Remington Park is set to field a full lineup of 12 horses for the second consecutive year in the $300,000 Springboard Mile. This morning’s premier race for 2-year-old horses saw a complete field, including four stakes winners, with Spice Runner as the morning favorite.
Spice Runner, the Grade 3 Iroquois Stakes winner at Churchill Downs in Louisville, Kentucky last September, will start from post No. 7 in the 12-horse race. Owned by Winchell Thoroughbreds of Las Vegas and trained by Steve Asmussen—North America’s all-time winningest trainer—Spice Runner is listed at 3-1 odds with jockey Stewart Elliott riding him for the first time in this race.
In his previous outing, Spice Runner came in seventh, 15 lengths behind in the Grade 2 Kentucky Jockey Club Stakes at Churchill on November 29. The horse looks to improve with a cleaner run in the Springboard Mile and is the richest contender with earnings of $316,426.
Trainer Mike Maker will bring Arctic Beast from Oaklawn Park, Arkansas. The New York-bred horse has won all three starts, including the $156,000 New York Breeders’ Futurity on October 13 at Finger Lakes. Arctic Beast, with morning odds of 4-1, will be ridden by Ricardo Santana Jr., who is riding a two-race win streak.
Arctic Beast holds the record for the most Springboard Mile wins with three victories and stands second in earnings with $205,503.
Essential Time, winner of the $150,000 Clever Trevor Stakes at Remington Park in late September, returns to his home track after a third-place finish in a 7 1/2 furlong turf trial on November 6. Jockey Iram Diego rides under trainer Danny Pish with odds of 6-1.
Oklahoma-bred Royal American, an Upstart gelding owned and trained by CR Trout, is also entered. Royal American is coming off two straight wins in Oklahoma-bred stakes races—the Oklahoma Classic Juvenile on October 17 and the Don McNeil Stakes on November 7—and is one of four horses to have won races longer than a mile. David Cabrera will ride Royal American, who holds 12-1 odds.
The 12-horse lineup for the Springboard Mile, a qualifying points race for the 2026 Kentucky Derby, along with odds, jockeys, trainers, and post positions, is as follows:
1. Arctic Beast: Ricardo Santana Jr., Michael Maker, 4-1
2. Time for Music: Eric Asmussen, Steve Asmussen, 9-2
3. Essential Time: Iram Diego, Danny Pish, 6-1
4. Royal American: David Cabrera, CR Trout, 12-1
5. My Dream Zapper: Ernesto Valdez-Jimenez, Stetson Rushton, 20-1
6. Supreme Good: Christopher Elliott, Ken McPeak, 8-1
7. Spice Runner: Stewart Elliott, Steve Asmussen, 3-1 (morning favorite)
8. Distant Victory: Ramon Vazquez, Steve Asmussen, 12-1
9. Westerners: Richard Ellamia, Joe Offolter, 20-1
10. Big Apple Patrick: Walter Rodriguez, Daniel Leitch, 15-1
11. Jets Rio: Rene Diaz, Ron Moquette, 30-1
12. Express Kid: Jose Alvarez, Wade Rarick, 20-1
The top three finishers in the Springboard Mile will earn a special season in 2026 with Señor Bascador at Lane’s End in Versailles, Kentucky.
Taking place on Saturday, December 20, the Springboard Mile will be the final race of the 2025 Thoroughbred season at Remington Park, scheduled as the 12th race around 10:26 p.m. Central Time. Leading up to this are other stakes races including the Yusei Stakes, Jim Thorpe Handicap, Toby Keith Stakes, She All In Handicap, and the Jeffrey A. Hawk Memorial.
Remington Park, located at the crossroads of Interstates 35 and 44 in Oklahoma City’s Adventure District, has contributed over $402 million to Oklahoma’s General Education Fund since its casino opened in 2005. The park hosts year-round simulcast racing and casino gaming. To participate in betting or gaming, individuals must be at least 18 years old. More details can be found at remingtonpark.com.
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Fan Take: This exciting lineup for the Springboard Mile highlights the depth of emerging talent in 2-year-old racing, offering a glimpse of potential stars for the 2026 Kentucky Derby. For horse racing fans, it’s a pivotal race that combines tradition, local pride, and high stakes, which helps sustain enthusiasm and growth in the sport.
