Springboard Mile top two headed different directions

Make It Big and Osbourne are headed down different paths to the Kentucky Derby following their one-two finish in the $400,000 Springboard Mile last month at Remington Park.

Make It Big picked up 10 qualifying points for the Kentucky Derby when he won the Springboard by a half-length to remain unbeaten in three starts. He earned a Beyer Speed Figure of 84.

“He had his first work back Monday,” trainer Saffie Joseph Jr. said of a three-eighths breeze at Gulfstream Park.

“We haven’t decided on a next prep yet. The Sam Davis is under consideration. So is everything in Louisiana. It just depends on how he’s doing. Nothing’s finalized yet.”

The Grade 3, $250,000 Sam F. Davis Stakes at 1 1/16 miles is Feb. 12 at Tampa Bay Downs.

Fair Grounds in New Orleans has a handful of prep races for the Kentucky Derby.

Make It Big is owned by Red Oak Stable.

Osbourne picked up four points for the Kentucky Derby in the Springboard and was scheduled to work Thursday at his Oaklawn Park base “to try to beat the weather,” said trainer Ron Moquett.

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“His next out will be the Southwest,” he said.

The Grade 3, $750,000 Southwest at 1 1/16 miles is Jan. 29 at Oaklawn.

Osbourne won a maiden special weight over seven furlongs in his second career start Nov. 17 at Churchill Downs. He was making both his stakes and two-turn debut in the Springboard Mile.

“We were very happy with his race,” Moquett said. “I thought he ran well. What you want on a horse like him is to see him keep improving. I thought he did that.”

Osbourne is a son of Tapiture who races for Southern Springs Stable, the Estate of Floyd Sagely, and Mark Tauber.