For Immediate Release
Thursday, December 6, 2012
A DOZEN ENTER FOR RICHEST 2-YEAR-OLD RACE OF SEASON, SPRINGBOARD MILE ON SUNDAY AFTERNOON
OKLAHOMA CITY – The $300,000 Springboard Mile is the final stakes event of the 2012 Remington Park Thoroughbred Season, offering the top 2-year-old race of the season and promise for the contestants into their 3-year-old campaigns. The Sunday afternoon main event drew 12 runners with 11 wagering interests this morning in the Remington Park racing office.
John Oxley’s Exploring has been tabbed as the 7-2 morning-line favorite. Trained by Mark Casse, local jockey Glen Murphy has the mount for the Oklahoma Horse Racing Hall of Fame owner from Tulsa. Exploring travels to Remington Park from Churchill Downs in Louisville, Ky. He was third in his most recent start in late October, under the twin spires.
“Exploring is a slight and tepid morning-line choice over both Channel Isle and King Henny (each 9-2) in somewhat of a wide-open race,” noted Remington Park odds-maker Jerry Shottenkirk. “The Sky Mesa colt has been favored in two of his three races and was third in a solid allowance race at Churchill Downs.”
King Henny, winner of the $100,000 Clever Trevor Stakes in November, the major local prep for the Springboard. The colt battled throughout the stretch to win the Clever Trevor by a head over Backstreet Hero and a quarter-length over third-place finisher Best of Birdstone. Both the second and third-place finishers from the Clever Trevor have entered the Springboard Mile.
National Racing Hall of Fame Trainer D. Wayne Lukas has entered a pair for the Springboard with Will Take Charge and Channel Isle. Will Take Charge broke his maiden status at Keeneland Racecourse in Lexington, Ky. in October before finishing last of 13 in the Grade 2, $150,000 Kentucky Jockey Club at Churchill Downs in November. Victor Lebron is in from Kentucky for the mount.
Channel Isle broke his maiden status at Churchill Downs over the turf in late November. Jon Court will be in from Kentucky for the assignment.
Music superstar Toby Keith’s Dream Walkin Farms of Norman, Okla. has a coupled entry in the Springboard Mile with Steelman Run and Smack Jack going to the gate to represent his racing operation.
The complete field for the Springboard Mile, by program and saddle-towel order, with trainer, jockey and morning-line odds:
1. Steelman Run, Kelly Von Hemel, Glenn Corbett, 10-1
1a. Smack Jack, Don Von Hemel, Perry Compton, 10-1
2. Exploring, Mark Casse, Glen Murphy, 7-2
3. Will Take Charge, D. Wayne Lukas, Victor Lebron, 12-1
4. Backstreet Hero, Danny Pish, Lindey Wade, 8-1
5. Best of Birdstone, Donnie Von Hemel, Luis Quinonez, 8-1
6. Hornet, Steve Asmussen, Alex Birzer, 15-1
7. Worldventurer, Bret Calhoun, Cliff Berry, 15-1
8. Texas Bling, Danele Durham, Erik McNeil, 20-1
9. Channel Isle, D. Wayne Lukas, Jon Court, 9-2
10. Hardrock Eleven, David Banks, Kerwin Clark, 8-1
11. King Henny, Steve Asmussen, Jamie Theriot, 9-2
The Springboard Mile is the ninth of 10 races on Sunday with an approximate post time of 5:14pm. The first race on the card is at 1:30pm.
There are just four racing dates left in the 2012 Remington Park Thoroughbred Season, continuing Thursday thru Sunday, Dec. 6-9. The first race is at 6:30pm nightly, except for the special 1:30pm program on Sunday, Dec. 9.
Open daily at 10am for casino gaming and simulcast racing, Remington Park features the Bricktown Brewery on the casino floor. Admission, general parking and valet parking are always free at Remington Park, home of the Grade 3 Oklahoma Derby, to be run for the 25th time on September 29, 2013.
Tracked by over 26,000 fans on Facebook and 3,000 Twitter followers, Remington Park is Oklahoma City’s only Racetrack & Casino and is 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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