For Immediate Release
Wednesday, December 8, 2010
Wednesday, December 8, 2010
CALEB’S POSSE FAVORED IN SPRINGBOARD MILE, 2009 WINNING CONNECTIONS BACK FOR MORE
OKLAHOMA CITY – The $250,000 Springboard Mile, the richest 2-year-old race of the Remington Park season, and the finale in the local stakes series for first-year runners, drew a solid field of 12 this morning. Caleb’s Posse, runaway winner of the $100,000 Clever Trevor Stakes here last month is the morning-line favorite at 7-2 odds.
Caleb’s Posse has been impressive of late, winning three of his last four races and drawing clear impressively in his Remington Park debut in the Clever Trevor. However, he will face some formidable returning foes from that race and some new shooters traveling in from other locales on Saturday night.
“The Springboard features a very tough, full field,” noted Remington Park morning-line odds-maker Jerry Shottenkirk. “Caleb's Posse deserves the favorite's role off his 5-1/2 length win in the Clever Trevor Stakes. Chipshot, who ran a troubled third in the Clever Trevor, will likely get his share of support.”
Chipshot appeared to take a stumbling step with a quarter-mile to run in the Clever Trevor, losing momentum and quickly fading behind the unhindered Caleb’s Posse after competing for the lead throughout the lone turn of the race.
Owned by McNeill Stables of Edmond, Okla. and trained by Donnie Von Hemel, Caleb’s Posse will have the riding services of Quincy Hamilton who handled him expertly in the Clever Trevor Stakes. The Kentucky-bred colt by Posse has won three of five career starts and boasts earnings of $122,470. He will leave the Springboard starting gate from post number seven.
Chipshot is owned by the Lexington, Ky. partnership of C.E. Glasscock and Vinery Stables and is trained by leading Remington Park conditioner Steve Asmussen. At 9-2 odds, the Peace Rules colt is the second-choice in the morning-line. Jockey Luis Quinonez will climb aboard Chipshot from the outside post position, number 12, in the Springboard.
Twinspired travels to Remington Park from Kentucky for the Springboard. Trained by Michael Maker, the gray colt by Harlan’s Holiday broke his maiden at first-asking during the fall season at Keenelend in Lexington, Ky. He had a troubled trip, finishing fourth over the Churchill Downs turf in an early November attempt at one mile.
Jockey Shane Sellers keeps his mount on Twinspired, having ridden the colt in both of his career attempts. Sellers is a two-time winner of the Oklahoma Derby at Remington Park, scoring with Classic Cat (1998) and Performing Magic (2000).
Trying to win the Springboard for the second consecutive year is trainer Graham Motion and jockey Jeremy Rose. They were victorious last year with Turf Melody, winning a photo-finish over Man Chester Man to take the event. Saturday night, Rampaige will provide the attempt for the duo. The Smart Strike colt broke his maiden in his career debut at Keeneland in October. He ran second in his next start, the $75,000 Christopher Elser Memorial Stakes at Parx Racing in Philadelphia.
Others traveling for the Springboard include: Royal Eavesdropper, undefeated through two starts at Charles Town in West Virginia and Laurel in Maryland; Aces N Kings, unplaced after bolting the final turn and losing rider Calvin Borel in the Grade 3, $1 million Jackpot Stakes at Delta Downs last month; Bluegrass Bull, a winner of two races at Calder Race Course in Miami; and Trubs, a winner of two straight races on the Louisiana circuit in September and October.
The 12-horse field by post position and program number order with trainer, jockey and morning-line odds for the $250,000 Springboard Mile is:
1. Rampaige, Graham Motion, Jeremy Rose, 8-1
2. Twinspired, Michael Maker, Shane Sellers, 5-1
3. Cactus Son, Kenny Smith, Glen Murphy, 20-1
4. Brickyard Fast, Joe Petalino, Bryan McNeil, 20-1
5. Royal Eavesdropper, Ramsey Zimmerman, 20-1
6. Aces N Kings, John Lowder, Eguard Tejera, 12-1
7. Caleb’s Posse, Donnie Von Hemel, Quincy Hamilton, 7-2
8. Bluegrass Bull, William Fires, Terry Thompson, 8-1
9. Grant Jack, Bret Calhoun, Cliff Berry, 15-1
10. Trubs, Albert Stall, Trey Agilar, 6-1
11. Behold de Buy, Joyce Salisbury, Jose Medina, 30-1
12. Chipshot, Steve Asmussen, Luis Quinonez, 9-2.
1. Rampaige, Graham Motion, Jeremy Rose, 8-1
2. Twinspired, Michael Maker, Shane Sellers, 5-1
3. Cactus Son, Kenny Smith, Glen Murphy, 20-1
4. Brickyard Fast, Joe Petalino, Bryan McNeil, 20-1
5. Royal Eavesdropper, Ramsey Zimmerman, 20-1
6. Aces N Kings, John Lowder, Eguard Tejera, 12-1
7. Caleb’s Posse, Donnie Von Hemel, Quincy Hamilton, 7-2
8. Bluegrass Bull, William Fires, Terry Thompson, 8-1
9. Grant Jack, Bret Calhoun, Cliff Berry, 15-1
10. Trubs, Albert Stall, Trey Agilar, 6-1
11. Behold de Buy, Joyce Salisbury, Jose Medina, 30-1
12. Chipshot, Steve Asmussen, Luis Quinonez, 9-2.
The Springboard Mile has been carded as the 10th of 11 races on Saturday with approximate post time of 9:42pm. The first race on the final program of the season starts at 5:30pm. All times are central.
Remington Park is Oklahoma City’s only Racetrack & Casino, located at the junction of Interstates 35 & 44, in the heart of the Oklahoma City Adventure District. For more information, reservations and group bookings please call 405-424-1000, 866-456-9880 or visit remingtonpark.com.
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