Listed, $400,000 Remington Springboard Mile, one mile, Remington, Dec. 15, 2019 (10 Derby qualifying points for a win, 4 for second, 2 for third, 1 for fourth) Winner: Shoplifted, by Into Mischief Trainer: Steve Asmussen Jockey: Ricardo Santana Jr. Owners: Grandview Equine, Cheyenne Stables, and LNJ Foxwoods Beyer Speed Figure: 87 SHOPLIFTED I thought ran a sneaky good race in the American Pharoah, making him a live longshot for me at 23-1 in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile. But he never got untracked over a deep, tiring surface over which many struggled (see Dennis’ Moment, et al), and never was in the hunt. In his first start since, racing over a surface he clearly handled, and facing softer competition, Shoplifted won his biggest race to date while scoring his first victory around two turns and earning a career-best Beyer figure. Shoplifted had improved speed leaving the gate to put himself in a forward position early, four paths wide on the first turn while stalking a pitched battle for the lead. He inched closer heading to the far turn, but couldn’t get over and went four paths wide on the far turn while advancing outside of favored ANSWER IN. He continued with his elongated rally through the lane and was fully extended to get past EMBOLDEN and hold off Answer In. He’s out of an Is It True mare, so middle distances might be his optimum, but obviously he’ll get a chance early next year to see if he can get nine and then 10 furlongs. Answer In, who finished second, settled into fifth around the first turn while in the two path, just inside Shoplifted. He was tugging hard the first part of the race but was covered up, stayed behind runners for the far turn instead of angling out three furlongs out, and ended up searching for a lane coming into the stretch while being cleverly race ridden by Santana. He tried to split rivals in upper stretch, then had to dive down to the rail and finished well to just miss. This was his stakes debut, his third start, and his first race around two turns, and he did not have cleanest of trips. Embolden, who was third, was part of a four-way duel for the lead into the first turn and then eased out of that battle to sit behind those three rivals. He was angled to the middle of the track down the backstretch, then launched a bid from the four path around the far turn. He took the lead entering the lane, fought on bravely, but could not stave off the top two. This was his first try around two turns after five sprints, four on turf. He had a perfect trip. This is probably as far as he wants to run, but he obviously can be effective up to a mile on both turf and dirt, so he has options aplenty. It was a long way back to the rest of the field, so, for now, only the top three appear worth following as potential graded stakes-class runners. JUNGLE RUNNER, who was fourth, checked soon after the start to lose position, was guided to the inside to save ground around the first turn, then continued to hug the rail on the far turn and was only a neck behind Answer In with three furlongs to go. He angled off the rail near the quarter pole but finished evenly as the top three pulled away. MAXIMILIANO, who was fifth, showed his usual good speed and went up from his wide draw to be three to four paths wide on the first turn while pressing the pace. He battled for the lead while three paths wide on the far turn, surrendered the lead to Embolden in upper stretch, was late to change leads, and steadily faded in his first try around two turns. SOUTHGATE, who finished sixth, veered in at the start to tighten up both SHIPMAN’S SONG and Jungle Runner, then lacked speed and went into the first turn about three paths wide while in the back half of the field. He raced in the clear down the backstretch, was asked to advance on the far turn but lacked much of a kick, was fanned five paths wide into the lane, and was late to change leads. ROWDY YATES, who was seventh, broke sharply and was in the two path while vying for the lead around the first turn. He led narrowly while between rivals down the backstretch, but began to weaken midway on the far turn and dropped back without putting up much of a fight. KIRKCULES, who was eighth, had no early speed and entered the first turn about four paths wide before being angled to the two path. He dropped back to last heading into the far turn, went to the three path on the far turn, but never was a factor and only passed some tired rivals. SLEW TANG CLAN, who was ninth, trailed into the first turn and was angled over from his outside post to save ground on the first turn, remained well back throughout, was asked for his best three furlongs out but had nothing to offer. ALTERNATE TIME, who was 10th, showed good speed from his rail draw and vied for the early lead, continued to volley for the lead until midway on the far turn, began to tire, then dropped away. He was 2 for 2 in sprints prior to this, both times on off tracks. SHIPMAN'S SONG, who finished last of 11, had to take up soon after leaving the gate, was a bit rank and was taken wide into the first turn, made a mild run on the far turn while inside to gain some ground, was late to change leads in upper stretch and then completely lost his punch through the lane.