Springboard Mile a possibility for Direct Dial

Gun Runner’s win in the $6 million Breeders’ Cup Classic on Nov. 4 was not the final stakes win that day for trainer Steve Asmussen.

Direct Dial came through later in the evening in a $65,000 division of the Texas Stallion Stakes at Retama Park, winning his first stakes and possibly putting himself in position to run in the $400,000 Springboard Mile on Dec. 17 at Remington Park.

The Springboard Mile will carry Kentucky Derby eligibility points for the first time this year.

Direct Dial won his debut in April at Keeneland and ran second in the $150,000 Tremont in June at Belmont Park. He earned a career-high Beyer Speed Figure of 73 for winning his six-furlong division of the Texas Stallion Stakes in 1:10.59. The start was Direct Dial’s first since July.

“I am considering the Springboard Mile,” Asmussen said. “I did move him to Remington. He came back out of his comeback race in very good shape. We’ll see if he stretches out for the Springboard Mile.”

Direct Dial is a son of Too Much Bling who races for his breeder, W.S. Farish.

◗ Jockey Richard Eramia reached 2,000 wins in North America on Monday, when he captured the eighth race at Remington Park aboard Conquest Hiosilver.

Eramia, 38, won five national riding titles in his native Uruguay before moving his tack to the United States in 2005, where he has won five titles at Louisiana Downs and one at Lone Star Park. He plans to ride at Oaklawn following the close of the Remington meet Dec. 17.