Greyvitos vs. Believe in Royalty in Springboard Mile

The Springboard Mile takes on a new significance Sunday with Kentucky Derby eligibility points now attached to the $400,000 race for 2-year-olds, which helps close out the meet at Remington Park.

A full field of 12 has signed on, including Greyvitos, the most accomplished starter as a Grade 3 winner, and Believe in Royalty, the field’s best-bred runner as a son of Tapit and Kentucky Oaks winner Believe You Can.

The Springboard, whose first four finishers will earn points on a sliding scale of 10-4-2-1, is the main event on a six-stakes card. It also serves as the third leg of an all-stakes pick four that runs on races 9-12 and has a minimum guaranteed pool of $100,000.

The points helped lure Greyvitos, winner of the Grade 3 Bob Hope last month at Del Mar who could start as the favorite. He flew in Wednesday along with recent maiden winner Flip the Coin Jan.

“We’re very excited,” said Adam Kitchingman, who trains Greyvitos. “This is our first time to Oklahoma.”

The Springboard field also includes Redatory, winner of the local prep, the $100,000 Clever Trevor, and Combatant, a sharp maiden winner last out at Churchill.

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Springboard Mile (Race 11)

KEY CONTENDERS

Greyvitos, by Malibu Moon
Last 3 Beyers: 93-63-33

◗ He entered the Bob Hope as a maiden and came out with one of the year’s best Beyer Speed Figures for a 2-year-old, a 93. Kitchingman said a couple of things gave him the confidence to run the horse in the stakes off a third-place finish in a maiden special weight Oct. 21 at Santa Anita.

“He was training really, really well going into that maiden race and had a troubled trip, got stuck behind horses,” he said. “I always felt he would have won that race pretty easy, and had he won, the logical place to put him would have been in the stakes.”

◗ Greyvitos blitzed his rivals in the Bob Hope, leading throughout from his rail post and covering seven furlongs in 1:22.20. The post position was behind the tactics, said Kitchingman, and tactics could change when Greyvitos breaks from post 12 Sunday under regular rider Victor Espinoza.

“I think he’s going to have to relax a little bit behind horses,” Kitchingman said. “He drew the outside and there’s plenty of speed in that race. He doesn’t have to have the lead. He’ll rate a little bit. I’m not concerned about rating. I’m more concerned about kickback and how he handles that question.”

◗ As part of his preparation for the Springboard, Greyvitos worked a bullet six furlongs in 1:11.40 seconds at the San Luis Rey Downs training center, which on the afternoon of Dec. 7 was hit by a devastating wildfire. Greyvitos had shipped out that morning to Santa Anita as part of his schedule. “We shipped him up early because he was flying out of Santa Anita,” Kitchingman said.

◗ Kitchingman feels good about the two turns for Greyvitos, whose one start at two turns came on turf.

“He’s actually always acted like he wants more distance,” he said. “I loved how he galloped-out after the Bob Hope. I’m confident that the distance is not going to be a problem.”

◗ Greyvitos races for Triple B Farms.

Believe in Royalty, by Tapit
Last 3 Beyers: 78-60-59

◗ He has won two of three starts, his most recent efforts victories in one-turn mile races at Laurel.

◗ In his lone two-turn start, Believe in Royalty was third in a maiden special weight at a mile at Delaware Park. Trainer Larry Jones said the horse had trouble in that race and ran well to finish just a length back.

◗ Robby Albarado has the mount from post 10.