The Remington Springboard Mile has not often been considered a key race since its addition to the Road to the Kentucky Derby in 2017, but it appears in that position this year after the top two finishers came back to each win one of Oaklawn Park‘s Kentucky Derby (G1) prep races.
On Feb. 22, the Springboard Mile will again impact Oaklawn’s Derby trail as winner Coal Battle and runner-up Speed King have a rematch in the $1.25 million Rebel Stakes (G2).
In the Dec. 13 Remington Park feature, Coal Battle came from off the pace to nail frontrunning Speed King by a half-length on the wire. He showed his versatility Jan. 4 when he withstood pressure on the lead and drew off to win the Smarty Jones Stakes for trainer Lonnie Briley.
Video: Remington Springboard Mile S. (BT)
Meanwhile, Speed King perfected his frontrunning form for trainer Ron Moquett Jan. 25 in the Southwest Stakes (G3) despite a training schedule impacted by bad weather ahead of his first 1 1/16-mile attempt.
Both colts appear stronger than ever as they aim to punch their owners’ Kentucky Derby tickets Saturday with the 50-25-15-10-5 qualifying-point scale offered to the top 5 finishers. Reaching the exacta would solidify that starting spot for both as Speed King currently carries 25 points for owners Triton Thoroughbreds, Naber Racing, Bryan Hennigan, Doug Rapier and Ron Micetic while Coal Battle has 20 points for Norman Stables.
But It will be no simple match race for the two headliners as a full starting gate of 14 horses will contest the 1 1/16-mile distance.
A disastrous start in the Southwest left Sandman in last early, seemingly eliminating all chance. The Mark Casse-trained Tapit colt refused to quit and mounted a strong rally to get beat just a length at the wire. A $1.2 million Ocala Breeders’ March Sale of 2-Year-Olds in Training graduate, Sandman looks ready to take another step forward for owners D. J. Stables, St. Elias Stable, West Point Thoroughbreds and CJ Stables.
Sandman leaps out of the starting gate at the start of the Southwest Stakes
Winchell Thoroughbreds and Steve Asmussen saw Magnitude break through Feb. 15 with victory in the Risen Start Stakes (G2) after a few defeats on the Derby trail. They aim to write the same story one week later with Tiztastic , who has been on the board in three consecutive qualifying races, all at the 1 1/16-mile distance. Winchell is joined in ownership of the Tiz the Law colt by Mrs. John Magnier, Michael Tabor and Derrick Smith. Asmussen also trains Publisher , a troubled sixth in the Southwest.
The Californians will add some extra spice to the starting gate as Bob Baffert, an eight-time winner of the Rebel, ships Madaket Road off a third in the Feb. 1 Robert B. Lewis Stakes (G3) to champion stablemate Citizen Bull . The Michael McCarthy-trained Bullard , who defeated Madaket Road in Del Mar‘s Bob Hope Stakes (G3) in November, also ships east after finishing third to Barnes in the Jan. 4 San Vicente Stakes (G2) at Santa Anita Park.
Reigning Kentucky Derby (G1) winning trainer Kenny McPeek also gets in on the action with Hypnus , a 2 1/2-length debut winner Jan. 18 over a sloppy Fair Grounds Race Course & Slots track at the 1 1/16-mile distance.
Entries: Rebel S. (G2)
Oaklawn Park, Saturday, February 22, 2025, Race 11
- Grade II
- 1 1/16m
- Dirt
- $1,250,000
- 3 yo
- 5:23 PM (local)
