Long Range Toddy ($39.20) edges Bankit in Springboard

Long Range Toddy edged stablemate Bankit by a head to win the $400,000 Springboard Mile at Remington Park on Sunday, closing out a dream meet for their Hall of Fame trainer, Steve Asmussen.

It was 2 1/2 lengths back to Dunph in third and another half-length back to Asmussen trainee Tone Broke in fourth.

The first four finishers in the Springboard Mile earned Kentucky Derby eligibility points on a scale of 10-4-2-1. The race Sunday also closed out the meet at Remington. It was the richest of six stakes on the card.

Remington leading trainer Asmussen won five races on the program – the third time he has done so this meet – and the feat tied a track record he shares with Wade White. Asmussen on Sunday also eclipsed his own record for trainer wins in a season at Remington. Earlier in the meet, he set a record for stable earnings by a trainer in a season at Remington.

“We’re blessed with tremendous opportunities, high-quality racehorses,” Asmussen said Sunday, while also crediting his Remington-based staff led by Darren Fleming and Pablo Ocampo.

Long Range Toddy ($39.20) has come to hand over the course of the Remington meet. He won his third straight race with the Springboard, following a maiden special weight at a mile in his second career start Sept. 28 and the $100,000 Clever Trevor over seven furlongs on Nov. 2.

“I think his maiden win was very impressive,” Asmussen said. “He earned his opportunity in the Clever Trevor and proved that was no fluke today. He beat a nice, well-rounded group of horses today.”

Long Range Toddy stalked the pace in the Springboard under Richard Eramia, settling along the rail as Dobbins G and Marquee Prince took the field through an opening quarter in 24.13 seconds and a half-mile in 48.76. Dunph moved to the lead through six furlongs in 1:14.01, but Long Range Toddy was also on the move. He angled off the fence at the top of the stretch and began a determined bid, going on to cover the distance on a fast track in 1:39.75.

Bankit, meanwhile, closed from last, surging through the lane to make for a photo finish. Following the race the trainer of favorite and sixth-place finisher Epic Dreamer lodged a claim of foul against the rider of Bankit, according to a chart of the race by Equibase. It concerned the stretch run. No change was made to the order of finish.

Long Range Toddy earned $240,000 for the win, his third from four career starts. He is a son of Take Charge Indy who races for his breeder, Willis Horton. Horton told Remington publicity Long Range Toddy is the best foal to date from the mare Pleasant Song. Long Range Toddy has now earned $321,125.

Asmussen said following the card Sunday that plans for Long Range Toddy and Bankit, whom Arkansas resident Horton owns in partnership with Winchell Thoroughbreds, are to be determined.

“I’ll talk with the owners,” Asmussen said. “Long Range Toddy going from the Springboard Mile to the Smarty Jones is a natural fit. I very much expect that to happen. Then with Bankit, we’ll discuss what we want to do with him, whether he goes to Oaklawn or to Fair Grounds. That will be decided in the next couple of days.”

Bankit had won the $250,000 Sleepy Hollow at Belmont in his start preceding the Springboard Mile.

The $150,000 Smarty Jones is a Kentucky Derby points race at a mile that runs Jan. 25 at Oaklawn.

Cowgirls Like Us takes Trapeze

Cowgirls Like Us won her third consecutive stakes Sunday when racing prominently throughout in the $100,000 Trapeze. Cowgirls Like Us won by 3 1/4 lengths over Bella Alicita, while it was another 1 1/2 lengths back to Discreet Beauty in third.

The Trapeze was a mile race for 2-year-old fillies.

Cowgirls Like Us ($11.20) raced with Discreet Beauty through fractions of 24.28 seconds for the opening quarter, 49.03 for the half-mile and 1:14.23 for six furlongs. In the stretch the eventual winner increased her advantage and went on to cover the distance in 1:40.73.
Iram Diego was aboard for trainer Bret Calhoun.

Cowgirls Like Us won her maiden in a division of the Texas Stallion Stakes in August at Retama Park, then captured that track’s off-the-turf La Senorita in September. She is a daughter of My Golden Song and races for her breeder, Doug Scharbauer.

Lone Rock wins first stakes

Lone Rock became a stakes winner Sunday when he rallied for a neck win over Harlan Punch in the $75,000 Jeffrey Hawk Memorial. It was another neck back to Mocito Rojo in third.

Lone Rock ($14.20) covered the one mile and 70 yards for 3-year-olds and up in 1:42.62. Alex Canchari was aboard for trainer Will VanMeter.

Lone Rock is a 3-year-old son of Majestic Warrior who races for John Ed Anthony. VanMeter told Remington publicity plans for the horse are to be determined, but one consideration would be the Razorback Handicap at Oaklawn.

* The late fifty-cent pick four that had a minimum guaranteed pool of $100,000 returned $6,285. The winning numbers were 5-2-5-11. The final pool was $159,246.