely's Brother races for owner Dean Maltzman and has earned $110,737 in three races.

Cox's other nominees include Rocket Dawg, a Churchill Downs maiden winner in Louisville at first asking Nov. 19 in his only career race. He smoked a field by 5-1/2 lengths at seven furlongs. The colt is by Classic Empire, out of the Distorted Humor mare Rever de Vous. He races for owners Frank Fletcher Racing Operations and Ten Strike Racing.

Cox also has nominated Home Brew, who would be one of the top earners in the field at $113,000 if he goes. He is a Kentucky-bred colt by Street Sense, out of the Tapit mare Omnitap. He is two-for-three to start his career with his biggest win coming in an allowance-optional $80,000 claiming race last time out at Oaklawn Park in Hot Springs, Ark. That win by 3-3/4 lengths came at the one-mile distance on Dec. 4.

Asmussen has nominated one Remington Park stakes winner, Concept, and three Churchill Downs maiden winners. All four are Kentucky-breds.

Concept, a Gun Runner colt out of the Cindago mare Majestic Jewel, won the $75,000 Kip Deville Stakes at Remington Park on Sept. 26, sprinting six furlongs on the main track. When he stretched out to seven furlongs in the $100,000 Clever Trevor Stakes, he made the lead after a half mile but faded to fourth, beaten nine lengths. Concept is owned by Tony Holmes and Winchell Thoroughbreds.

The Asmussen maiden winners from Churchill are All in Sync, Chasing Time and Classic Moment. All in Sync, by Maclean's Music, out of the Girolamo mare System Time, won his second start by 1-1/2 lengths over a sloppy track at six furlongs on Nov. 25. He is owned by Ed and Susie Orr.

Chasing Time, a colt by Not This Time, out of the Dixie Union mare Race Hunter, took three tries to break his maiden, winning by 1-3/4 lengths at seven furlongs on Nov. 27. He is owned by My Racehorse.

Classic Moment won in his second start Nov. 5 at 6-1/2 furlongs by a half-length. This colt is by Classic Empire, out of the Yankee Victor mare Victory Party. He is owned by L and N Racing of Tulsa, Okla., and Winchell Thoroughbreds.

The only horse among the nominees with multiple stakes wins, and the local flag bearer for Remington Park is Rowdy Rascal, trained by Boyd “Jobe” Caster and owned by JT Stables of Springdale, Ark. Rowdy Rascal has won three races in a row over the Remington Park main surface, taking the $100,000 Oklahoma Classics Juvenile on Oct. 15 at six furlongs and then stretching out to one mile to easily win the $75,000 Don McNeill Stakes on Nov. 12 by three lengths.

“I haven't decided whether we are going or not,” said Caster. “We'll play it by ear and see how he comes out of his workout.”

Rowdy Rascal, an Oklahoma-bred by Den's Legacy, out of the Affirmatif mare Dancing Diva, has a record of six starts, three wins, one second and a bankroll of $132,859. He would definitely be one of the most experienced horse in the field if he goes. He is expected to work five furlongs on Thursday morning at Remington Park.

The top earner in the field, should he be entered, would be Tejano Twist, a winner in the $200,000 Lively Shively Stakes at Churchill Downs on Nov. 27. He also was runner-up to Concept in the Kip Deville at Remington Park. He is a gelded son of Practical Joke, out of the Cuvee mare Haley's Lolipop, and is a Kentucky home-bred by owner Tom Durant. His record is eight starts, three wins, three seconds and $260,670 in earnings. He would be the most experienced runner in the field.

Barber Road, who ran second, beaten only a half-length in the Lively Shively by Tejano Twist, was nominated by trainer John Ortiz. This colt is a Kentucky-bred owned by WSS Racing. He is by Race Day, out of the Southern Image mare Encounter. His record is 4-2-1-0 with $100,720 in the bank.

Other trainers with multiple nominees were Ron Moquett with three, U.S. Racing Hall of Famer Jerry Hollendorfer and Bret Calhoun with two each.

Remington Park racing continues this week with Friday and Saturday night cards, Dec. 10-11 that begin at 7:07pm-Central.

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Concept Headlines Field Of Nine For Clever Trevor At Remington

The nation's leading trainer, Steve Asmussen, has entered two of the six 2-year-olds he nominated for the $100,000 Clever Trevor Stakes to be run at Remington Park in Oklahoma City, Okla., on Friday, Oct. 29, including morning-line favorite Concept.

Concept, a 2-year-old Gun Runner colt out of the Cindago mare Majestic Jewel, broke his maiden while winning the Kip Deville at Remington Park on Sept. 26 at six furlongs. He will be asked to go an extra furlong for the Clever Trevor at seven furlongs and has favored status at 5-2 odds.

Concept had previously finished third in a maiden race at Lone Star Park on July 2 in Grand Prairie, Texas, and fifth in the Prairie Gold Juvenile Stakes at Prairie Meadows in Altoona, Iowa, on Aug. 14. He is owned by Tony Holmes and Winchell Thoroughbreds (Ron Winchell) of Las Vegas. The Gun Runner colt took them wire to wire in the Kip Deville at 9-5 odds.

Gun Runner is the top sire in the country for 2-year-old runners this year. Asmussen campaigned Gun Runner, the 2017 Horse of the Year and Grade 1 Breeders' Cup Classic winner. The Clever Trevor Stakes is a prep race for the $400,000 Springboard Mile on closing night, Dec. 17.

At the top of the heap of the national trainer standings, Asmussen's horses have earned in excess of $25 million this year. His $25,847,214 is tops in the country.

Asmussen's other entry in the Clever Trevor is a maiden winner, Hern, 10-1 on the morning line. He is another 2-year-old Gun Runner colt, out of a Distorted Humor mare, Sweet Opportunity. He has raced only three times, breaking his maiden at Remington Park on Sept. 8.

Feel the Fear and El Pando were made co-second morning-line favorites for the Clever Trevor, one coming off a stakes win in Iowa and the other an extremely impressive maiden win in his career debut. Both horses were set at 3-1 odds in the morning line.

Feel the Fear is 2-for-2 lifetime out of trainer Austin Gustafson's barn for owner Forge Ahead Stables (Kevin Kuta) of Ashland, Neb. Ramon Vazquez will be the third jockey to get aboard and try to extend that streak to three wins. Lane Luzzi rode him to a maiden win at Lone Star Park and then Kevin Roman got in the irons for the colt's win in the $100,000 Prairie Gold Juvenile Stakes at Prairie Meadows in Altoona, Iowa. Feel the Fear is a son of Honor Code, out of the Kitten's Joy mare Fresh Feline. He was bred in Kentucky by Lazy F Ranch. Feel the Fear is the top money-earner in the field with $79,140 in his bankroll.

El Pando won at first asking in a maiden race at Remington Park by 8-3/4 lengths with three-time defending champion jockey David Cabrera up, and is trained by rookie trainer Jaylan Clary. She has been impressive in her first official year of training with 12 starters and seven of them running in the money. This colt by Outwork, from the Speightstown mare Queen Negwer, covered five furlongs in a swift :57.74 in the maiden victory on Sept. 15. He is owned by the trainer, Clary of Brock, Texas, and was bred in Kentucky by Mike Abraham.

Chrome Baby (6-1), a Kentucky-bred by 2014 Kentucky Derby winner California Chrome, showed major improvement in his second start, winning by 5-1/4 lengths in open maiden company. He is lightly raced with only two starts against Remington Park maidens for owners Levings Racing (Brian Levings) of Edmond, Okla. He was bred in Kentucky by Taylor Brothers Properties and George Saufley, et. al. He not only was sired by a Kentucky Derby winner but Chrome Baby's dam (mom), Star Super, is by Super Saver, who won the run for the roses in 2010.

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Here's the field from the rail out with post, horse, jockey, trainer, and odds.

Malibu Thunder, Obed Sanchez, Terry Eoff, 20-1
Feel the Fear, Ramon Vazquez, Austin Gustafson, 3-1
Revenir, Danny Sorenson, Danny Pish, 20-1
El Pando, David Cabrera, Jaylan Clary, 3-1
Hern, Leandro Goncalves, Steve Asmussen, 10-1
Kentucky Bourbon, Jose Alvarez, Dallas Keen, 15-1
Chrome Baby, Richard Eramia, Bret Calhoun, 6-1
Speightsville, Carlos Montalvo, C.R. Trout, 8-1
Concept, Stewart Elliott, Steve Asmussen, 5-2

Remington Park racing continues, Saturday, Oct. 23 at 7:07 pm Central.

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Asmussen, Cox Horses Lead List Of Nominations For Clever Trevor At Remington

The nation's leading trainer, Steve Asmussen, has nominated six 2-year-olds for the $100,000 Clever Trevor Stakes, a seven-furlong sprint to be contested at Remington Park in Oklahoma City, Okla., on Friday, Oct. 29.

The Clever Trevor serves as the last local prep event for the $400,000 Springboard Mile, run on the final night of the season, Dec. 17.

Asmussen's horses have earned in excess of $25 million this year. His $25,667,467 is tops in the country with Brad Cox second at $24,149,520. Cox has nominated two juveniles to the Clever Trevor.

There were 34 total nominations to the Clever Trevor with Asmussen leading the way. Other trainers with multiple noms include Dallas Stewart with five; Austin Gustafson, three, and Scott Young, Terry Eoff, Michael Biehler, Bret Calhoun, and Ronnie Cravens III with two each.

Asmussen's six nominees are Kip Deville Stakes winner Concept, Chattalot, Hern, Royal Tap, Down Cold, and Briar. Concept and Chattalot appear to be Asmussen's top two nominated here.

Concept, a 2-year-old Gun Runner colt out of the Cindago mare Majestic Jewel, broke his maiden while winning the Kip Deville at Remington Park on Sept. 26, on the undercard of Oklahoma Derby Day. He had previously finished third in a maiden race at Lone Star Park on July 2 in Grand Prairie, Texas, and fifth in the Prairie Gold Juvenile Stakes at Prairie Meadows in Altoona, Iowa, on Aug. 14. He is owned by Tony Holmes and Winchell Thoroughbreds (Ron Winchell). Concept took them wire to wire in the Kip Deville at 9-5 odds.

Gun Runner is the top sire in the country for 2-year-old runners this year. Asmussen campaigned Gun Runner, the 2017 Horse of the Year and Grade 1 Breeders' Cup Classic winner. Gun Runner's top 2-year-old in training is Echo Zulu, who has won the Frizette Stakes and Spinaway Stakes, both Grade 1 events. She will likely be the favorite in the upcoming Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies race and is owned by L&N Racing of Tulsa, Okla.

Chattalot is an undefeated colt by Midnight Lute, out of the Kingmambo mare Mamboalot. He has won both of his career races, one at Saratoga in upstate New York and the other at Churchill Downs in Louisville, Ky. Neither of those races came against stakes company.

Hern is another 2-year-old Gun Runner colt, this one out of a Distorted Humor mare, Sweet Opportunity. He has raced only three times, breaking his maiden at Remington Park on Sept. 8, his last race. Five of Asmussen's six noms are Kentucky-breds. The only one that is not is Royal Tap, who was bred in Texas.

These horses figure to be strong contenders to win the Clever Trevor if they are entered (trainers in parenthesis) – Rowdy Rascal (Boyd “Jobe” Caster), Chrome Baby (Calhoun), Feel the Fear (Gustafson), Kaely's Brother (Cox), Keep Your Promise (Donnie Von Hemel), Stan's Miracle Man (Gustafson), Tejano Twist (Calhoun), and Unified Report (Stewart).

Rowdy Rascal, a gelding by Den's Legacy, out of the Affirmatif mare Dancing Diva, just won the Oklahoma Classics Juvenile at Remington Park on Oct. 15 after breaking his maiden here on Sept. 18. He is owned by JT Stables (Theresa Moore) and was bred in Oklahoma.

Chrome Baby, a Kentucky-bred by 2014 Kentucky Derby winner California Chrome, showed major improvement in his second start, winning by 5 1/4 lengths in open maiden company. He is lightly raced with only those two starts for owners Levings Racing (Brian Levings) of Edmond, Okla.

Feel the Fear, a Kentucky-bred Honor Code colt out of the Kitten Joy's mare Fresh Feline, won the Prairie Gold Juvenile on Aug. 14 at Prairie Meadows. He is owned by Forge Ahead Stables (Kevin Kuta).

Kaely's Brother is a colt by Twirling Candy, out of the Yes It's True mare Policy of Truth, that races for Cox. The Kentucky-bred broke his maiden at Keeneland on Oct. 9 as the 3-2 favorite.

Keep Your Promise is a filly who broke her maiden by five lengths on Sept. 3 from trainer Donnie Von Hemel's barn here at Remington Park. She is a Kentucky-bred by Broken Vow, out of the Geri mare Bedanken. She is owned by Pin Oak Stud.

Stan's Miracle Man is on a three-race win streak out of Gustafson's barn, but none of the three wins was against stakes horses. The Texas-bred son of Run Away and Hide, out of the Mineshaft mare Platinum Blue, is owned by Michael and Linda Mazoch of Sulphur Springs, Texas.

Tejano Twist ran second to Concept in the Kip Deville as the even-money favorite. Calhoun trains this Kentucky-bred gelding by Practical Joke. He has been the runner-up in stakes events in his last two starts. He also ran second at Colonial Downs near Richmond, Va., in the $100,000 Rosie's Stakes. He is owned by Tom Durant of Grapevine, Texas.

Unified Report, a Louisiana-bred by Unified, out of the Closing Argument mare Closing Report, won his only start by one length in a maiden race at Churchill Downs in Louisville, Ky.

Remington Park racing continues next week with a Wednesday-Saturday, Oct. 20-23, schedule. First post time is 7:07 p.m. each night.

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