RP Springboard Mile (KYD)- $400.000 Purse
RP- For Two Year Olds
One Mile on the Dirt
December 11, 2017

The Springboard Mile added some excitement to our Monday, as a field of nine took part in the third running of the race, which had KYD points on the line. Newsnight was a horse that was liked by a lot of trainer in the game, as this race was also highlight in a pick ‘em contest. I didn’t forget about him when I did not include him here, I was simply thinking that this might not be his best race since he has been pretty active over the last two months. After this result, though, Newsnight shows that it did not matter at all, and picks up the big win for Sir Daniel Martin. It is a the first win in the race for the trainer, and on the jockey side, it is the second win a row for J R Velazquez, who rode Noble Crusader last year. Congratulations! The time of the win was 1:35.40, placing it third of the three editions of the race so far, but it was all that was needed. Let’s take a look at it!

(1/4 Mile- :23.41)- The race’s top two finishers were also the quickest out of the gate. Table Stakes from Barcelona Farms, fresh off a good performance in the BC Juvenile, would take a slight lead early on over the eventual winner, Newsnight, from Sir Daniel Martin. One For Charlie, from TwinTowersRacing, assumes a stalking position right behind them in third. In the middle of the pack, post time favorite Creep City II is fourth for D J C Racing Stables, followed by Processing Class (Topped Out) and Charleys Agent (Mb Stables). They are all within three lengths. It’s a fourth length back to Lucky Phooey (LionKing Stables) and Reach For A Latte (Luz International). Trailing is Eclipse My Knowledge (Nakamura Stables).

(½ Mile- :46.67)- Newsnight is quicker in the backstretch, and takes over the lead without much resistance. As they move into the turn, he has now put a length ahead of Table Stakes, and you have to wonder if D Van Dyke, the jockey of Table Stakes, regrets not staying alongside him, given the finish. One For Charlie stopped stalking and dropped back into the clutches of Creep City II for third, and Processing Class was still in the mix while along the rail. Reach For A Latte looked like he would be going four wide into the turn as Charleys Agent and Lucky Phoeey tried to avoid getting boxed in. Eclipse My Knowledge continued to trail.

(Top OF Stretch, 1.5F To Go)- After running six furlongs in 1:10.24, most of the excitement while rounding the turn happened in the back of the field. Newsnight was still looking good up front, with Table Stakes remaining his shadow, staying a length back but unable to get any closer. Neither One For Charlie or Creep City II seemed to be making a move around the turn, so rivals needed to find their way around them as well. For Reach For A Latte that meant what amounted to a six wide trip, but he did draw even for third at this point. Because he came down an extra couple of lanes, both Lucky Phooey and Charleys Agent, glued to each other most of the way, had room to squeeze through. Processing Class was starting to drop out of it, and Eclipse My Knowledge still was not showing anything.

(Finish- 1:35.40)- Early in the stretch run, it looks like Newsnight is going to win this race by about a length. The closest pursuers were not gaining on him, and he seemed to be on good form. Then, in the dying moments of the race, it seemed like he might have been hanging on desperately, and both Table Stakes and Lucky Phooey got a lot closer then it seemed like they would. Newsnight does just enough, as the wire came up for him just in time to get the win! Table Stakes is second with a decent effort but ran out of time. Very late, Lucky Phooey nearly took it away from both of them. That one will be yearning for the longer distance. On the inside, One For Charlie was coming on, but ran out of time as well. Reach For A Latte is fifth, and was done in by his wide trip. Creep City II edges Charleys Agent for the sixth spot, two lengths from the win. A few more lengths back came the final two, Eclipse My Knowledge and Processing Class.

About The Winner– Newsnight, trained by Sir Daniel Martin and ridden by J R Velazquez, is a two year old gelding by Walkin Dead, and out of Newsbreak. He was bred in Louisiana as a yearling by Team 7 Illusions, who sold him unraced almost a year to the day in the December auction to Sir Daniel Martin for $12.360. Congratulations to the connections! The win is his fourth in ten starts, and his second stake win. His career earnings are now $397.140.

Track: Fast
Time: :23²  :46³  1:10¹  1:35²

$2 Mutuel Prices:

$1 Exacta: 4 – 7 Paid 33.20
$1 Trifecta: 4 – 7 – 2 Paid 382.40

Scratched: What Have You Done

— NS

Categories: STAKES ARTICLES, Ungraded