2022 Remington Springboard Mile Cheatsheet
By TwinSpires Editorial Team, Sponsored Content
By Vance Hanson (TwinSpires.com)
1. ECHO AGAIN (9-5) – Blue-blooded Winchell homebred made a favorable impression winning for fun on debut at Saratoga, but retreat in the Iroquois (G3) at another short price was a huge disappointment; he’s unlikely to be as short off that performance, and justly so as he has something to prove now, but it won’t exactly be an enticing one either; certainly eligible to bounce back though several others will potentially be more attractive in the market.
2. GUNFLASH (15-1) – Can’t fault connections for taking a swing off the debut win going six; he earned a respectable 83 Brisnet speed figure for the win and, more importantly, he’s by hot young sire Gun Runner and a half to multiple stakes winner Flash of Mischief, who finished second in the Oklahoma Derby (G3) recently; relative lack of experience might keep him out of the winner’s circle, but another good showing not out of the question.
3. CAMPFIRE CREED (5-1) – Kip Deville S. hero missed in a rematch with Wildatlanticstorm last time after a prolonged stretch battle in which he had to re-rally after dropping back early and making a very wide bid; hard to fault his form overall, with two wins and two photo-finish setbacks, and the only question is whether the invaders will prove slightly too good or whether the local candidates’ experience over the track will be a deciding factor; contender.
4. LIL SWEET THANG (12-1) – Beat a couple returning rivals in a local allowance prep, rebounding well from a no-show in the Clever Trevor S. in late October; the latter was run over a sloppy track, which he might not have handled, and the forecast appears as if it will be dry late Saturday night; improvement required, though, given the quality of the shippers.
5. GIANT MISCHIEF (3-1) – Pulled off a mildly surprising allowance win on Breeders’ Cup weekend at Keeneland over odds-on favorite Arabian Lion, the expected favorite earlier Saturday in the Los Alamitos Futurity (G2); this one’s stock will rise considerably should the form of that allowance be franked at Los Al, and there is much else to like about him, including pedigree and connections; arguably the one to beat.
6. AMERICAN OUTLAW (15-1) – Convincing winner on debut going five panels, his follow-up in a one-mile allowance was also fine, although it turned out to be a one-length loss after setting the pace; perhaps has the most upside of the locally-based contenders, and keep in mind the high percentage Fincher barn won this race two years ago with Senor Buscador; some longshot appeal.
7. GHOST HERO (15-1) – Ascended to the top of the Oklahoma-bred juvenile ranks with back-to-back stakes wins after dropping his first two attempts in maiden company; just held on last time going a mile after getting away with a very soft pace, a scenario he’s unlikely to replicate against a tougher group of open opponents.
8. MONEY RUN (12-1) – Wilted late as the 7-5 favorite in a track-and-distance allowance prep last month, hardly the kind of effort you want to have going into a race with this kind of depth; although he earned his diploma in a claimer, top-level barn remains confident about his long-term potential to push forward; however, others offer more appeal.
9. WILDATLANTICSTORM (6-1) – Iowa-bred has been a consistent performer since his debut in July, and has excelled against open company; has traded decisions this fall with Campfire Creed while sprinting, and now must show he can stretch his speed around two turns for the first time; that figures to prove a stern task with the Kentucky shippers injecting a lot more class into this proceeding.