RP Springboard Mile [KYD]
RP Race #1 1m Dirt Stake
Purse $300.000 For Two Year Olds.

Ever since Beach Dandy won this race in 2018, I have always considered it to be a key race in the two-year-old calendar. Coming as it does at the end of the year it can, as its name implies. provide a springboard for later developing two-year-olds to be aimed at the KYD or solidify the more established juveniles as TC hopes. This year the field contains more potential than proven form, so it will be interesting to see if one of these emerges as a top three-year-old in a few months. Here is how they line up:

1 Count The Corn Chili King Stables Del-Cid V 120 —

He has an ideal draw to run his race today but will need a sharp start to find a position without getting pushed back. His only win came in a state bred maiden so this is a step up for sure but his winning time of 1.35.5 wasn’t far off Deep States winning time in this race last year so it’s not beyond the realm of possibilities that he can find a few tenths of improvement.

2 Luna Radio TwinTowersRacing Franco M 120 —

A consistent sort and exactly what you would expect from this yard, a hard-working grinder that will give his all. He was very good when taking a big-ticket allowance at SAR and then ran a fair race from a terrible draw in the Display Stakes last time. There must be some question mark over the mile today but with a much better draw I think he will see it out better than he saw out the seven furlongs last time. I don’t think he has the scope of some of these, but he is honest and tough and will give a great sight.

3 Numbskull Blazin D Pennington F 120 —

I wouldn’t let the fact that this one has run all four of his starts on the grass because dirt or turf means little to a lot of these at this age and his dirt works are certainly comparable with his good turf works. After taking the Pilgrim he was a big fancy in the BC Juvenile Turf but was handed a wide draw and the AI decided he would go all the way back to where he had little chance of winning. A better draw today should see him settle more in mid pack and with a little bit of racing luck I would make him a big chance to win this.

4 Imperious Fractious Velazquez J R 120 —

I think this little group of three in gates 3,4 and 5 represent the best chances and out of the three this one may be handiest to the leaders early on. He ran a top race to be second in the Pharaoh at grade one and then ran well for a long way in the BC Juvenile before fading a little at the end. His works certainly suggest he is above average, and his form is good enough too so this in form trainer may have yet another fine prospect for 2024.

5 Hoku D J C Racing Stables Smith M E 120 —

Everyone loves an unbeaten horse and this one has made a meteoric rise from a free track maiden to grade three electric, without tasting defeat. His works have been electric, and this looks a great spot for his further development as he has stepped up a furlong per race and the mile is now on his radar. His win in the Hopeful was very impressive and this race doesn’t look much better so as long as he gets some favors from this sticky draw, I am expecting him to be right in the race to the line.

6 Fear The Stars Riggins Racing Saez L 120 —

It takes a good juvenile to win three in a row and this one nearly made it four in a row when narrowly going down in the Golden State Juvenile last time. An on-pace runner he was running on strongly at the end of that seven furlongs suggesting this mile will be right up his alley. If there is one that can get in among the top three it is this one.

7 Top Dog Law Angelos Stable Evans C 120 —

I have one of those nagging feelings about this one. Looking at his form you would have to say that he may need to find something over the top choices, but looking at his works and how he ran in the PA Nursery Last time he may just be the value bet in the race. The draw is a key factor here as these mid pack draws can be worse than a wide draw as they get squeezed by the wide gate speed push and the rail draws pushing up. If he gets a decent position, he may be the one to get over the top of the leading fancies and come in at a good price.

8 Fear The Longhorn Royalty Stables Lopez P 120 —

This is another that is working the lights out but may be inconvenienced by his draw. Having said that, he was terrible from a great draw in the Breeders Futurity, but I think his on-pace running style was not suited that day and it may help if he is pushed back a little today and allowed to conserve some energy. The stable is in great form this year and every horse at HRP seems to run one stinker a year so maybe that Breeders Futurity run was his blip, and we will see the horse that won at SAR and CD today. If 3,4 and 5 have the best chance on paper then 7, 8 and 9 are the three that may just screw up that piece of paper,

9 Jurassic Park Smokey Stover Centeno D E 120 —

This race just gets better the further you get into it. This one may not look like a super star yet, a scrambling win in a DED maiden is hardly KYD winning form, but looking at his public works you would have to say that he looks like a KYD winner in the making. There isn’t much to say with only one start, but the trainer and the works say this one can win.

10 Master Manipulator Mb Stables Moore R L 120 —

The master trainer throws this consistent sort in here and as always you have to give a chance to the GOAT at HRP. Having said that whilst this is a real solid type and he ran great in the Grey Stakes last time I do think there are a few in here with the potential to be superstars and he may not have the finish to overcome them,

11 Casual Dreams Alydar Stables Lezcano J 120 —

Deserves a shot but has been given a rotten draw to try and better his maiden claiming win last time. It is very tough for trainers these days because a sub 1.37 work at this time of year for a juvenile should signal you have a stakes prospect, and you don’t really know until you try. He gets a rough gate to prove he is a stakes runner or a claimer today so the trainer will be hopeful for some clue from this effort.

12 Off Stage Asgar Beschizza A 120 —

After two defeats on the dirt, he switched to the grass after a lightening turf work and duly won his maiden. You would think that was a signal that this was a horse that preferred green but wait a minute he then came out and went under 58 for a five-furlong dirt work, confused, well that is what it can be like here at HRP sometimes. So, is he a sprinter, router, dirt or grass horse? Well, the car park draw will not help the trainer much as he will either lead or fall back to last. He certainly has the potential to run a great race and even possibly win this and the wider draws have been doing well recently so maybe there is a glimmer of hope for him.

SUMMARY

At first glance at the form and this looks just an average renewal of the Springboard Mile but when you really dig into this race, I think the winner will have to be very good, and I will be watching very closely as I think a strong KYD chance is in this field.
There are three groups here, at first glance there are the proven stakes horses, and they stand out, the 3,4 and 5 and 10 on paper at least look good chances. Next there are the fast workers, 7,8,9 and 12 with a ton of potential but maybe lacking the class factor. Finally, the rest, all of whom have their chances and could easily win but seem more exposed than some.
So, which one will win? Well for me it is Jurassic Park although I have very little confidence as he is drawn badly but I just feel that he has possibly the most potential.

Categories: STAKES ARTICLES, Ungraded