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Derby Prep: Remington’s Springboard Mile Draws Field Of 11 Juveniles

The $200,000 Springboard Mile, Remington Park's top stakes race for 2-year-olds, drew a field of 11 this morning. The contest will headline a program of 13 races on Friday night, Dec. 18, going as race 12 at approximately 10:28pm. The first race of the evening is at 5pm. All times are Central.

A pair of horses coming out of Breeders' Cup races last month at Keeneland in Lexington, Ky. have entered the Springboard. They are the top two in the morning-line odds for the co-richest race of the Remington Park season.

Outadore, third in the Grade 1, $1,000,000 Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf on Nov. 6, has been tabbed as the morning-line favorite at 3-1 odds. The second horse in the line is Cowan, second in the Grade 2, $1,000,000 Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint, at odds of 4-1.

Owned by Breeze Easy and trained by Wesley Ward, Outadore will make his first attempt over dirt in the Springboard. All three of his career starts have been on turf. He broke his maiden at Saratoga in July, sprinting 5-1/2 furlongs. A colt by Outwork from the Tactical Cat mare Adore You, Outadore then won the $500,000 Juvenile Turf Sprint at Kentucky Downs on Sept. 12 before his third-place effort in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf.

Outadore worked a bullet five furlongs this morning at Keeneland, labeled a breeze, in :59.60 over a fast track. Remington Park's leading jockey, David Cabrera, has been named aboard Outadore for the Springboard.

Cowan has five career starts, sharing that distinction with Red N Wild, for the most of the Springboard entrants. Owned by the Houston partnership of William and Corinne Heiligbrodt, Madaket Stables and Spendthrift Farm, Cowan is trained by Remington Park's leading all-time trainer Steve Asmussen.

A colt by Kantharos from the Smart Strike mare Tempers Flair, Cowan broke his maiden in his career debut at Churchill Downs in May. He has competed solely in stakes races since that victory and is still in search of his second career score. He ran third behind Outadore in the Juvenile Turf Sprint at Kentucky Downs, beaten by five lengths. His following two starts were at Keeneland, finishing second in both the $150,000 Indian Summer Stakes on Oct. 4 and then in the BC Juvenile Turf Sprint at 5-1/2 furlongs on Nov. 6.

The Springboard Mile will be the first attempt for Cowan at the distance and his first start back on a main track after three straight in turf stakes. Stewart Elliott, the regular first-call rider at Remington Park for the Asmussen operation, will have the mount on Cowan.

Trainer Brad Cox will try to pull off the 2020 Oklahoma Derby/Springboard Mile double at Remington Park, having won the $200,000 derby in September with Shared Sense. He will look for a knockout effort by sending Joe Frazier into the Springboard, in the first stakes attempt for the colt named after one of the most famous boxers of all-time.

Owned by Ike and Dawn Thrash, Joe Frazier won his career debut, a $150,000 maiden-claiming event at Keeneland, scoring the six-furlong sprint by three lengths. An allowance start going 1-1/16 miles at Churchill Downs on Nov. 22 produced a third-place effort. After leading into the stretch in that two-turn event, Joe Frazier faded late, finishing 6-1/4 lengths back.

Jockey Richard Eramia, who rode Shared Sense to the Oklahoma Derby score for Cox, has been named on Joe Frazier who is at 5-1 odds in the morning-line.

Oklahoma-bred hero Number One Dude is at 6-1 odds in the morning-line and will attempt to remain undefeated in the Springboard, his fourth start of the Remington Park season. Owned by Terry Westemeir of Broken Arrow, Okla. and trained by Kari Craddock, Number One Dude attempts to become the first Oklahoma-bred to win the Springboard since Ted's Folly in 2011.

Number One Dude won his career debut with Oklahoma-bred maiden special weight horses, going 5-1/2 furlongs, winning easily by 7-1/2 lengths on Sept. 18. He was entered in two subsequent stakes races – the $100,000 Oklahoma Classics Juvenile on Oct. 16 and the $75,000 Don McNeill Stakes on Nov. 13 – and won both of them. The Juvenile was at six furlongs for Oklahoma-breds and he finished one length ahead at the wire. Number One Dude then raced around two turns for the first time, blowing his competition away by six lengths at the Springboard Mile distance on a muddy track in the McNeill.

Jockey Ezequiel Lara has the mount on Number One Dude who also makes his first career attempt outside of the state-bred ranks.

Outadore is the top earner in the Springboard Mile with $424,100 from his three attempts. Number One Dude leads the field with three career wins.

The field for the Springboard Mile, by program and post-position order, with trainer, jockey and morning-line odds:

1. Senor Buscador: Todd Fincher, Luis Quinonez, 15-1

2. Number One Dude: Kari Craddock, Ezequiel Lara, 6-1

3. Vim And Vigor: Larry Stroope, Walter De La Cruz, 20-1

4. Gushing Oil: Danny Pish, Lane Luzzi, 15-1

5. Red N Wild: Terry Eoff, Sophie Doyle, 12-1

6. Game Day Play: Bret Calhoun, Lindey Wade, 10-1

7. Saffa's Day: Steve Asmussen, Iram Diego, 10-1

8. Cowan: Steve Asmussen, Stewart Elliott, 4-1

9. Outadore: Wesley Ward, David Cabrera, 3-1 (morning-line favorite)

10. Joe Frazer: Brad Cox, Richard Eramia, 5-1

11. Flash Of Mischief: Karl Broberg, Ramon Vazquez, 15-1

The Springboard will carry qualifying points for the 2021 Kentucky Derby. Long Range Toddy gained 10 points in the 2018 Springboard Mile and earned his way into the Kentucky Derby field in 2019.

The Springboard Mile program begins with a twilight 5pm-Central first-race. The other five stakes events on the program include:

Race 8 – $75,000 She's All In Stakes, fillies and mares, 3 and up, 1 mile-70yards

Race 9 – $70,000 Jim Thorpe Stakes, 3-year-old Oklahoma-breds, 1 mile

Race 10 – $70,000 Useeit Stakes, 3-year-old Oklahoma-bred fillies, 1 mile

Race 11 – $60,000 Trapeze Stakes, 2-year-old fillies, 1 mile

Race 13 – $60,000 Jeffrey Hawk Memorial, 3-year-olds and up, 1 mile-70 yards

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Shang Takes On Underpressure In Saturday’s Louisiana Champions Day Classic

Corrine & William L. Heiligbrodt's Shang, a winner of four of five lifetime starts locally, has been installed as Mike Diliberto's 8-5 morning line favorite for the $150,000 Louisiana Champions Day Classic (1 1/8 miles), one of ten restricted stakes offered on Saturday's 13-race card at Fair Grounds Race Course & Slots in New Orleans, La. First post will be at noon CT, one hour earlier than usual. The Classic is carded as race 12. Traditional 50-cent Pick Five wagers will be offered in races one and nine.

A 4-year-old son of Shanghai Bobby, the Steve Asmussen-trained Shang is seven for 14 lifetime, with four of those wins coming in Lousiana-bred stakes. In his most recent start on July 4 at Evangeline Downs, Shang rallied from mid-pack to take the Louisiana Legends Turf. Ricardo Santana, Jr. has the call from post seven of eight.

Drawn just to Shang's outside is the 5-2 second choice, Mallory Richard's Underpressure. A career earner of nearly $744,582, the 6-year-old gelded son of Birdstone is a 13-time winner from 37 lifetime opportunities. The winner of seven restricted stakes, this will be the Chris Richard trainee's fourth try in the Louisiana Classic. The winner of the 2018 edition over a sloppy track, he was third in 2017 and again last year. Fair Grounds' current leading rider James Graham has the call from post eight.

Completing the Louisiana Champions Day Classic field from the rail out: Whitney Zeringue, Jr.'s (owner and trainer) Freedomfi, the winner of 2 of 18 starts (post 1 at 20-1 with Mitchell Murrill); Kirk Rovinsky's Social Afleet, most recently sixth off the $20,000 claim in the B-Connected Stakes at Delta Downs on November 24 for trainer Sarah Delany (post 2 at 20-1 with Marcelino Pedroza); Gerrard Perron's (owner and trainer) Grand Luwegee, who is winless since posting an upset victory in thee Premier Night Championship at Delta in February of 2019 (post 3 at 10-1 with Colby Hernandez); Baronne Farm's Sydster, who won the Crescent City Derby for trainer Eddie Johnston on March 21 at Fair Grounds (post 4 at 5-1 with Florent Geroux – cross entered in the Turf); Pine Knoll Farm LLC's Jus Lively, who just missed in the B-Connected Stakes on November 24 at Delta Downs last out for trainer Steve Asmussen (8-1 with Adam Beschizza); and Double Dan Farm LLC's and trainer Delmar Caldwell's Mageez, who has won ten races and banked $578,755 in a 50-race career.

Thomas Morley and Paul Braveman's Ninety One Assault, who stormed home to an impressive victory in last year's edition, is slated to take on ten rivals as the 9-5 morning line favorite in Saturday's $100,000 Louisiana Champions Day Turf. Contested over 1 1/16 miles on the Stall-Wilson Turf Course, it will be run as race 11 of 13 on the card.

Jockey Shaun Bridgmohan, who has won five of his six tries aboard the seven-year-old gelding, will partner with him once again, and the dynamic duo will leave from post nine for trainer Tom Morley. Campaigned on the East Coast when Fair Grounds is dark for live racing, Ninety One Assault was last seen finishing sixth in the Artie Schiller, a race named for his sire, on November 14 at Aqueduct.

Claimed for just $12,500 in August of 2019, Budro Talking would finish third in last year's Louisiana Turf Classic just four months later for trainer Karl Broberg. Claimed again for $17,500 by owner Jack Randall and trainer Keith Austin, the five-year-old gelded son of Tale of Ekati has rattled off consecutive wins for his current connections, including the Louisiana Cup Turf Classic at Louisiana Downs in his most recent start on September 19. He will break from post two on Saturday with Florent Geroux in tow.

Completing the Louisiana Champions Day Turf field from the rail out: Snake Racing LLC's Treys Midnight Moon, a former $5,000 claimer who has gone on to win ten races and bank $233,665 (post 1 with James Graham at 10-1 for trainer Coralle “Bunky” Rickards); E and M Scherer Racing and trainer Eric Scherer's Musical Man, who is two for 16 lifetime (post 3 with Adam Beschizza at 30-1); Brittlyn Stable Inc.'s Guitar Tribute, who has hit the board in four consecutive starts for trainer Jose Camejo (post 4 with Ricardo Santana, Jr. at 20-1); Lane Cortez and trainer Ron Faucheux's Afleet Ascent, who has banked over $200,000 but enters on a 16-race losing streak (post 5 with Gabriel Saez at 10-1); Columbine Stable LLC's Unrestricted, who has won four of ten lifetime starts and three of his last four for trainer Al Stall, Jr. (post 6 with Colby Hernandez at 12-1); Jeanne Marie Dolan's (owner and trainer) Changi, who returns to Louisiana-bred company after competing against graded stakes company in three of his last five starts (post 7 with Mitchell Murrill at 8-1); Carl R. Moore Management LLC's Carlea's Dream, who will face fellow Louisiana-breds for the first time in 11 career starts off a recent runner-up performance in a second-level turf allowance on the Remington Park turf (post 8 with Brian Hernandez, Jr. at 8-1); Baronne Farm's Sydster, who won the Crescent City Derby for trainer Eddie Johnston on March 21 at Fair Grounds (post 10 at 5-1 with Florent Geroux – cross entered in the Classic); Gerard Perron's (owner and trainer) Kingdom Way, who won a restricted first-level allowance race on the Louisiana Downs turf in September in his most recent start (post 11 with Angel Suarez at 30-1); and the lone also eligible, Alston Thoroughbreds LLC, Earl J Hernandez and J. Duvieilh's Jax Man, who has won two Louisiana-bred allowance races this year (post 12 with Marcelino Pedroza at 12-1).

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Jaxon Traveler A Perfect 3-For-3 After Maryland Juvenile Futurity

West Point Thoroughbreds and Melvin Delfiner's Jaxon Traveler, pressed from the gate by stakes winner Singlino, shook off his pursuer at the top of the stretch and once again approaching the wire to remain undefeated with a three-quarter length triumph in Saturday's $100,000 Maryland Juvenile Futurity at Laurel Park in Maryland.

The 39th running of the Futurity shared top billing on the nine-race program with Street Lute's victory in the 34th renewal of the $100,000 Maryland Juvenile Filly Championship, both for Maryland-bred/sired horses sprinting seven furlongs.

Jaxon Traveler ($2.60) completed the distance in 1:25.07 over a fast main track to improve to 3-0 lifetime in his stakes debut. Based in New York with Hall of Fame trainer Steve Asmussen, he has raced exclusively in Maryland where he was bred by Dr. and Mrs. A. Leonard Pineau.

“It's been a real treat to watch him develop. Each time he's shipped down to Maryland he's been a total professional,” said Dawn Lenert, West Point's chief of marketing and director of partner relations. “We're very lucky to have a horse like this. Our partners have come out to watch him and cheer for him, both here and on TV. It's just been a super treat for them to be associated with this type of horse.”

The margin of victory was the smallest for Jaxon Traveler following a 10-length maiden special weight romp in debut Sept. 25 at Pimlico Race Course and a four-length optional claiming allowance score Oct. 23 at Laurel. All three of his wins have come in front-running fashion.

“This was the closest a horse had hounded him in his career and there was definitely a couple of nervous moments, but he showed his colors and stayed in front,” Lenert said. “He's definitely a little more tired today than he's been. I kept saying, 'Where's the wire?' ”

Sent off at 1-5 in a field of seven, Jaxon Traveler had First State Dash winner Singlino at his right hip through a quarter-mile in 22.56 seconds and a half in 45.61, with Maryland Million Nursery runner-up Alwaysinahurry, Doubleoseven and Ain't Da Beer Cold leading the second flight.

Jaxon Traveler and jockey Johan Rosado got the jump on Singlino turning into the stretch and created some separation before Singlino came with another surge. Latin Spice rallied to be third, followed by Ain't Da Beer Cold, Alwaysinahurry, Doubleoseven and Hunter Joe.

“We'll talk to Steve. I know we wanted to see how he did today at seven [furlongs],” Lenert said. “We could stretch him out in the Jerome going a mile; however, Laurel just put up that Spectacular Bid going seven furlongs in January. He proved he could go seven today, we'll see what he does next time.”

The newly created $100,000 Spectacular Bid for 3-year-olds sprinting seven furlongs is among six stakes worth $550,000 in purses scheduled for the Jan. 16, 2021 program at Laurel.

Street Lute Too Tough in $100,000 Maryland Juvenile Filly Championship
Lucky 7 Stables' Street Lute sat a perfect stalking trip before powering to the lead and pulling clear, avenging the only loss of her career with her second straight stakes victory and fourth overall in Saturday's $100,000 Maryland Juvenile Filly Championship.

Ridden by Xavier Perez for trainer Jerry Robb, Street Lute ($6) is a neck shy of being undefeated through five starts, caught at the wire when second in the Oct. 24 Maryland Million Lassie by Miss Nondescript, who never threatened Saturday and finished seventh.

“Everything worked perfectly. Jerry was on the phone with me. He told me he wasn't going to be able to make it,” Perez said. “The race before the horse went to the lead and kept going and he asked me to go the lead if we can without using her. That was the plan and then the other two horses went to the lead. I know my filly can settle and she did. We had just a perfect trip.”

Street Lute settled in third as Liam's Missy, a 10 ¼-length maiden special weight winner last out at Belmont Park, and Lassie third-place finisher Trip to Freedom battled through splits of 22.70 and 45.29 seconds for the half. Perez tipped Street Lute to the center of the track once straightened for home and hit the wire 1 ¾ lengths in front.

Juror Number Four, fourth to Street Lute in the Small Wonder Sept. 26 at Delaware Park, trailed the field early before coming with a late rally on the far outside for second. Maxine's Tap Room, Buckey's Charm, Targe, Liam's Missy, Miss Nondescript, Heartful and Trip to Freedom completed the order of finish.

“She's getting better. This week I was getting on her every morning and I got to know her a little more. She's just improving every single day,” Perez said. “This means a lot because Jerry has stood by me for my ups and downs and he put me on the map again. I've been riding for him for three years now and he trusts me and I trust him. Hopefully it stays like this for a long time.”

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Midnight Bisou Arrives at Hill ‘n’ Dale, To Visit Curlin in 2021

Champion Midnight Bisou (Midnight Lute) arrived at Hill ‘n’ Dale at Xalapa Thursday afternoon after completing her final phase of rehabilitation at WinStar Farm. The five-time Grade I winner will visit Hill ‘n’ Dale flagbearer Curlin.

Midnight Bisou was preparing for her Breeders’ Cup bid this fall when she incurred a sesamoid fracture during a work at the end of September that forced connections to retire the mare prematurely.
The champion shone as one of brightest stars at the Fasig-Tipton November Sale Nov. 8. Co-owner Chuck Allen of Allen Racing couldn’t bear to part with the near $7.5-million earner and bought out fellow partners Bloom Racing Stable and Madaket Stables for a winning bid of $5 million.

After going through the ring, Midnight Bisou returned to WinStar Farm to complete the rehabilitation process.

“Midnight Bisou was at WinStar and has been cleared to begin a broodmare career and has arrived here safely today,” said Hill ‘n’ Dale General Manager Jared Burdine. “She’s an earner of over $7.4 million, an Eclipse Champion. She’s going to visit Curlin, who earned over $10.5 million and was a champion as well. So it’s a Classic sire and it should be a Classic-distance baby. She’s in great hands here. We’re excited to have her here and can’t wait to begin her career, especially with champion Curlin.”

An $80,000 2017 OBS April Sale purchase for Jeff Bloom, Midnight Bisou won five graded stakes at three including the GI Santa Anita Oaks and GI Cotillion S.

She reached higher stardom at four, taking the GI Apple Blossom H., GI Ogden Phipps S. and GI Personal Ensign, earning the Eclipse crown for her division. This year, the Steve Asmussen pupil ran second behind Maximum Security (New Year’s Day) in the Saudi Cup, romped in the GII Fleur de Lis S. after her return to the States, and then came in second in the GI Personal Ensign S.

“Special horses like her make us get up and try harder each and every day,” Burdine said. “They give you enthusiasm to get to the barn and they’re what drives our business. She’s a very intelligent, classy mare. She looks beautiful.”

Midnight Bisou is among the first new arrivals to Hill ‘n’ Dale at Xalapa, the farm outside of Paris, Ky. that John Sikura purchased over a year ago. The Hill ‘n’ Dale stallion roster made the journey to their new stud barn this October.

“There’s no better place for her to begin her broodmare career, I believe, than with this setting here,” Burdine said. “We’re honored that Mr. Bloom and Mr. Allen entrusted us with taking her through this part of her career.”

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