Springboard Mile a distance test for juveniles

‘Tis the season for two-turn tests for 2-year-olds, and that’s what Shotgun Kowboy, Bayerd, and High Noon Rider will be taking Sunday in the $250,000 Springboard Mile at Remington Park.

They all will be making their route debuts in the closing-day feature at the Oklahoma City track. The race drew a field of 11, including Kentucky invaders It’ll Be Fine and Hillbilly Style and the sharp allowance winner Supermason.

The Springboard Mile anchors a card of five stakes worth $550,000. First post is 1:30 p.m. Central. Other stakes on the program include the $100,000 She’s All In for fillies and mares, which is led by Flashy American, and the $100,000 Trapeze, which drew the promising 2-year-old fillies Lovely Maria and Scadadle.

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Shotgun Kowboy and Bayerd each have won stakes at this Remington Park meet, while High Noon Rider is in from New York after an impressive maiden special weight win in his dirt debut last month at Aqueduct.

“We were real happy that he stepped up his game on the dirt, and we thought this was a nice opportunity to see how he would do against better horses,” said George Weaver, who trains High Noon Rider for R.A. Hill Stable. “We’re looking forward to running.”

The Springboard Mile winner will receive a fees-paid berth into next year’s Grade 3 Oklahoma Derby at Remington.

KEY CONTENDERS

Shotgun Kowboy (Last 3 Beyers: 78-79-88)

◗ Shotgun Kowboy has won stakes in his last two starts, the latest the $100,000 Clever Trevor at seven furlongs at Remington on Nov. 7.

◗ C.R. Trout, who bred, owns, and trains Shotgun Kowboy, feels the mile will be within the scope of the horse, who is by Kodiak Kowboy.

“His daddy won the Cigar Mile,” Trout said. “The distance is not going to be a problem for him. We haven’t got close to getting to the bottom of this horse.”

◗ Shotgun Kowboy will break from post 8 under regular rider Luis Quinonez.

“We’ll let him lay back and make his run,” Trout said. “We’ll stay with what got us here.”

High Noon Rider (Last 3 Beyers: 85-55-61)

◗ The Beyer Speed Figure of 85 that he earned in winning the one-turn, one-mile maiden race at Aqueduct is the best last-race number in the Springboard Mile.

◗ High Noon Rider will break from post 11.

“He showed some tactical speed last time, and going into a two-turn mile, I think he will do so as well,” Weaver said.

◗ Joe Bravo has the mount.

Bayerd (Last 3 Beyers: 76-93-90)

◗ He was an 11 1/2-length maiden special weight winner at Saratoga in August and a month later became a stakes winner in the $75,000 Kip Deville at six furlongs at Remington, defeating Shotgun Kowboy.

◗ Bayerd ran a gutsy race in the Clever Trevor, dueling between rivals before being overtaken late by Shotgun Kowboy.

◗ Ricardo Santana Jr. has the mount for owner Clark Brewster and trainer Steve Asmussen.