December 15, 2015

There were all kinds of options in the RP Springboard Mile including a filly, a stakes winner and even a Grade I runner but in the end, it was a colt with a good pedigree who ran away from the field, and his name was High Pride. Coming off an off-the-board finish at AQU, the son of Chai Latte was full of run down the lane to record his third win of the year and finish off his juvenile campaign with more than $180.000 in earnings, and a career-best 95-speed rating that will set him up for races at this distance in the very near future.

Spend A Buck (7.65) broke fastest in the Springboard Mile but was quickly overtaken by Red Candy Rioja (3.15) going into the first turn and those two moved to the front with High Pride (6.40) away well from the widest stall. Those three lined up through a first split of 23.89 but High Pride quickly took back to a stalking position and that blocked the path of Le Quartier (5.55) three-wide, with Xmas Grey (7.30) taking up the rear but only five-lengths from the front. Red Candy Rioja poked his nose in front down the far side through four-furlongs in 47.48 and that saw the end of Spend A Buck but the emergence of both High Pride outside and Track Queen (*2.85) inside after breaking from the rail. Around the far turn, the early leader faded between rivals and that left the filly in a tough spot but as the field marched through six-panels in 1:10.83, she found room outside of Red Candy Rioja and burst forward. Unfortunately, High Pride found another gear as well and with a clear run, he sprinted to command and wound up widening to nearly a length at the wire, with Track Queen holding on for second from an on-rushing Le Quartier. Red Candy Rioja faded late to finish in fourth with Xmas Grey just getting up for fifth over Spend A Buck and Swinging Doors (5.35), the latter being a non-factor after breaking with the rest of the pack.

High Pride was one of the bigger prices in the Springboard Mile coming off an eighth-place effort in the Grade II Nashua but catapulted past runners around the tighter turns to post the biggest win of his career, and yet another win for owner Mb Stables. There are lots of options for this colt going forward but a nice one could be the CA Derby as he looks to build on his momentum at one-mile, although the Grade III Lecomte would also be a good spot if he wants to prep for the TC.

Congratulations goes out to owner Mb Stables and their two-year-old colt High Pride, a going-away winner of the RP Springboard Mile!

Winner                     High Pride

                                    Two-year-old bay colt

                                    Chai Latte-Proud To Be (Steel Ball)

Owner                       Mb Stables

Time                          23.89, 47.48, 1:10.83, 1:35.10

Overall

High Pride               6.40 placed perfectly, wide run, clear

Track Queen             *2.85 stuck behind rivals, found room, too late

Le Quartier               5.55 stopped around turn, rallied smartly

Red Candy Rioja     3.15 set pace, faded to hold on down lane

Xmas Grey                7.30 far back early, minor run

Spend A Buck           7.65 pressed, tired

Swinging Doors      5.35 no factor

Triple T Racing 🙂

Categories: STAKES ARTICLES, Ungraded